supporting, and the State is called upon to furnish only such funds as are needed to increase the accommodations for students and the facilities for instruction demanded by the largely increased attendance. The enrollment during the year was 296, exceeding that of the preceding year by 123, an increase of nearly 60%. As a result the buildings are overcrowded, and it has taxed the ingenuity of the authorities to accommodate so large a number in such limited quarters. The coming year will undoubtedly witness a still larger increase in attendance, and as the board is restricted by the terms of the grant from using any of the permanent fund for building purposes, the Legislature must make some provision to meet this rapid growth.

The department of Mechanic Arts, established in 1885, is attracting many students to the college, and the building devoted to instruction in this course is already crowded beyond its capacity; more room and additional tools and machinery are needed to meet the increased demand. The wisdom of the Legislature in providing for the establishment of this department has been fully vindicated by the results already attained, and its importance and usefulness will be limited only by the means at the disposal of the board for its necessary enlargement and equipment.

During the year eleven bulletins have been issued by members of the faculty under the law passed at the last session of the Legislature providing for the publication of the results of experiments tried in the various departments. All of these documents have been of practical value to the agricultural and horticultural interests of the State.

The record of the past year has amply demonstrated the wisdom of the action of the State Board of Agriculture in appointing Hon. Edwin Willits to the presidency. The attendance has been larger than ever before, and in every respect the college has prospered and grown.

But few changes have been made in the corps of instructors. Mr. H. R. Pattengill has been appointed Assistant Professor of English, and Mr. Joseph B. Cotton, Instructor in Mathematics. The rapid growth in attendance will necessitate increased teaching force, many of the classes being already too large to admit of the best results in class work. The courses of study are practically the same as given in the last report.

STATE REFORMATORY AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.

The number of this unfortunate class who receive the advantages afforded by this school increases annually, though there are undoubtedly many more scattered throughout the State who for various reasons are being denied this privilege. One who has not visited this institution can have no conception of the opportunities that are afforded to this, perhaps the most unfortunate of the defective classes. for acquiring a good common school education, supplemented by a valuable apprenticeship in some manual trade that will enable them to become self-dependent. During the past year a kindergarten class was established which has proved to be a very important auxiliary both in intellectual and manual instruction. Modeling in clay, paper folding and weaving, etching on card board and perforated paper, braiding and splicing cords and other devices have been employed with excellent results in producing that delicacy of touch that is so essential to successful instruction of the blind.

Four teachers are employed in the literary department besides two music teachers, a sewing teacher and a teacher of broom-making. A class in piano tuning has been organized and promises to open up an important field of occupation to pupils of the school. The attendance during the year was 83. Some interesting facts in relation to this school, taken from the report of the superintendent, are included in the accompanying documents.

THE INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR GIRLS.

at Adrian is doing good work in the direction of reforming girls and young women who from vicious surroundings, or lack of proper home influences and training have drifted into evil ways. The plan of the school precludes any graded system of school work, the girls remaining there only until suitable places are found for them in families or at some kind of reputable employment where they will be removed from the temptations that would retard their reformation. Instruction is given in the common school branches, and the girls, as a rule, are interested in their studies and evince a fair degree of proficiency considering the very general lack of previous mental training. The school is managed on the cottage plan, the inmates being classed on the basis of good conduct. The work in each of the cottages is done by the girls under the supervision of a competent housekeeper. They make and mend all their garments, and do much ofthe lighter out-door work. The fact that con

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stant employment is the best safeguard against evil doing is continually emphasized, and the time is fully occupied in school work or in domestic labor.

The whole number of different persons received during the year was 258, of which number 187 were in the Home at the close of the year. The average age at entering was fourteen years. Since the opening of the institution in 1881, one hundred and eighteen girls have been placed in homes, of whom only seventeen have been returned as still vicious. This showing is certainly very favorable for the school and speaks well for the excellence of its manage

ment.

STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

The facilities for school work at this institution have been greatly improved during the year. The large double cottage has been remodeled and is now entirely devoted to school purposes. This change afforded four large, well lighted and ventilated school rooms, admitting of much better results in school work. A large room on the first floor has been assigned to the kindergarten department, which was established the year previous, and which has proved to be one of the most useful and attractive features of the school. Referring to this department, Supt. Foster says; "It has been a most useful adjunct to the schools, and its results have been better than I even dared to hope. It has done much, by interesting mechanical work, to enliven dormant powers, and to bring into activity mental resources of children who were considered of doubtful ability. It has thus, possibly, saved from a poorhouse life one or two children who, without this awakening process, would have been probably considered feeble-minded. While it brightens and awakens sleeping intellects, it does much for the already bright ones. It furnishes pleasing occupation for willing fingers and saves them from getting into mischief. At a time in life easily influenced, impressions for good are made which will be lasting."

The other departments are better supplied than ever before with improved appliances for teaching, and though the children remain in the institution too short a time to admit of a systematic course of instruction, the habit of study is formed that is developed in the public schools after they leave the institution. The further education of the children is provided for in the conditions of indenture which provide that each child indentured shall be sent to the public schools at least four months each year, until eighteen years of age or longer.

This school continues to be regarded as the model institution of its kind,

as it was the first established, and other States are organizing similar institutions, following closely the system adopted here.

DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

The following colleges, or schools of higher learning, are under the auspices of the different christian denominations, i. e., Adrian, Albion, Alma, Battle Creek, Detroit, Hillsdale, Hope, Kalamazoo and Olivet. The above named schools, unlike our State institutions, are sustained by voluntary patronage. However, they are incorporated by the State under a general statute, and are, at least nominally, subject to the visitorial jurisdiction of the department of Public Instruction. These denominational colleges are sometimes called "sectarian." It is only just to say that the epithet is wholly undeserved. To one who is a stranger to their aims and spirit the epithet is very misleading-a false definition-in fact, a libel. It conveys the notion that these educational institutions exist for the diffusion of sectarian ideas, dogmas and influences-in a word, that they are narrow partisan schools. This notion is no more injurious than unjust, and really impeaches the intelligence or else the fairness of the person who entertains it. It has been historically demonstrated that it is the very genius of the Christian religion to educate. Not to educate in the mere dogmas of the church, but to educate in every field of literature, science, art and history. The Christian religion proceeds upon the sound axiom that the truth, whatever it may be, will bear the light -even "the fierce light which beats against a throne." Learning gets its profoundest inspiration from Christianity, and the most renowned and influential schools of learning in christendom have had their origin and up-building from this one prolific source. It requires only a superficial acquaintance with the historical relations of the Christian religion to the cause of general education to find a noble, and not mean, a catholic, and not "sectarian," reason for the existence of the Christian colleges of our commonwealth. is natural and just that in the proportion that a religious denomination contributes to the cause of general education, it adds to its own intelligence, numbers and influence. The principle of compensation which obtains everywhere a wise and beneficent law, governing all communities and individuals -works this practical equity.

It

It is true, also, that one's peculiar religious beliefs are, to some extent, determined by his social environments. This, too, is a wholesome law, and every school worthy of confidence makes it available as a moral safeguard to the youth committed to its training. But, further than the social atmosphere which it legitimately invokes or creates-a mild and wholesome influ

ence-it is impossible to engraft "sectarianism" upon a college. In the same sense that it behooves an enlightened nation to comply with established doctrines of international law, it is necessary for a school of higher learning, under any auspices, to observe with scrupulous fidelity the traditions, courtesies and amities which prevail in the great republic of letters. These are eminently cosmopolitan and catholic as respects both nationality and creed. They enjoin absolute freedom of conscience, and, within decent conventionalities, unrestrained liberty of speech and conduct. The reproach of "sectarianism" so often laid at the door of denominational colleges is, then, clearly absurd as well as unjust. Is Harvard sectarian? or Yale? or Princeton? or Brown? Or, is it only in the days of its weakness that men seek to fasten this stigma upon every school of learning under the auspices, or patronage, of a religious communion?

But it is further objected that the denominational colleges of our State are superfluous-that there is no real necessity for their existence-that the University of Michigan, and other State schools, are qualified to supply the whole demand for higher education amongst the youth of our commonwealth. It scarcely needs to be pointed out that, whatever the force of this objection at an earlier period in our history as a State, it is now untimely. These denominational colleges already exist. They have demonstrated their right to be by the extent and quality of their work. Each one of them has a local habitation and vested interests, and, is so identified with the community where it is established, that it could not be removed, nor discontinued, without misapplication of designated funds, and a serious breach of trust. The real question is, whether more than a million dollars devoted to the cause of education shall be abandoned, and actually lost to such noble uses, or whether this great, and increasing, sum shall be continued in the work to which it is now dedicated? There is still a further question, naturally suggested in this connection. It is this: Whether, under the forms of popular government, it is possible to obtain by taxation the resources a lequate to the maximum efficiency of a university, or college? It is not unreasonable to expect that private benefactions will yet supply the deficiencies of State aid in the future growth, the progressive, exalted career of the University of Michigan.

However, the objection touching the superfluousness of the denominational colleges is best examined in the light of this truth, i. e., every school of higher learning helps to create the demand which it helps also to supply. The work of creating a demand is quite as necessary and noble as that of supplying it. This is a point which might be amply sustained and illustrated by facts within the sphere of my own observation and knowledge. It is a great achievement to carry the learning of a few individuals, who desire to