LANCASTER COUNTY. 447 



tlie State, granted the prayer of the petitioners, and passed an 

 act with the following title : " An act to incorporate and endow 

 the German College and Charity School in the borough of 

 Lancaster, in this State." The Preamble of the act explains 

 the object which it was intended to effect, and is in the follow- 

 ing words, viz : " Whereas, the citizens of this State of German 

 birth or extraction, have eminently contributed, by their indus- 

 try, economy and public virtues, to raise the State to its present 

 happiness and prosperity : And, whereas, a number of citizens 

 of the above description, in conjunction with others, from a 

 desire to increase and perpetuate the blessings desired to them 

 from the possession of property and a free government, have 

 applied to this House for a charter of Incorporation, and a do- 

 nation of lands, for the purpose of establishing and endowing 

 a College and Charity School, in the borough of Lancaster. 

 And, whereas, the preservation of the principles of the Chris- 

 tian Religion, and of our Republican form of Government in 

 their purity, depend, under God, in a great measure, on the 

 establishment and support of suitable places of education, for 

 tlie purpose of training up a succession of youth, who by being 

 enabled fully to understand the grounds of both, may be led 

 the more zealously, to practice the one, and the more strenu- 

 ously to defend the other. Therefore, &c." Here then follow 

 the different sections of the act, the prominent features of 

 which are these: ^2. That the youth shall be taught in the 

 German, English, Latin, Greek and other learned languages, 

 in Theology, in the useful arts, sciences and Literature. The 

 corporate title shall be "Franklin College," in honor of His 

 Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, President of the Su- 

 preme Executive Council, &c. The first Trustees are named 

 and incorporated with the usual powers. Yearly income not 

 to exceed £10,000. The annual meeting of the trustees to be 

 at Lancaster, nine of them to be a quorum and to appoint their 

 own officers. The Principal, vice Principal or Professors 

 while they remain such, are not to hold the office of trustee. 

 The style and powers of the faculty are prescribed. Propor- 

 tion of Trustees how to be chosen, and Principal to be chosen 

 alternately from the Lutheran or Calvinist Churches. Seat of 

 Trustee being a Clergyman, to be filled with another Clergy- 

 man, but the proportion of Lutheran and Calvinist trustees to 



