70  Advantage  of  Preliminary  Examination.  {'^™Feb"'^i885*™' 
With  such  precept  before  us,  no  apprehension  need  be  entertained 
that  the  honorable  prestige  of  this  College  will  suifer  decline.  Its- 
standing  among  the  similar  institutions  of  the  country  has  steadily 
advanced,  as  its  present  character  and  popularity  amply  testify.  Its 
various  scientific  departments  have  been  entrusted  to  able  hands — the 
seniors  of  its  faculty  stand  eminent  in  their  profession — the  College 
has  established  the  most  advanced  and  improved  plan  of  instruction — 
the  public  appreciation  has  been  manifested  in  the  throngs  of  young 
men  constantly  eager  to  embrace  that  instruction — its  methods  of  edu- 
cation are  perhaps  superior  to  any  other  institution  of  the  land.  All 
this  is  accorded  by  the  profession  as  a  merited  tribute  to  an  honored 
and  venerated  alma-mater,  and  from  this  profession  has  come,  through 
many  channels  of  influence,  a  generous  and  liberal  endorsement.  It  is 
this  same  profession,  however,  which  presents  itself  here  to-day,  and 
asks,  in  respectful  tone,  that  this  College,  having  reached  a  wondrous 
growth  of  prosperity — having  at  this  time  its  representatives  in  every 
city,  town  and  village  of  this  extended  land,  shall,  halting,  interpose 
its  offices  to  check  a  tide  wliDse  direction  and  current  have  overleaped 
the  bounds  of  safety,  and  been  strong  enough  in  its  unchecked  flow  tO' 
exhaust  quite  all  the  remunerative  resources  of  pharmacy  as  a  profes- 
sion, with  the  result  of  debasing  it  to  a  trade  level,  without  even  the 
dignity  of  being  distinctive  in  that ! 
We  need  hardly  pause  here  to  say,  that  this  matter  is  grave  and  im- 
portant. From  an  intimate  association  with  my  confreres  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  who  are  honored  men  of  matured  thought  and  sound  judg- 
ment, we  recognize  a  disposition  in  determining  this  question,  to  be  con- 
siderate, just  and  fair  to  those  upon  whom  the  greater  exactions  in  the 
future  may  fall,  but  at  the  same  time  there  is  resolution  to  perform 
that  which  their  duties  as  guardians  of  a  trust  impose,  among  these  a 
duty  which  now  seems  to  be  demanded  by  the  common  professional 
welfare  of  pharmacy. 
It  is  not  assumed,  nor  is  it  asserted,  that  this  College,  or  other 
similar  institutions  are  wholly  responsible  for  the  present  status  of 
pharmacy  educational  and  moral,  but  it  is  contended  that  the  educa- 
tional colleges  constitute  an  essential  part  in  a  common  agency,  in 
which  whatever  of  responsibility  exists  is  divided,  and  believing  that 
by  the  adoption  of  a  better  system  of  discrimination  in  its  proteges 
this  College  can  elevate  the  standing  of  pharmacy,  and  relieve  itself  of 
all  reproach  ;  such  course  impresses  itself  upon  the  mind  as  a  duty 
