^'^^MSm""'  }    Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  139 
stitution  of  the  United  States — which  the  greatest  EngHshman  of 
the  nineteenth  century  declared  the  wisest  instrument  ever  con- 
ceived by  the  mind  of  man.  In  1791,  the  first  Bank  of  the  United 
States  commenced  business  in  Carpenters'  Hall,  continuing  therein 
for  six  years. 
With  extraordinary  self-forgetfulness,  it  was  at  this  time,  the 
company  owning  the  Hall,  now  so  historic  and  sacred,  withdrew 
from  it,  so  far  as  their  meetings  were  concerned,  and  for  two 
generations  met  in  an  adjoining  building.  The  Bank  of  the  United 
States  was  succeeded,  in  1797,  by  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  for  a 
short  period.  From  1802  until  181 7,  the  Federal  government  there 
collected  its  custom  duties.  After  this  came  the  second  Bank  of 
the  United  States.  Successive  occupants  in  different  parts  of  the 
building  represented  the  literary,  scientific,  benevolent,  educational 
and  musical  interests  of  the  city. 
For  a  time  Friends  met  in  the  Hall  for  worship,  consecrating 
its  wall  to  spiritual  things.  In  1833  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania held  its  sessions  in  this  building.  In  1859  City  Councils 
sought  to  purchase  the  Hall,  on  account  of  its  historic  interest  and 
association,  but  the  proposition  was  respectfully  declined.  Having 
been  carefully  restored  and  maintained  in  its  primitive  simplicity, 
the  old  Hall  has  been  in  sole  possession  during  the  past  sixty  years 
of  the  Carpenters'  Company.  Its  history  should  ever  inspire  men 
to  unselfish  purposes  and  lofty  deeds. 
The  spirit  which  actuated  the  founders  and  early  trustees  of  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  is  most  impressively  illustrated 
on  the  pages  of  the  minute  books  of  the  institution.  These  earnest 
minded  men  never  lost  sight  of  the  great  objects  to  be  attained, 
the  correction  of  trade  abuses  and  the  elevation  of  their  calling, 
the  extension  of  knowledge  and  the  consequent  inestimable  service 
to  mankind.  One  of  the  first  matters  considered,  following  organiza- 
tion, was  careful  revision  of  the  existing  pharmacopoeia,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  latest  accepted  standards,  every  formula  to  be 
satisfactorily  tested  before  approval.  Exceeding  care  was  exercised 
in  the  election  of  members  of  the  association  and  in  the  selection 
of  trustees  and  members  of  the  faculty  of  the  College.  Only  men 
of  the  highest  intelligence  and  recognized  probity  were  entrusted 
with  the  direction  of  its  affairs.  The  name  was  early  changed  from 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Apothecaries  to  the  Philadelphia  College 
