GIRARD COLLEGE, Philadelphia, Pa., an institution for the vocational education and maintenance of *poor white male orphans,* as the donor of the trust fund expressed it. The college was founded under the will of Stephen Girard (q.v.), and opened 1 Jan. 1848. By a provision in the will no ecclesiastic, missionary or minister of any sect whatever is permitted to hold office in this institution or to enter its premises at any time or for any reason. That provision should, however, not be interpreted as a reflection upon any sect or person; on the contrary, the founder's desire was, as he himself stated, simply that the minds of the boys reared by the institution should be kept free from the confusion of denominational controversies, so that *on their entrance into active life they may adopt such religious tenets as their natural reason may enable them to prefer.* *The purest principles of morality°
were to be instilled into the minds of the scholars. The original fund, $5,260,000, has been increased by good management to over $32,000,000, excluding the plant. The main building was completed in 1847. In addition to it there are at present about 20 other buildings, among them a chapel, school building, dormi tories, infirmary, dining hall and mechanical school building. The normal capacity is given as 1,520 pupils; the grounds are extensive — 40 acres within the college wall; and the insti tution embraces a primary school (four years), grammar school (three years) and high school (four years). (See EDUCATION, TECHNICAL). Consult MacMaster, J. B., 'The Life and Times of Stephen Girard, Mariner and Merchant' (2 vols., Philadelphia 1918).