{"id":2571,"date":"2020-05-22T10:57:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T14:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/archives\/?p=2571"},"modified":"2020-05-22T10:57:51","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T14:57:51","slug":"louis-firth-first-graduate-of-setonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/archives\/2020\/05\/louis-firth-first-graduate-of-setonia\/","title":{"rendered":"Louis Firth \u2013 First Graduate of Setonia"},"content":{"rendered":"
We are currently poised to celebrate the latest Seton Hall commencement in creative ways during this time of COVID-19, but even without a formal communal ceremony we are proud to honor the graduates of the Class of 2020 nonetheless.\u00a0 We offer them congratulations, but also pause to remember several thousand others who received degrees from Seton Hall over the last few centuries.\u00a0 In looking back at the history of school commencement exercises and alumni rolls, a common question often arises.\u00a0 Have you ever wondered who was the first individual to receive a diploma from the Seton Hall?\u00a0 The answer takes us back to 1862 when a young man by the name of Louis Firth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and became the first to set a trend that lasts to the present day.<\/p>\n
When Louis Firth crossed the Hudson River to New Jersey from his New York City home to attend Seton Hall College as a freshman in 1857 he knew that a seven-year academic journey (Prep and College divisions were combined at this time) that a unique intellectual awakening awaited him.\u00a0 What he experienced followed a set of prescribed and orderly goals that he and his fellow Setonians took to heart: \u201cThe object of the Institution is to impart a good education in the highest sense of the word \u2013 to train the moral, intellectual, and physical being.\u00a0 The health, manners, and morals of the pupils, are an object of constant attention.\u00a0 The system of government is mild and paternal, yet firm in enforcing the observance of established discipline.\u00a0 No pupil will be received from another College without unexceptional testimonials, and none will be retained, whose manners and morals are not satisfactory.\u201d<\/p>\n
After graduation, Firth moved back to New York City and lived most of his life at West 37th<\/sup> Street in Manhattan as one of a growing number of alumni who remained in the metropolitan area. In an interview conducted during the early 20th<\/sup> century, Firth opened up to the local press about his days at Seton Hall and some of the memorable figures he encountered during his halcyon days on campus.<\/p>\n
Early in the article the reporter noted that: \u201cMr. Firth who is hale and hearty and as active as a man twenty years his junior, paid a tribute to the work of the first president (Father Bernard McQuaid) when the college was at Madison, where he first saw him in 1857, and at South Orange when the college was established there.\u201d\u00a0 Of Reverend McQuaid, Firth marveled at his \u201cvigor\u201d and went on to recount that: \u201c. . . this remarkable man had a wonderful influence over the boys at college . . . the holy and learned men with which he surrounded himself and taught us imparted the qualities which fit a man to live.\u00a0 Character was formed at Seton Hall, because of the environment.\u201d<\/p>\nRev. Bernard J. McQuaid, President of Seton Hall College (1856-57 and 1859-68)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
When it came to recollecting his graduation day, Firth colorfully illustrated the scene and his creativity in marking this historical day . . .<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first commencement exercises were held on an improvised stage built under the trees just east of the present college buildings.\u00a0 There were but a small number present, as South Orange was but a hamlet, and there were no cars to Newark.\u00a0 Through a prank played by the boys a few nights before commencement day, I came very near not being the first graduate of the college.\u00a0 It happened in this way: The college bell rang every morning at 4 o\u2019clock, and the farmers for miles around roe by it.\u00a0 One night we planned to ring it at 2 o\u2019 clock instead, and after setting the college clock two hours fast, I was selected to pull the rope. \u00a0I did it, and hustled back to bed.\u00a0 The college prefect, whose duty it was to ring the bell, appeared just then, looked at the clock and went about his early morning work, wondering all the while how the bell rung.\u00a0 The farmers were awakened and started in to do a day\u2019s work.\u00a0 Needless to say, when the sun did not rise at the appointed time, watches were compared, and the faculty decided that a prank had been played.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Needless to say that despite the \u201ctime change\u201d Firth managed to make it to the ceremony and receive his honor due.\u00a0 A full overview of the ceremony can be viewed below . . .<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/archives\/files\/2020\/05\/firth-62-e1590158571694-177x300.png\")
impart a good education in the highest sense of the word \u2013 to train the moral, intellectual, and physical being.\u00a0 The health, manners, and morals of the pupils, are an object of constant attention.\u00a0 The system of government is mild and paternal, yet firm in enforcing the observance of established discipline.\u00a0 No pupil will be received from another College without unexceptional testimonials, and none will be retained, whose manners and morals are not satisfactory.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/archives\/files\/2020\/05\/mcquaid.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/archives\/files\/2020\/05\/1862-1-300x183.png\")
For more information on the 1862 academic year \u00a0and other early 19th century details featuring studies at Seton Hall please consult our Undergraduate Catalog(ue) links found via the Archives & Special Collections \u2013 eRepository site at –