Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

removed his family to New Haven. The people of his parish, with whom he had lived for twelve years in uninterrupted harmony, heard of his appointment with extreme regret. They loved their pastor; and they were proud of him; and they could not consent to give him up. Never have we known a parish part with their minister with more reluctance.

We are now entering upon a very interesting period in the life of Dr. Dwight. Owing to a variety of causes, which it is not necessary to enumerate, the state of Yale College, at the time of his accession to the office of President was in many respects unhappy. Destitute in a great degree of public or private patronage, its numbers were reduced, its discipline was relaxed, a looseness of moral and religious sentiment had become fashionable, and its reputation had been for some time on the decline through the community. One of the greatest evils under which it suffered was an extensive prevalence of infidelity amongst the students. This pernicious spirit had been derived from the circumstances of the country, at the close of the preceding war. As was natural, it found easy access to the minds of a collection of youths, who were fascinated with ideas of mental as well as political independence, and who were easily induced to shake off what they considered the shackles of habit and superstition. The degree to which it prevailed may be conjectured from the following fact.

-A considerable proportion of the class, which he first taught, had assumed the names of the principal English and French Infidels; and were more familiarly known by them than by their own. Under circumstances like these, he entered upon the duties of his office as PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE.

The talents, which he possessed for the instruction and government of youth, were now called into full

exercise. A thorough reformation in the system of discipline was early commenced, and accomplished with as much expedition as the nature of the case would admit. Infidelity was assailed by argument and vanquished; and vice was disgraced, and in a great measure banished from the College.

He took upon himself the instruction of the senior class, pursuing a system, which produced the most beneficial effects. "The public," says Professor Silliman," have been little aware of the extent and diversity of the labours of President Dwight, in this Institution. He has, in fact, discharged the duties of four offices, either of which is, ordinarily, considered as sufficient to engross the time and talents of one man. He has been charged with the general superintendence and responsibility constituting the appropriate duties of the Presidency; like his predecessors, he instructed the senior class, in their peculiar studies, but on a much more enlarged plan; he voluntarily discharged, to a great extent, the duties of a professor of Belles-Lettres, and Oratory; and he has been charged also with those of a professor of Theology*"

"The

His mode of instructing was peculiarly his own. His long experience, in this employment, had made him thoroughly acquainted with the youthful character, and enabled him to teach as well as to govern young men with extraordinary success. students," says Professor Silliman, " habitually expected the senior year with much interest, as one in which they looked for the most valuable instructions; nor were they disappointed. President Dwight delighted much in the peculiar studies which it was his duty to elucidate. Although these studies were

* Address, p. 15.

prosecuted by the students in appropriate text-books, the order of which he observed in his recitations, he always thought for himself with much independence, but with a respectful deference to the opinions of men of eminence. Still the opinions of the authors in question he sometimes found reason to controvert, and while he candidly stated his own views, with the grounds of them, he enjoined upon his pupils the same independence of mind, and was willing that they too should differ from him and think for themselves. The recitations of the senior class were, in fact, although not in name, a series of familiar lectures, and the driest parts of logic and metaphysics were rendered interesting by the ample illustrations of the President; enlivened by agreeable and apposite anecdote, and by sallies of sprightliness; which, while they took nothing from his dignity, greatly relieved the tedium of long discussions.

"Into his recitations and discussions, he also threw a vast fund of practical instruction, on almost every subject of life, manners, and human business; for few men have ever observed more carefully and extensively; few have conversed more largely, and been more in contact with the world, in all its innocently accessible points.

"His object was not only to instruct the young men under his care in the particular sciences which came before them, but to fit them, by repeated counsels, and by information pressed upon them with parental solicitude, for the various scenes into which they were to pass in life.

"In discussing the various subjects which customarily came before the senior class, especially those connected with the decision of disputed questions, it was usual for the President to assume a considerable range of statement and argument; and all those, who

have had the happiness to attend on his instructions, will remember, that, not on a few occasions, his mind was kindled with his subject; till, excited by the re-acting stimulus of his own thoughts and communications, he has spoken even more eloquently, and with a more finished touch of feeling, than was usual in his regular written Discourses.

"It was never any part of his plan merely to discharge his duty: he did it with his whole mind and heart; and thought nothing adequately done, till all was done that the case admitted of. Till the increase of professorships rendered it unnecessary, he heard the senior class recite twice as often as had been customary, and on most occasions his recitations were of double the length that would have been required."

In the year 1795, when President Dwight entered upon the duties of his office in the College, the whole number of students was one hundred and ten, Almost immediately after his accession they began to increase, and in the course of his presidency amounted to three hundred and thirteen; an increase unexampled in any similar institution in this country.

It has been remarked, that at the time of his accession to the presidency, infidelity was fashionable and prevalent in the College. To extirpate a spirit so pernicious and fatal, he availed himself of an early and decisive opportunity, Forensic disputation was an important exercise of the senior class. For this purpose they were formed into a convenient number of divisions; two of which disputed before him every week, in the presence of the other members of the class, and of the resident graduates. It was the practice for each division to agree upon several questions, and then refer them to the President to select which he thought proper, Until this time,

[ocr errors][merged small]

through a mistaken policy, the students had not been allowed to discuss any question which involved the Inspiration of the Scriptures; from an apprehension that the examination of these points would expose them to the contagion of scepticism. As infidelity was extensively prevalent in the State and in the Country, the effect of this course on the minds of the students had been unhappy. It had led them to believe, that their instructors were afraid to meet the question fairly; and that Christianity was supported by authority and not by argument. One of the questions presented by the first division was this; "Are the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament the Word of God? To their surprise, the President selected it for discussion; told them to write on which side they pleased, as he should not impute to them any sentiments which they advanced as their own; and requested those, who should write on the negative side of the question, to collect and bring forward all the facts and arguments which they could produce: enjoining it upon them, however, to treat the subject with becoming respect and reverence. Most if not all of the members of the division came forward as the champions of infidelity. When they had finished the discussion, he first examined the ground they had taken; triumphantly refuted their arguments; proved to them, that their statement of facts was mistaken, or irrelevant; and, to their astonishment, convinced them, that their acquaintance with the subject was wholly superficial. After this he entered into a direct defence of the divine origin of Christianity in a strain of powerful argument, and animated eloquence, which nothing could resist. The effect upon the students was electrical. From that moment Infidelity was not only without a strong hold, but without a

« AnteriorContinua »