New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-09
LAYMAY As PRESIDENT OF YALE.
To the Editor Of me Tribune.

To the EdttOT or I'M IffOuHt.
SIR: Our oldest colleges have, until very re-
Gently retained the discipline and studies marked out by
their founders and guarded with jealous the maxms
of the ancents rather than suppant them with the i'm
proved ideas OF the Better days are however dawn
Ing and with new years come studies, liberal
curriculum, aud more practical training. Nothing in the
way Of college reform attracting public atten
ton so much the efforts Of "YOung Yale" las the
recent Alumni style Themselves to iufse into that
rable Institution some Of their young blood and modern
ideas: and Of their most important demands Is that
the College shan no longer De so exclusively under the
control cergymcn. Aboard OF Congregational minis
tiers constitute its corporation, minister Is its Presi
dent and ministers enter largely into its Faculty; and
now that President Is To DC chosen, majority
of the candidates occupants Of pups. In the earlier
days when learning belonged 10 me lew ana book was
treasure, the Church absorbed the larger portion of
cultivated intelligence But the question now comes mp
whether the pulpit is any longer the best place from
which to choose college officers
If two candidates are equally fitted in scholarship and
celebrity one being divine and the other not the old
order OF reasoning would say, Elect the divine Found
your corps Of instructors on divine teacher for the
Of the soul ia the highest object" This Is falacy
II the college a school OF divinity it would hold
good But where the object Of institution is 10 train
the human intellect 10 incucate practical knowledge,
and TO cultivate by indirect the mental powers il
Is not logic argue that all this must tart with pro-
vision for the good OF the soul send young man to
college where his instructors are all wcarers OF the gown,
give him to understand that the Greek reader eads di
IeGty 10 the Greek Itsamehl lh the lItlh hlphapet
will give him the key 10 the creeds and ten 10 one he
the student follows the instruction Of ettered by
saeerdotal vows, one whose conclusions can be
accounted for only as voluntary deductions from
lghtcGed study, he finds In their very existence
argument for their validity ana feels his own power Of
discernment when hc see the same ssues
II no decision as to the ability of candidates has been
reached, likely To find the best Instructor IN
out Of the ChuTchf The head Of an American college
to-day stands a peculiar position. He lives ge
OF startling progress and IN the most progressive country
OF the age-in country whose literature and scholar
ship yet In their infancy Ills hands must he loose
aud his feet unsackled IL he would build his part of the
structure aud keep up with'his competitors. Should he
be governed even by the name OF established rules
Should lie not be man among men, whose thoughts can
axtf Ign gpl.
Profound scholars still 10 De had only At retail In
country and students Of any kind out Of the professions
are very rare. think however, that college which
places AT It's head a learned layman WILL In the result.
prove that II In furnishing the best instruction. and
bringing most students realization OF the Higher
Law. Yours, W.
NetC-iOrf, Jan. 3, ls1l