New-York tribune., 1883-03-18
THE IDEA OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE.
An ADDRESS by PRESIDENT GILMAN BEFORE TIL
YALE ALUMNI.

| An ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GILMAN BEFORE THE
YALE ALUMNI.
The Yale Alumni Association held Its fifth social
meeting for tins winter at Delmonlco's
on Friday night. Chauncay NJ. Depew pre-
siued. The Glee Club which had been
| invited to come from New-Haven was pres
en-. and sang seyeraI college songs Among the guests
" fir III abroad were Senator Randall Lee Gibson
and " illIam Preston Johnson. of LOUISIANA, and
John Mason Brown, OF Alabama. Tho address OF
the evening was delivered by Daniel c. Gilman, of
tie class OF '52. now the president of Johus
Hopkins University. Ills subject was The
idea ot IN, American Co,.ege." After the address
senator Gibson spoke briefly and the meeting
closed with Il lunch. President Gilman said IN
par:
Tao American College has its Characteristic features
II -prans from IN Lnsi germ aud SIN bears some
ia zs Of is origin GrcIt changes have taken place
however. IA tA' Co.t~e Sys,,H ,i' our "cN"'S'
Wncn books we're costly and wDen re-
search. Is We understand II was entirely uu~pptc-
ca,ed II was b'rn IN roYsri, aad derived itS cliet
support from the fl,c-@il offerings OF tue people Ine
the development Of intellectual power. The American
colc-c Is admirable place tic training Of mcn.
Ia our cJlleges-iucica'e of wealth, growth
~ modern scienccs and the progress OF religious fee
quests which our college, are constantly receiving IniS
factor also IN to increase az rich Students IN
II il uncommon for parenis OF means 20 SEND their
the smail,r colleges where there are less extra
Oar colleges need to provide large salary funds. Inc
professor has tc to lOOk iOrH ARA To when lie
r,ns n nI t rlnre nr when ue ,s ~ If l. su .il
for Institutions 10 tAko secoadrI1 men when utst-
rate b. obtained Pursts sAOdld also be offered
o s,deuts TO be- wOn by merit regardless o. the wealth
OF tie student Win reference 10 tc gtO"lh Ol noueih
science, there many subjects ealing for ut-
teutiOn that courses are being demanded every Gay
Tbs has gone by wien one man Is ass Shcd 10 leaoh
natural science. The colleges OF thl5 country nave
never been hostile TO modern science II has rateiy,
il ever, been admitted that framing clcHy tClthIuc
was prefer be 10 one lily asslcal
II my belief that mucl Of the mathematics needed
In general education may De learned IN properly con-
Quoted Ory school before boz eutcls college,
textbooks In those schools are mature oa hgi
d,groc, but they be tsuSd by maseT1and ItlhK
much Of tie details or mathematics cAnDled Dy coeSe
men is due to their early training on that SUBJECT
Wa | said OF proficiency IN mathematics Is equally
true OF Laun ami Greek. Ihey, too, may De acquired
finishes his freshman year. The average boy should
read the common classics Dy that time,
and then he may pursue the subjects as
he chooses In this country every student should
French aud English. The perpexng question ls what
shall be done the scientific sudies Much Is said
now about elective courses TO certain exteAt
students should DO allowed TO choose the
the direction OF some one competent 10 Judge what
courses of STUDY are best Tor them, Al the sheffield
School student may take one OF several lnes OF study
but he take and follow IL closely. TGe third
important factor which / mentioned was the
progress OF religion. Every great denomination
now has its colleges, and the natural objection
many State universities, which differ from the others
mainly chapel attendance. The outcome OF this new
OF things 1t IS difficult 10 predict, and thus the
three factors which are temporary disturbing agen
progress of religious freedonare destined to DO In the
future lactOrsIor good