Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-07-02

ing upon US ignore or set aside the past IN
this regard any more than we can elsewhere.
The development must be with full reeog-
milton of this past fact.
cannot but feel that we are now at Pc
Rod in our history and in condition of
things when this work of coordination with
due regard to what lies behind us can be
successfully accomplished. The work of in
struction in the aeademical department
which in past periods has fallen to the presi-
dent, and which has called him to be pro-
fessor in that department with numerous
added duties, Is now assigned to able men
| occupying permanent chairs. He is there
| fore to be SO far released from the obliga-
| lions which have hitherto rested upon him,
| that he may have time and strength to meet
and work with the several faculties, and may
stand in like relation to all the branches of
the university. The president of this col
| lege, in my judgment, is not likely to be
| mere business agent, giving his attention
only to its financial and material interests;
| and he should not be so. He should come
| into contact with the students and should
! have opportunity to exert an intellectual and
moral influence upon them. They should
! know him as personal friend and should
| carry away with them from their college life,
| if possible, loving recollections of what he
1 has done for them and the impress of his
/ character in their own. He must be a teach
| er in some way and in some measure. But
| he cannot do everything. Fortunately in
the era now beginning he is to be relieved
| from some duties that he may be able to
assume others which are equally essential.
| And prominent among these is the duty
which lies in this line of unity and co-ordi-
| nation. The honored man to whom I have
alluded at the beginning of this address was,
according to the Unanimous testimony of all
who knew him, possessed of mind awake
| to interests in knowledge of every sort, with
varied tastes and capacities and Astounding
| intellectual enthusiasm. It was this pecu-
| liar constitution of his nature, this large
| mindedness and large heartedness, which
| qualified him SO remarkably for the special
| work which he had to do for the college at
| the critical epoch in it's history when he was
called into its service. 1t was this which, in
largo measure, gave him his great success.
| At that period the needed results could be
accomplished by one who conferred the whole
| daily life of the institution in himself and
| was surrounded only by a few instructors,
most OF whom were serving but for limited
time. But now the college has grown too
| large for this to be possible. A man en-
dowed even with the greatest gifts would
find himself to-day unable to do for six or
seven different departments and eleven hun
bred students what he did for the old college
and its comparatively small company. In
order therefore that the presiding officer may
send his best influence throughout all the
parts, it is a necessity that he should limit
his working in any single one. But the
great call of the present time to him is to
send it forth throughout the whole. l hope
1 may be able in some degree to respond to
this call. l should be false to my inheri-
lance, and, trust it may not be unbecoming
in me to say, to the impulses of my nature,
if should fail to be in sympathy with every
earnest worker among in any line of learn
! ing, however different from my own. And
so my prayer is that according to my pow
ers, I may be helpful to everyone. 1 may
add that in view of the peculiar growth of
the institution of which have spoken, it is
a matter of satisfaction to that while l
enter my official duties after a long service
in another branch of the institution, 1 was
at an earlier period engaged in the work of
instruction in the academical department.
was thus for several years familiar with the
details of it's daily working and knew per-
sonally all its students. In proportion to
the wisdom which may be given me, l may
hope therefore to represent the university
idea as connected with that of the original
college, and perchance to do something for
the healthful development of the future.
But no one in Yale college can long and
successfully exercise what is sometimes
called the zone man power" Happily for
the institution and it's welfare, happily also
in my judgment for the himself who
holds the chief Office in it, the president of
the college, though having certain consti-
tutional prerogative, is yet dependent on the
sympathy and support of his colleagues. He
is leader among brethren, rather than
commanderin-chief 1t is, therefore, an en-
eouraging sign of the present time, and an
inspiration to myself and l think to all,
that there is practically unanimous senti
ment among US in favor of the movement
towards the unity and coordination of
which 1 have spoken. For the effecting of
the result with any degree of completeness
time must, of course, be allowed. Indeed, for
the full realization of all that it will bring,
the university of the future must itself be.
We are now only at the turning point and all
that we speak of is the movement at this
point. This movement will, [ am sure, be
in the right direction and will never go back
ward. 1t will involve the reorganization of
all degrees conferred upon students at their
graduation as making them equally sons of
this university; it will call for deliberation
of the several faculties or their representa-
tiyes on matters pertaining to the general
well-being; it will perhaps lead to the closer
union of different departments in certain
lines of instruction where the work of stu
dents can be thus combined; it will gradual
ly increase the number of university teachers
who may have relations to any department;
it will doubtless demand a very considerable
increase of the university funds. But in
the history of our American colleges the
growing period has not yet wholly passed
away. 1t is ours to plan; it will be the
part of those who follow US to reap the
fruits. But there is glory and inspiration
at the beginning if we only plan largely and
wisely. The growth and progress of the last
thirty years place us, as I am persuaded, at
a new beginning in this-regard, where such a
plan is called for 1t should have fair
outlook upon the future, though it may lay
hold at first only upon what is just at hand.
Whatever difficulties it may involve will be
overcome sooner or later, for as it is in the
line of the university idea it is in the natural
order of development. 1 take up the burden
of my new Office hopefully, in this respect,
for I believe that there is good work to be
done, and that the promise of the coming
time is in it.
The second great fact which comes to our
notice remember that we are to work
upon old foundations is that the de 3artments
which include what We commonly call the
undergraduate students contain at present,
and have contained in the past, much the
largest portion of the membership of the in
stitution. In the development of our uni
versity, therefore, we need recognize this
fact. We cannot begin from the higher de-
partments and work downward, but must
rather move outward and upward from
these sections, which pre-
patory for the distinctive and
professional studies of a later period. |
The plan of this college, as it has been |
formed and carried out since the peculiar de- |
mands of the last forty years have necessitat- !
ed changes in older institutions, has in |
velved two undergraduate departments, one |
of them making provision for that course of |
study which has been handed down from |
earlier times, with such additions as in this |
age required to fit any person of liberal |
education for his mature life; the other. fur |
nishing instruction along those lines which |
especially lead to scientific research and to |
practical working in the field of the great |
material interests of the country. These |
two departments have been kept distinct |
from each other, each of them being as far /
as possible equipped for its peculiar work. |
This arrangement in the organization Of our /
college has differed from that adopted in |
many other institutions, but after an ex-
perience of more than generation it is
believed that all who are engaged in ms true
ton here are in accord in the feeling that it
is the wisest and most successful provision |
for meeting the necessities of the case. The
two departments have moved on side by
side, and with no collision; for many years.
We believe that they are to move forward
in the same way hereafter. The develop
ment of the university, SO far as they are
must, think, recognize the
fact. In the growth and increase of stud
les however, which will doubtless be wit