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

twelve years previous to his accepting the
presidency he had been closely associated
with Professor Dwight. He only hop
ed that the undergraduates would
him as they had ever manifested toward
himself. There were many things which
could be imposed, he thought, but he could
say with confidence that the moral influence
of the college had greatly advanced and the
manly bearing of the students were greatly
elevated. He could see no danger to the in
stitution if the principle of the college were
maintained
In conclusion President Porter presented
President-elect Dwight to the faculty and
members of the corporation, who arose in a
body in recognition, and then to the alumni,
the undergraduates and the community at
large, whereat everybody stood. President
Dwight then took the official chair and e1-
President Porter sat down beside him. The
congratulatory address in Latin was by Pro
fessor Tracy Peck, after which President
Dwight delivered his inaugural.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
On the seventeenth of August, 1895, the
distinguished man who was at that time
called to the presidency of this college, in
his letter of acceptance addressed to the
members of the corporation, wrote these
words: "Allow me, gentlemen, to say that
few undertakings in human life appear to me
to be fraught with more difficulties than this
on which ! am now entering. 1t is co1so-
lation to me to know that, when faithfully
pursued, there are not many which are more
beneficial to mankind. The most high hath
been pleased in his providence to call me to
this employment. 1 feel myself obliged,
though not without great difidence, to obey
the summons. On his direction and blessing
I hope 1 principally depend, and next on the
efectual support and counsel of this body,
who are his ministers in this solemn con-
Germ" By one of those singular movements
of divine providence which occasionally
seem to make history repeat itself, I find my
self to-day summoned to enter the office to
which he was then chosen-the progress of
two generations in the line of family descent
and of ninety-one years in time placing the
grandson and the bearer of his name where,
in the course of his life's experience, he was
at that moment standing The words which
he wrote I would make my own at this hour,
and would say for myself that in this work
to which l am called l hope 1 shall principal
ly depend on the divine direction and bless
ing, while in the effectual support and coun-
sci of the members of the body which has
given me my Office ana of my associates in
the faculties I have the confidence which
comes from common views or from lifelong
friendship. The difficulties to which the
writer of the quoted words makes allusion
ing point in the history of the college at
which he saw that his official life was to be-
gin. The institution was drawing near to
the end of the first hundred years of its ex-
istence, as the eighteenth century was open
ing towards the new ideas and promise of the
nineteenth century. The collegiate school,
which had satisfied the demands and almost,
as it seemed, the probabilities of the past,
must now begin larger life and be ready
for growth of which the early fathers had
not dreamed. New plans were to be formed,
new fields of investigation to be entered,
new instruction to be provided. The school
was to become in truer and higher sense a
college; the college was even to make its first
movement in that line of progress which
should, in the course of time, change it into
a place for universal learning. 1t was day
of comparatively small things for the pres
emit, but it called for a wide reaching outlook
upon the future. Where were the men and
the means, the buildings and the various in
of every sort to be secured,
that the requirements of the rapidly ap-
preaching future should be successfully met!
We cannot wonder that the man who was
called to undertake the work was impressed
with the difficulties attending it, or that he
felt that its Importance to the country, or
even the world, would be a continual inspi-
ration in his efforts and labors.
The ending of another hundred years now
draws near, and as the nineteenth century
begins to open towards the twentieth we find
ourselves at o similar turning point. The
school, as it might be called, was
then to be transformed into college; now
the college is 10 grow into university. In
q peculiar sense therefore does history seem
to my own thought to repeat itself as I am
at this particular moment to take
in some degree the leadership in the life of
Yale college. The difficulties and the inspi-
rations cannot fail to rise before my mind, as
they did before the mind of the one of whom
have spoken; and in their union and inter
mingling with each other they may we'll sug
gest the few thoughts to which 1 give utter
ance on this occasion.
Yale college is to be a university. This
is, think, what we who belong to it and
owe it are all of US saying to one another to-
lay The thought itself is the inspiration of
;he hour. But how is the end to be secured
md what are the ideas which this university
g to represents AS we ask these questions
t is important for US to remember that we
ire not planning for or creating new insti-
,ution; we are beginning a new epoch in the
history of one which has existed for nearly
,wo centuries. This fact necessarily imposes
certain limitations upon US. 1t also serves
% guide us in our course. The university
which comes into being to day may be estab-
ished in accordance with the views of sin
5l0 IuolN1oud VI LAO EletSS1uS IoSdS VI LILO
lime. But one whose origin is in the distant
past must be affected in all its growth by its
inheritance from other generations. The
work which we have before US is one of de-
7elopment under conditions already, in large
measure, determined without our interven-
ion and with the use of materials, if we
nay SO speak, made ready to our hands.
There are two great facts connected with the
past which present themselves to our thought
md 1atarToiOa action 90 We innnira
low the end that we are seeking ID to be at
aimed. The first is that our university must
De built upon the foundation of an already
existing college. For more than hundred
Years this college constituted the whole insti
;ution, and had as its plan and purpose to
furnish that general education which might
prepare its students for whatever work in
ife they should afterwards choose for them
elves. 1t grew stronger with the lapse of
line and acquired a wide extended reputa-
ion, drawing it's company of students to-
,ether from all sections of the country. It
lad become a great institution for the period
hen present, when the first of the profess
ional schools was established. AS natural
it continued to occupy the main
bought of those who had the general inter-
SITS here in charge, as well as of all who
ooked to this place as a seat of learning.
he professional schools, which were all of
hem founded during the first quarter of the
resent century, were at the beginning small
n the number of their students and weak in
heir resources. They depended largely on
he fame and power of individual teachers
or their very existence, and were compelled
0 live rather on the hope of the future than
n any realization of the present. The self
acrifce of the men who gave their lives to
heir service brought them gradually to an
onorable position. But by reason of their
nuch later origin and the fact that they
,ere apparently somewhat loosely attached
o the college, which was steadily increasing
n numbers and in fame, they seemed to all
o be additions to the body and not co-ordi-
ate parts of a common institution. The
anne thing was true of the Scientific school,
vhich came into being nearly quarter of
entury after the last of the schools for pro-
essional study. The sagacieus minds of
hose who laid the foundations of this school
aw the importance of meeting the demand
,hich was then beginning to be made for in
truction in the various branches of physical |
,iences and they resolved to provide for the |
ew want as promptly and fully as the posi- |
ilities of the case allowed. But the first |
,achers commenced their work almost with |
ut means, and with little thought that the |
1ture would be what it has proved to be. |
UGH being the order of growth in the insti- |
1tion and such the comparative strength of |
8 different departments, it was matter of |
may almost say of necessity
lat the old orr ,inaI college should continue