New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
MORALS AND RELIGION AT CORNELL
NO SUBSTANTIAL GROUND FOR AsPERsIoNs ON
THAT UNIVERSITY.

rh,Edfsro OF r. T-fbprr
Sir: There has bcen strongly prevalent IN New
York State, and TO a marked extent in tho neghboring
states, very derogatory opinion Of the student body
OF Cornell In versty. Tho general opinion is that
Cornell is loosc' university that its students are
class. FREQ from restraint. Wild. turbulent, and
to a great extcnt immoral and irreligous; that the
classes especially the undercasses continually
fighting each other that the tutors themselves
liberal take heod OF tho students actions
that in short, II you want your to become
" wildo and fast" man, you should send HIM 70
Cornell One OF the students OF the cnrering class
This year brought with him two rcvovers which he
conscientously expected from what he had been told
about Cornell, TO be obliged TO use In selfdefcnce
against the sophomocs Another MAJ left his quiet
homo to come this wicked Cornell notwithstanding
the fearful entreaty OF HIS good old pastor, who
repeatedly and emphatcaly declared that ne would
rather Oflciate at his funeral than have him 60 to
Cornell.
There are two reasons for this mistaken and totally
erroneous impression. First comes the Eberallty OF
Cornell IN matters Of religion. Cornell is not q
denomnat onal institution. IL recognizes particular
belief 10 the exclusion OF Others 1t does not Is do
many colleges compel a student TO attend divine
sevco For r,is reason the majority OF pastors and
men OF deep religious convictions have looked upon
Cornell with dstriist TO a mild term. as TO its
influence I'm a religious direction They have imagined
the midnight reves, the Sunday dissertations, the
llcentIousness and immortality which they think must
be present at an institution whore creed is not
forced upon the student. They think and preach
hat because man is not subjected to particular
form OF belief he must necessarily into evil.
The second reason for this false impression lies
in the fact that for several years there have been at
Cornell a few students who have pad their way
through the university by the proceeds OF sensational
aud usually false reports the metropolitan press OF
arrlos Eva ffynA
friendly little "rush7 enjoyed these sanderers OF
their Alma Mater Immediately sent to the papers
exciting accounts OF terrific combats in which two
usually killed, several severely wounded
and al indefinite amount Of property destroyed After
read nc and believing few OF these articles, 1t Is not
matter Of wonder that the people think the students
Of Cornell are ." wild"
But Cornell is not a wild, immoral and irroligfous
Institution. We now have about 1.200 students
Taken : a whole, they will compare favorsoly In
point OF clvillty morality and religion. with any
student body IN the world. Cornell has, perhaps the
largest. equipped and most active college Christian
Association in Amer This fact alone Is proof that
our students do not bear the character imputed But
besides this Christian Association with lis membership
VI 500. and its 100000 building there apart
from the association, many UNCONVENTIONAL religious
organizations. Tho Methodist Alliance, Baptist Circle
Presbyterian Union, Seabury Guild and Ca hole Union
arc all prosperous aggressive societies. Our chapel
services are always crowded and frequently the
Who arrives no earlier than Oh time is unable To got
inside the doors. There are ten leading churches IN
ithaca each Of which greater or less number Of
students sro members There 200 Methodist
church members In the university, and 2 greater
number Of Prcsbyter ans. Ithaca Is a city whose
population Is between twelve and fifteen thousand In
The Ithaca journal" days appeared the
statement that OF the total number OF young men
who attended church services In the CITY. over ono
half were Students" When we add together the
uemlcrs OF the Christian Association those of the
flerent dcnOmnatiOnal societies and those ~ the
different city churches, not counting any twice,
We have = m kal
Students in the university.
Professor Jones, a member OF the faculty and
president Of the Society for tho Prevention OF Crime.
city organization, but having 1ursdict on over the
students WE'LL states that the society has mover had
cause take action against a student. The Rev.
George W. Chandler pastor OF the first Method 81
Episcopal Church of Ithaca. who has had wide
experience with bodies Of different nstUt ons,
ssys that the Cornell students, as whole, contain
Dominant a spirit OF morality ard religion a any
Of students IN the country" Yours respectfully,
CHARLES NJ WEEKS
Cornell University Ithaca, n. Y, Dec. 81, 1883