Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-04-10

named.
A grant by the Legislature of $500
for the erection of college building
brought the matter OF permanent
location to a crisis. The towns in the
contest for the site were New Haven.
Hartford and Saybrook. The contest
was bitter, but New Haven seemed to
be the victor, and commencement was
held there Sept. II, 1717, and building
'sraised" October 8. Hartford did not
entirely abandon the struggle until two
years later, when her rival school was
adjourned to New Haven.
In 1918 the famous Cotton Mather
wrote an urgent appeal to Elihu Yale, of
London, who had become very wealthy
out of trade in the Indies, to give the
school that liberal assistance which
would make his name synonymous with
that of the school.
Governor Yale responded with ship
ment of merchandise, which sold in Bos-
ton for ESQ., l2s sterling. At the next
commencement the name of "Yale Col
lege" was formally given the school by
the trustees.
Rector Andrew was succeeded in
March, 1910, by Rev. Timothy Cutler,
who resigned his passionate of the Con-
gregational Church at Stratford Conn,
and devoted his entire time to his new
duties, at New Haven. until 1922, when
he was suddenly and peremptorily "ex-
cused from all further services" because
of a determination to join the Episcopal
Church. He secured quite u grant from
the Colonial Assembly. raised by tax
on rum.
Rev. Elisha Williams, of Wethersield,
was the next rector, He was an able
one. and his administration brought con-
siderable addition to the resources of the
college. Impaired health caused him to
resign in 1889, and Rev. Thomas Clapp
was elected to long and stormy presi-
dcncy, which terminated in September,
1766. He secured a new charter. with
enlarged powers, from the Legislature in
1T45, and also a grant of 91,66O, which
the State raised from an authorized lot
terry. With this fund the South Middle
College" was built. In 1861 Rector Clapp
raised a fund partly sufficient to pay for
the chapel and library building, erected
that year. The building is now "rhc
Athennum.
His extreme religious views and GER
tain arbitrary measures caused severe
criticism. The Legislature refused tc
pass the usual annual grant and pro-
posed sending a committee of investiga-
ton to the college. He met this propo.
sition, which was urged and defended
by two of the most celebrated lawyers OF
that day, by speech before the Legisla
ture that won his case against strong
prejudice. The issues involved were
very similar to those in the subsequent
Dartmouth College case. lie died -four
months after his resignation, in 1866.
Rev. James Lockwood was next elect
ed rector, but declined to serve. This
put the duties of that office upon the
Rev. Naphtali Daggctt, Professor OF
Theology, as he was the only permanent
member of the faculty. He was unpopu
lar as a President, and declined in 1T,
to longer act in that capacity. He wa:
succeed by Rev. Ezra Stiles. for year.
q tutor in the college. These wcr,
revolutionary days, and for a t;mt
the practical worth of the college
was almost suspended. The law CAV,
the members of college community ex
emption from military service, and thu
year of 1888 found $40 pupils in attend
ance, or lbs more than in 1777! In l79:
the dining hall-later used as chem
zeal laboratory-wase erected, and in l79;
the present South College was built
The other most important act of Presi
dent Stiles administration was the secur
ing of grant of S4O,62O from the Leg
islature, in return for which the Gov
crnor. Lieutenant Governor, and the ST.
senior Senators were constituted g.
oticlo members OF the corporation