The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-04-02

I1MOTH1 DWIGHT SclOOl was aIUCFWdru
named.
A grant by the Legislature of $500
for the erection Of college building
brought the matter OF a 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, TIT, and building
~raised" October 8. Hartford did not
entirely abandon the struggle until two
years later, when her rival school was
adjourned to New Haven.
In IT'S 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 q ship
ment of merchandise, which sold in BOs-
ton for 1862 12s 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, 1719 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 1929, when
he was suddenly and peremptorily tex
cused from all further services" because
of determination to join the Episcopal
Church. He secured quite grant from
the Colonial Assembly, raised by a tax
on rum.
Rev. Elisha Williams, of Wethersfeld.
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 d long and stormy presi-
dency, which terminated in September
1766 He secured a new charter, with
enlarged powers, from the Legislature in
1745, and also a grant of 81, $50, which
the State raised from n authorized lot
terry. With this fund the South Middle
College" was built In 1861 Rector Clapp
raised fund partly sufficient to pay for
the chapel and library building, erected
that year, The building is now "The
Athen8um."
His extreme religious views and GER
tain arbitrary measures caused severe
criticism. The Legislature refused to
pass the usual annual grant and pro-
posed sending a committee of inveStiga
tion to the college. He met this propo-
sition, which was urged and defended
by two of the most celebrated lawyers of
that day, by q 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. He died four
months after his resignation, in 1856.
Rev. James Lockwood was next elect
ed II ctor, but declined to serve This
put the duties of that office upon the
Rev. Naphtai Daggett, Professor OF
Theology as he was the only permanent
member of the faculty. He was unpopu-
" lar as a President, and declined in TIT
to longer act in that capacity. He was
succeed by Rev. Ezra Stiles, for years
a tutor in the college. These were
revolutionary days, and for time
the practical worth of the college
was almost suspended. The law gave
the members of college community eX-
emption from military service. and the
year of 1888 found 27O pupils in attend
ance, or 13S more than in 1777! In 1892
the ining-hall-later used as chem
ical labOratOry-was erected, and in 1898
the present South College was built.
The other most important act OF Presi-
dent Stiles administration was the secur-
ing of a grant of $40 $40 from the Leg
islature, in return for which the Gov
ernor, Lieutenant Governor and the six
senior Senators were constituted eX
officio members Of the corporation.