New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-16
MORiiS AT YALE.

II would as soon send Il boy to hell as send
him TO Yale"
That doesn't look well in print. does it? 1t
doesn't seem as though it would sound well
anywhere either. Even as the passionate out
burst Of an excited partisan viewing a holly
fought football scrmmage, ii would carry with
it something like a shock TO men and women Of
refinement. if any such were within hearing.
But 1t was not said by an angry man on foot
ball field. Nor by any man whatever. wom-
an said it. A good woman at that. She was
the daughter of one clergyman and the wife Of
another; presumably we'll brought up. amid the
softening and refining influences Of Christian
home 1t was public utterance. too. in large
gathering of men and women calling themselves
Christian Workers. who were holding an Inter
national Convention in the Calvary Baptist
Church at NewHaven. Conn, within stones
throw Of Yale College. She was the wife of the
pastor of the church. having thus a quas-officlal
relation to the assembly, and she was particular
10 say that she desired her remarks TO be re-
ported in the newspapers. Did she mean it?
How could she: Read it carefully. Could any
mother or wife, any sane woman who knew It's
significance. make such a statement as that
with delibcration and truthfuness? The Ques
ton carries its own answer.
The Christian Workers had under discussion
resolution setting forth their belief that New
Haven was lin nearly every way more than
usually clean and moral city 1t was in the
conventions closing hours, and the resolution
was intended to smooth over the local resent
ment which had been aroused by remarks OF
the president, the Rev. Mr.. Torrey. Of Chicago,
at an earlier session, in the course Of which that
gentleman-a Yale graduate himself of the class
Of 1S15-had said some things about the deplor
able condition of public morals in New-Haven
and in Yale College which he did not really
mean. Mr.. Torrey is evidently one of those re-
ligious enthusiasts OF the exclusively church
militant sort who believe in beating sin over
the head with club and giving no quarter TO
sinners. In this respect he seems to differ some
what from the Founder of Christianity, who.
according 10 the Gospels, was especially tender
toward the crring. with whom he kept in con
slant touch and only impatient with the self
righteous who stood them off with rolling eyes
and palms turned outward. Mr. Torrey had
said too much and was sorry for it. Sorry as
he said. because the widespread publication
which was always given TO his opinions might
injure the city and the college. Not an unnatural
mistake. perhaps for Mr. Torrey: still mis-
take: for il is not likely that either New-Haven
or Yale College will be seriously alfectei by the
publication OF what Mr.. Torrcy thinks of them.
But he was sorry, and the resolution under con
slderaton was intended to smooth it over.
1t was then that Mrs Poieat, wife Of the Rev
Mr. Poeat, of the Calvary Bapts, Church.
arose, and with some agitation delivered her
own views Of the depravity Of Ncw-IIaven in
general and Yale College in particular, cOnclud-
ing with the sentence we have quoted I'VE
years, and have known many mothers sons
"who have come 10 Yale We receive letters OF
introduction from them and put ourselves out
Ito invite them TO our house to tea and lunch
They come the first year; then we see them
with pipes in their mouths. and then we don't
''and believe that more boys ruined In Yale
university than in any other place know Of
Il would as soon send boy to hell as to send
him 10 Yale. and | want 10 stand up here be-
fore the newspaper reporters and say H. and
Il would be willing to 20 before President
Dwight and make the same statement" This
cannot be pleasant reading for Christian men
and women who are devoted to Christian work
and would Ike 10 believe that the 'Chrls,ian
Workers called are helping them To do It.
Nor can II bring much encouragement To- the
mothers for whose sons these "christian Work
ers put themselves out by inviting them 10 e,
and lunch to learn that Notwithstanding these