New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19
ORIGIN or THE NAME "COLL WBIA.'
DR. EFFINGHAM II NICHOLS TRACES 1T
BACK TO A. VERSE OF THE
ELDER DWIGHT.

A, n b,noue, recently given In honor OF Or
Dwight, the president OF Yale University. BY the
Yale Alumni Association OF Fairfield County. Conn.
at the Atlantic Hotel. Bridgeport. Eflnsham H.
Nichols LII. D. of this city. the president OF tho
association at the close OF his Introductory adj
dress turned TO President Seth Low. OF Columbia.
and said
The Hon. Seth Low. the lover and promoter OF
good government. the accomplished and generous
president OF Columbia College. Is here. He comes
TO greet "A fellow president l wonder II he Is
aware OF his relationship 10 Yale and how much
he In Indebted 10 her In his Official capacity as
presidcnt OF Columbia. The former name OF Column
bla College was Kings College. In l7s4 patriotism
'love OF country-suggested the propriety OF a
change Of name. The feeling OF the times demand
ed change. For that purpose those to whose
keeping her interests were inirusted met In solemn
council and while In session the genius OF Yale
called and presented TO their chairman beautiful
pearl In the form OF an appropriate and melodious
name, Columbia That name they at once adopted.
and thereafter Kings College known as Co.
iumba College. | say the genius OF Yale for what
originated with Or. Dwight, the elder. became
the property Of Yale. DR.. Dwight. tho elder. gradu-
a,cd at Yale In 1863 He licensed TO preach In
III. About that time General George Washington
appointed him chaplain In the Army. He was
OF commanding presence and prophetic mind.
While marching with the Army he became inspired
with the prospects and coming glory OF his country.
and the purposes OF Providence In reference there
TO. and while thu. inspired he wrote and set to
music that war song. army song. as II was
called. commencing
Columbia. Columbia. 10 glory arise.
Queen o the world. and child OF the ski-a
THAT word columbia never used before.
and that II originated with Timothy Dwight have
no doubt. That 1t did originate with him Is the
result OF much investigation II was frequently
used In songs but they were all post-revout!onary
songs.
Throughout our country many cities. towns and
villages places and rivers are named Columbia
but they all so named subsequent to the army
song OF Dr. Dwight. In South America the Repub-
lie OF Colombia. which was formed BY consolidating
three PROVINCES was not consolidated or named
until May. 1891 and its name Is Republic OF Colon
bia and not the Republic OF Columbia. The nearest
approach TO the word Columbia Is TO be found In
the name OF Irish priest. born In the early part
OF the sixth century who went out from Ireland to
an island called Iona. on the west coast OF Scot
land. and there founded monastery. which in
time became the mother OF a hundred other mon
asteries. whose history forms a most important
page in the history OF Christianity; but he was
called ST. Columbia and not Columbia
while had no reasonable doubt but that the
name Columbia originated with DR.. Dwight. still
I hesitated. until happily ! found Glossary OF
New Names. compiled In 1864. by no less authority
than that OF William A. Wheeler. a son-ln-law OF
Noah Webster. who. under the head OF Columbia
says that this word has not been found In any
writings prior to those Of DR.. Dwight. and that 1t
undoubtedly originated with him. and then quotes,
Columbia. Columbia. to glory arise etc.
This being the case. there ought. therefore, to
exist between these. the two presidents Dr. Dwight
and DR.. Low. as there undoubtedly does the ut
most good-fellowship. and the boys OF Yale In all
their contests should deal generously with the boys
Of Columbia, and give them the benefit OF every
doubt.
while It Is true that Alma Mater has christ
ened Columbia and given her new and beautiful
name II therefore does not necessarily follow
that the relation Of mother and daughter exists be-
tween the two But should any one assert that such
was the case. have no doubt but that the gallant
president Of Columbia would not only not object
but would 1t once arise. and. standing before our