Evening star., 1907-08-06
Founded by King George III.

Dartmouth was founded by George III,
''by the grace of God and of Great Britain,
France and Ireland king, defender Of the
faith" and forth, with a view to their
carrying the Gospel in their own language
and spreading the knowledge of the great
Redeemer among the savage tribes It's
origin has been called a heroic romance
and may be traced to Bishop Berkeley, that
great philosopher. who was the author OF
the famous line 'Westward the course OF
empire takes its way He planned col
lege at Bermuda for the education OF IN
dian youth to become missionaries among
their own people, but abandoned the scheme
and gave the money that had been contrib
uted to the enterprise to la!" College to
provide the first foundation for post-grad-
uate study In America; and President Noah
Porter has said that 1t was the most i'm
portant gift ever received by that instltu-
ton.
Eleazar Wheelock was the first student
to take advantage of the opportunity of
fered--a graduate of the class of lI29. He
was born at Windham, Conn; was descend
ed from an eminent non-conformlst preach-
er who came to America to escape persecu-
ton assisted to found the first free schoo!
in America at Dedham, Mass. was the pro-
gentor of three college presidents and one
of the most eloquent preachers OF his time
He was an Intimate friend OF George White
field and took active part with him IN
the great awakening, as the historical re
vivaI OF religion at that period was called.
necessary by the lack Of academies and
theological seminaries he took into his
family several young men to prepare them
for college and for ordination for the miRs
try Among others was Il young Indian,
Samson Occum, whose mother. having been
converted to the Christian faith, was eager
that her son should become minister. The
Young man proved brilliant success.
I,eorgc Whitcfeld became deeply interested
in him and himself also interested the Mar
quis of Lothian the Countess of Hunting
ton and other wealthy persons both in Eng
land and the colonies. This led to the
founding of school for Indian education,
under DR.. Wheelock, at Lebanon, Conn.
Among the contributors was Benedict Ar
mold who In a polite letter nclosed what
he said was "a large proportion of the
profits of a venture which l sent to sea"
Whitefeld's dramatic instincts suggested
that the best way to raise money Tor this
school was to send to England an Indian
convert who could talk and preach and
serve as an example. Mr. Wheelock seized
upon the suggestion and shortly after sailed
himself with Samson Occum. The latter
was a remarkable character; a splendid type
rhvsically of the noble red man. He was
called the glory of the Indian nation At
the same time he was magnetic orator. a
charming cOnVersationaiist and had digni-
fed but attractive manners. In addition
to his oratoriCal talent he was a poet Sew
eraI hymns of his composition may be found
In modern collections. One Of them, be
ginning:
''Awaked by sinai's awful sound"
is aqual to the most terrible of DR.. Watts.
Occums advent in England produced
profound sensation He was formally re-
ceived by the king. who heard him preach,
and by the Archbishop OF Canterbury, the
Archbishop of York and all the other ia
nous diviues OF that period. He preached
$3.50 times in the most important churches
of England and Scotland. The result was
a fund of G11, LOCO, to which George III con-
tributed G2uo. The funds We're placed in
the hands of a board OF trustees of which
Lord Dartmouth was chairman, and DIR.
Wheelock returned to America with a
charter 1t was intended to- locate in the
Connecticut valley, but rivalries and ieal-
ousies made that difficult, and Gov. John
Went worth who had become Interested in
the movement offered township six miles
square on the Connecticut river which was
accepted. It first proposed to christen
TIL" college in honor of Gov. Wentworth,.
but the latter modestly declined the honor,
and the name of Lord Dartmouth was sub
stituted.
Few Indians Educated There.
Although the college primarily in
tended for the education of Indians, only
two Students Of that race entered the
beginning. and it required considerable eff
fort to obtain more The Jesuits and the
clergy of the Established Church of Eng
! tl,o