Yale University
David Hillhouse Buel (priest) went to which school from 1879 to 1883?
David Hillhouse Buel ( priest ) David Hillhouse Buel Jr . ( July 19 , 1862May 23 , 1923 ) was an American priest who served as the president of Georgetown University . He was a Catholic priest and Jesuit for much of his life , but later left the Jesuit order to marry , and subsequently left the Catholic Church to become an Episcopal priest . Born at Watervliet , New York , he was the son of David Hillhouse Buel , a distinguished Union Army officer , and descended from numerous prominent New England families who were among the earliest colonial settlers of the United States . While studying at Yale University , he was introduced to Michael J . McGivney , a priest at St . Marys Church , and converted to Catholicism , entering the Society of Jesus after graduation . In 1901 , Buel became a professor at Georgetown University . He took charge of the university in 1905 , after the sudden removal of the president . In this role , he promoted intramural sports , oversaw construction of Ryan Gymnasium , and reformed the curriculum and university governance . He also instituted strict discipline and curtailed intercollegiate athletics , stoking fierce opposition from the student body and their parents , which resulted in his removal by the Jesuit superiors in 1908 . Buel then performed pastoral work and taught for several years , before resigning from the Jesuit order in 1912 and secretly marrying in Connecticut . When word reached Washington , D.C. , his former Jesuit colleagues publicly condemned him , and the media claimed his actions resulted in his excommunication latae sententiae . Buel resumed teaching in a secular capacity in New England , but after his marriage lived at times in poverty despite his wifes considerable inheritance . He formally left the Catholic Church in 1922 to be ordained an Episcopal priest , but never took up rectorship of a church . He spent his last years in New York City . Early life . David Hillhouse Buel was born on July 19 , 1862 , at Watervliet Arsenal in West Troy , New York . His father , David Hillhouse Buel , was a graduate of the United States Military Academy , and distinguished Union Army officer . He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during the Civil War , and was appointed Chief of Ordnance of the Army of the Tennessee . He had been awarded a brevet while a major . Buels mother was Josephine Maria Buel née McDougall . She was of Scottish ancestry , and the daughter of Brigadier General Charles McDougall . Buels grandfather was a Congregational minister and an 1833 graduate of Williams College . Buels ancestry includes several prominent and influential families , such as the McDougalls , Hansons , Wilmers and Hillhouses , the latter of which produced many statesmen and scholars in Connecticut . The Buel family was also prominent in Connecticut , and was one of the oldest in New England . His earliest American ancestor , William Buel , arrived in 1630 from England . Two of Buels brothers , Samuel and Clarence , went on to become Episcopal priests . Education and conversion to Catholicism . Buel attended Williston Seminary in Easthampton , Massachusetts , where he graduated in 1879 . From there , he went to Yale University , where he became known by his nickname of Ted . Many of Buels ancestors attended Yale , including his great-great-great-uncle , James Hillhouse , a 1773 graduate who became the treasurer of the university for 50 years , and the president pro tempore of the United States Senate . At Yale , Buel became interested in theater . He lived with his uncle , William Hillhouse , next door to St . Marys Church . Along with other Protestant students , Buel began attending Catholic Mass at St . Marys after the Protestant chapel services at which Yale required attendance of all students . The neighboring Protestants were not happy with Protestant students attending the Catholic church . At St . Marys , he became friendly with Michael J . McGivney , a Catholic priest . Upon McGivneys suggestion , Buel focused his theatrical interests on the classics , rather than what McGivney viewed as unseemly subjects , such as the minstrel shows that were popular with the students of Yale at the time . Heeding the advice , he wrote Medea : A Travesty , based on the Greek tragedy of Medea , and a musical titled Penikeese ; or Cuisine and Cupid . Filled with local jokes , Penikeese became so popular with the students that the musical was staged professionally in New Haven , garnering Buel much attention . His theatrical interest remained with him later in life , and he continued to write operettas . During his sophomore year , Buels mother converted to Catholicism . This prompted him to give up his Episcopal faith and convert to Catholicism shortly thereafter , largely guided by McGivney . Two of Buels Protestant classmates were also guided by McGivney , and converted to Catholicism . In 1883 , he graduated from Yale with honors , receiving a Bachelor of Arts . He then notified McGivney that he desired to become a priest . Wary that Buel may have arrived at the decision hastily , McGivney instructed him to allow time for reflection before he reached a final decision . Buel arranged to spend the summer traveling in Canada , where he upheld his decision . Teaching and formation . Buel entered the Society of Jesus upon his return from Canada and in November 1883 proceeded to the novitiate at West Park , New York , where he remained for a year . While there , he became ill and was sent to St . Francis Xavier College in New York City , where he was given light work as the assistant prefect of discipline . In December 1885 , he left the college and took up a professorship of Latin and Ancient Greek at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester , Massachusetts . Buel then studied the classics for a year at the Jesuit novitiate in Frederick , Maryland , before going to Woodstock College for his three years of philosophical studies . In 1890 , he returned to New York to become a professor of mechanics , calculus , and physics at Fordham University . The following year , he again joined the faculty of St . Francis Xavier College as a professor of Latin , mathematics , and mechanics , where he remained for four years . In 1895 , Buel resumed his priestly studies at Woodstock , taking up four years of theology . On June 28 , 1898 , Buel was ordained a priest by Cardinal James Gibbons at the college . Following his ordination , he became a member of the missionary band of the Jesuits Maryland-New York Province in March 1899 . In this position , he was stationed at churches throughout New England , New York , and Pennsylvania , and led retreats for religious orders until September 1900 . He spent his tertianship year in Florissant , Missouri , studying ascetical theology . Buel then moved to Georgetown University in Washington , D.C . to serve as a professor of mechanics and physics from 1901 to 1904 . He attained the grade of professed father in the Society of Jesus on February 3 , 1902 , being promoted to Doctor of Divinity . In 1905 , he became father minister ( vice president ) of the university . Georgetown University . After Jerome Daugherty fell ill , Buel succeeded him in 1905 as president of Georgetown University . During his tenure , Buel convened the first alumni advisory committee , who solicited input from alumni in the governance of the university , a rarity for contemporary Jesuit universities , but a common institution at many public and an increasing number of private universities . He was also successful in reducing the universitys debt . Buel also saw that the curriculum was generally improved , including increasing the size of the faculty at the Law School . During his presidency , the School of Medicines curriculum was adopted as the standard of the Association of American Medical Colleges . He also affirmed the semi-autonomy the Sisters of St . Francis had from the medical faculty in running the Georgetown University Hospital and School of Nursing . Reform of athletics . Continuing the work of his predecessor , Buel reduced the prominence of athletics by de-professionalizing the football , baseball , and track programs , which involved strict limits on intercollegiate travel for athletics . He also considered abolishing the football team altogether , as Columbia University , New York University , and Stanford University had already done , due to a spate of severe injuries and deaths in college football . Nonetheless , students were generally unhappy with the reform . Though he disfavored intercollegiate athletics , Buel strongly believed in fitness , and promoted intramural sports . He reasoned that athletics should promote the physical fitness of all students , and should not single out a few talented athletes . To this end , he oversaw construction of the Ryan Gymnasium in 1905 , for which one of his predecessors , J . Havens Richards , had raised money , and hired the first physical education instructor in 1906 . Discipline . Buels presidency was characterized by the institution of rigid discipline . One of his measures included putting into place a strict daily schedule by which students were required to abide . As well as classes , students were obligated to attend study hall , meals , Mass , night prayers , and benediction . Failure to abide by this agenda resulted punishment according to a new demerit system . Despite his general draconian disposition , Buel protested to the Jesuit Superior General that his requirement that students not be allowed off-campus past 10:00p.m . was an excessive restriction of students liberty that would dissuade them from attending the university . His rigidity was met with strong opposition by the students , their parents , and faculty . Buel made no allowances for absence from these requirements , even at the request of parents to allow their sons to attend family events , St . Patricks Day celebrations , or , in one case , to attend the Democratic Party state convention nominating a students father for Congress . According to his disciplinary system , transgression of his decision to compel attendance resulted in expulsion from the university of a student who had left to act as godfather at the baptism of his sisters child . Students began protesting these strictures , such as by marching out of campus en masse . Eventually , this began to affect enrollment ; several students withdrew , and few matriculated . In 1908 , the provincial superior wrote to Rome that Buel had provoked an armed neutrality between himself and the students , and a replacement must be appointed to save Georgetown from certain impending ruin . Determining that Buel fulfilling another three-year term would result in permanent harm to the university , the provincial sent a slate of three nominees to the Superior General , who selected Joseph J . Himmel in August 1908 to replace Buel . Such a sudden departure was unusual , as presidents usually completed their tenure at the end of an academic year , rather than soon before the start of a new one . Later life . Parochial work and teaching . Following his abrupt departure from Georgetown , Buel was sent to Philadelphia , where he was made rector of St . Josephs Church . He became a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States , and served as chaplain to its District of Columbia Commandery from 1908 to 1909 ; he resigned from the order in October 1911 . He also became a member of the National Geographic Society . In 1909 , he once again returned to the College of the Holy Cross as a professor of mechanics and physics , but suffered an injury to his ankle , and was unable to assume the position . Therefore , in November of that year , he went to New York City as an assistant parish priest at St . Francis Xavier Church . In February 1910 , he was transferred to St . Thomas Manor in Maryland , and became rector of St . Ignatius Church there . Finally , he returned to Washington , D.C. , where he worked as a parish priest at St . Aloysius Church and taught at Gonzaga College . While at Gonzaga , he officially resigned from the Society of Jesus on July 12 , 1912 . Laity and marriage . On December 30 , 1912 , Buel secretly married Katherine Frances Powers in New Canaan , Connecticut , to the surprise of even Powers parents . Powers was the daughter of Edward J . Powers , a contracting mason , of whom she was one of eight daughters . She reportedly had been left an inheritance valued at more than $10,000 . Her mother , Mary Powers née Conway , was a devout Catholic and raised her children as such ; one daughter became a nun . Buel and Powers met at a summer resort in Point Allterton , Massachusetts , in 1912 , and began a secret courtship . Following their marriage , they moved to Kips Bay in Manhattan . Their marriage did not produce any children . Meanwhile , the Jesuits at Georgetown were shocked to learn of his marriage through the news , and several senior Jesuits condemned it as inviting criticism of the university by those seeking salacious stories . It was reported in the media that Buels marriage , which was a violation of his vow of celibacy , automatically severed him from the priesthood and excommunicated him latae sententiae from the Catholic Church . Buel responded to the criticism by writing an open letter to the United Press , saying he was not a Jesuit at the time of his marriage , having previously tendered his resignation to the Society of Jesus as a member in good standing . He argued that the Jesuits public criticism of his marriage was a personally motivated departure from their usual policy of secrecy , and cited several former Jesuits who withdrew from the order and received no public condemnation . Conversion to Episcopalianism . Soon after marrying , Buel moved to Massachusetts , where he taught Latin , Greek , and French at Roxbury Preparatory School from 1913 to 1914 . He then opened a summer camp for boys in Allerton Heights , Massachusetts , called Camp Hillhouse-by-the-Sea . From 1915 to 1918 , he tutored students at the camp . After leaving the Society of Jesus , Buel at times lived in poverty , so much so that at one point he almost starved . When visited one winter by the Unitarian minister William Laurence Sullivan , he said he was prepared to take any kind of work , including being a guard in the subway . Buel sought admittance to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church , of which he had been a member before converting to Catholicism in college . On June 2 , 1922 , he was ordained at St . Thomass Church in New Haven by Bishop Chauncey B . Brewster of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut . Buel then became ill , and was unable to accept a rectorship of an Episcopal church . For part of 1922 , he lived in Bridgeport , Connecticut , before returning to New York City that November , where he lived out the rest of his life . Eventually , he became ill , and one of the local Catholic priests visited him at his bedside the day before his death to offer him last rites and hear his confession ; Buel , who could no longer speak , refused both . He died of pneumonia on May 23 , 1923 , and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy , New York .