EARLY DAYS OF YALE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 22, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 47.

EARLY DAYS OF YALE.

AN article in the Self Culture Magazine for November reveals a different condition in Yale's early days than now exists. It would be well if some of the old-time discipline existed now. Here is an extract from the article:—

The early period of Yale's history was full of interest, yet full of struggle. The tuition fee at first was twenty shillings a year, which was raised to forty shillings on the settlement of the Congregational faith of the college, and in 1726 twenty-three scholars graduated. During the régime of Elisha Williams (1726-1739) life at Yale was (as was the time) simple and severe. Board cost five shillings a week ($1.25), and every student was required to read the Scriptures daily—

—yt ye word of Christ may Dwell in Him richly & yt he may be filled with ye knowledge of ye will of God in all wisdom & spiritual understanding.

Among other rules were the following:—

No student shall go into any tavern, victualling-house, or inn to eat or Drink, except he shall be called by his parents, or some sufficient person, yt ye rector shall except of. . . . No student shall use ye company or familiar acquaintance of a Dissolute person, nor intermeddle with men's business, nor intrude himself into ye chambers of students, nor shall any undergraduate go att Courts, elections, keeping high days, or go a hunting, or fowling [without leave, nor shall any be out of his room after 9 at night, nor have a] light in his chamber after eleven, nor before four in ye morning.

Prayers were to be at 6 A.M. in summer, and sunrise in winter, and between 4 and 5 P.M. These and all rules the student had to write out for himself on entering college and assent to them strictly.