SOME UNIVERSITY INFLUENCES.

FOR only six years has Yale been called a University,

and hardly yet has she become fully imbued with the idea. Her progress has been good as far as it has gone and her position to-day is perhaps first of American literary institutions, but there are certain University characteristics she has not developed as yet. These are especially lacking in the first two years of the college course, when students are compelled to follow certain prescribed studies. It is not our purpose to discuss whether Greek and Latin should be studied. We believe they should be. But there are many men who think differently, perhaps too readily, and consequently shuffle along doing scarcely any work in these studies, and depending solely on translations experience no good, but drop into superficial methods and lose their self-reliance. These habits will cleave to a man through life, characterize his work and make success well nigh impossible. If men cannot be trusted to select all their studies, might not the Faculty appoint those which should never be omitted, and the student be left to select such as may most interest him among those not so essen

tial to fundamental education? There are many men who having come to college under compulsion are apt to treat slightingly those studies which they are required to take, when they, feeling competent to judge for themselves, deem them useless. They waste much of the first two years in idleness, which generally has its bad accompaniments and fall irretrievably into unfortunate ways of studying or rather of not studying. It is good training to teach a man to apply himself to tasks not pleasant. This is exactly what he will have to do through life. No man if he would attain to anything can expect to pick out and pursue only the pleasant and enjoyable, never meeting with those duties, the performance of which is not exactly suited to his taste. It is well to learn this necessary selfcontrol in college. But it is possible to secure this desirable end and at the same time an opportunity for interesting study in the first two years be given, so that from the outset, the young man may study not merely for marks and examination, but for mental training and the attainment of knowledge. The bad effects of compulsion in the studies which might be left to the student himself, so affects the student's habits that there is not even in those studies which he approves of, whether selected by the Faculty or himself in the last two years, the amount of study there ought to be, and but little research of the right sort. Men generally study merely to pass an examination or for stand. This is shown by the well known truth that students are more concerned about their marks than about their mental development, and in the class room would have the Professor govern himself not with regard to the elucidation of the subject, but to the question of "fair marking" as understood by the student, whose grand object is by giving a mere literal answer to a mere literal question to get a high mark. It is reasonable to suppose that in this matter men would rise to greater responsibility if it were thrown upon them. Sophomore year is not far from the time when the student is expected to go out into the world to assume grave responsibilities and to decide important life questions. During that year then he should be able to

begin to take some part in guiding his own development. This exercise of judgment is most desirable. The youthful age of the students at entering, accounts, perhaps in no small measure, for the feeling that the work should be prescribed for the first years. The standard might be raised sufficiently to remedy this. Certainly there is a need and a place for an American University of this sort. It might be said that American youths are so precocious and so advanced in their studies that it would be impracticable to raise the standard so high as to keep out all of too young an age to exercise the necessary judgment. The objection answers itself. The question is not about years but about mental development.

Another particular in which the University idea is not carried out is in compulsory attendance on religious exercises. Doubtless much can be said in favor of it or it would not have been so universally adopted by the good and wise men to whom we owe certainly the larger number, and perhaps the best of our literary institutions. We desire it to be distinctly understood that our objection is not to the appointment of religious services themselves, but to making attendance upon them a sine qua non of studentship. That there ought to be stated worship in every College we think beyond doubt, but that any man should be compelled under penalty to be present at it we seriously question. The writer is in favor of a religious College. Yale is the child to-day of Christianity and has grown under the fostering care of her divine mother to the noble institution she now is. But compulsion in religious duties is not in keeping with the teachings of our religion itself. It will not do to say that students at the age of nineteen or twenty are not able to judge their duty in the matter and accordingly must be compelled to go. It may be right for a father to compel his son to go to church until he is old enough to feel his obligation in the matter. It is to be hoped, at least, the University student has reached that point. We do not deny that the founders or governors of a literary institution have the right to insist that its students shall attend religious exer

cises. But what we question is the expediency and wisdom of using that right. An argument might be made for it on the ground that a man's education is not complete without some knowledge of the Bible and the Christian religion, that divine service at stated times affords an opportunity for this and therefore it is advisable to make it compulsory as well as the other exercises. The analogy, at least for the purpose intended, does not hold good. The essential element in divine service is not instruction but worship. Attendance therefore affects at once liberty of conscience. But not only so, to attend worship prompted only by the fear of man or mere human considerations, if not wholly is yet painfully near hypocrisy. No man should wish another to appear in a company of worshipers under any other constraint than that of a desire to honor his Maker. Compulsion will but make the service odious to the unwilling attendant. If the Bible ought to be studied, and we think it ought, let that study be placed in the curriculum. It becomes a student in such matters to suggest rather than to advise positively. Yet perhaps one among the student body may have some opportunities for seeing the practical working of a law which those not in it would not have. The question is how best to secure the highest Christian development among the students. The general effect of the present law seems unfavorable for this to one looking at it from a student's standpoint which, however, is rather narrow and not so well suited to gaining the best view as that of men of experience and judgment. The "Church papers" have ever been a fruitful source of temptation. A distaste for the service is engendered so strong that the slightest excuse is used for staying away, and it is reasonable to suppose that the unpleasant impression will remain after men have ceased to be compelled to go. Under this system, that which should be a privilege and an enjoyment is omitted with a feeling of relief and rest as soon as the student is out of College jurisdiction. It does credit and gives tone to any University that it should be earnestly desirous to have its students attend religious services, but it is danger

ous to compel them to go. When this is done a full attendance signifies a wish to obey human authorities, but it is in no way a testimony to the divine claims upon the institution or its members. It may be said that the practice at least wrongs no one. It causes studentship at Yale, no small privilege, to be offered as an inducement to engage in worship with Christians, to those whose consciences forbid them.

Thus there seems hardly yet among us a broad University influence that impels men to study for learning's sake, and develops them according to a liberal University standard. Just at present the lack of this seems offset somewhat by a strong unifying force that engenders a strong bond between Yale men which is strengthening and ennobling, that causes a more perfect knowledge of men and human nature, that creates many fast friendships to last through life characterized by a unique sentiment. At present the Yale spirit, well known on the athletic field and among Yale's sons everywhere, is felt by all who come under her influence. This bond of sympathy, however, seems not to have lessened but rather to have grown with the extension of the University so far. May this not be carried farther yet without sacrificing that other and most important influence so that while Yale's present condition and ability for developing men and inspiring them with her spirit of pluck and indomitable energy is unique and magnificent, yet she may increase her power of bestowing a broader and a better culture.

The impression is prevalent that in morals the influence of a University is generally for the worse. It is due in part to the fact that newspapers are ever ready to publish with glaring headlines any misdemeanor, whereas the daily performance of duty and the quiet influence for good among students passes unnoticed. So that the opinion obtains that as a class, college students are perhaps the worst morally of all young men, that the general influence of their life conduces to make them so, and while some, feeling quite charitable, are disposed to excuse them with the remark that wild oats must be sown, they do not stop to ask if such impressions are really true.