The History of Dartmouth CollegeSmith, Baxter Perry
History
The History of Dartmouth College
Smith, Baxter Perry
Dartmouth College -- History
"In the spring of the year 1828, a higher influence was brought to
bear, reinforcing and extending the moral element throughout the
college; recovering not a few from irregularities of conduct and waste
of talent; awakening the religious nature; giving birth to new
motives, and leading many to noble and useful lives. From that period
until our class graduated in 1828, I cannot recall an act deserving
special even animadversion, nor remember an instance of a student
obnoxious to discipline for indolent of other censurable habits. But I
remember several young men of exemplary deportment and distinguished
ability, among them Salmon P. Chase, who though not publicly regarded
as 'subjects of the work,' were greatly affected, their future being
largely determined by it. They all subsequently exhibited deep moral
and religious purpose, and were foremost in philanthropic action.
Without the preaching of Dr. Tyler as its great instrument, and
without such a man presiding over it, and guiding it, there is no
reason to suppose that the revival would have taken place, or would
have been so extensive and powerful.
"It is by looking at Dr. Tyler from every point of view that we alone
can form a just estimate of his qualities. His greatest power was
that of preacher, and he was most at home in this office. He did not
seek it, but it providentially came to him in the illness of Professor
Shurtleff, the professor of Theology, and he retired from it when in
the year 1827, Professor George Howe succeeded Professor Shurtleff. He
had risen in it to the very height of the duty he attempted to
discharge, and was majestic in it. His mode of delivery and gesture
were beyond criticism, and at times sublime. I never heard a student
speak of him in this capacity without the highest praise; and his
power ended not simply in producing admiration, but in influencing his
hearers to duty. The great object aimed at in his preaching was to
induce his hearers to be willing, unconditionally, to do and submit to
the revealed Divine will. He who succeeds in persuading his fellow-men
to faithfully and perseveringly try to do this, does the highest
Christian work, and most for the benefit of man. No one who has sat in
the presidential chair of Dartmouth, or of any other college, during
an equal length of time, has done more in this direction than Bennet
Tyler."
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