The History of Dartmouth CollegeSmith, Baxter Perry
History
The History of Dartmouth College
Smith, Baxter Perry
Dartmouth College -- History
"4th. He has taken a youth who was not an Indian, but adopted by an
Indian tribe, and supported him in Moor's School, on the Scotch fund,
which is granted for the sole purpose of instructing and civilizing
Indians.
"5th. He has, without sufficient ground for such a course, reported
that the real cause of the dissatisfaction of the Trustees with him
was a diversity of religious opinions between him and them."
In taking leave of the second president, we have only to remark, as we
introduce his eulogist, Mr. Samuel Clesson Allen, that both parties to
the contest apparently overrated their grievances.
"President Wheelock was distinguished for the extent and variety of
his learning. With a lively curiosity he pushed his inquiries into
every department of knowledge, and made himself conversant with the
various branches of science. But of all the subjects which presented
themselves to his inquisitive mind those which relate to man in his
intellectual constitution and social relations engaged and fixed his
attention. His favorite branches were Intellectual Philosophy, Ethics,
and Politics. Possessing in an eminent degree the spirit of his
station, he fulfilled with singular felicity the offices of instructor
and governor in the college. Animated and ardent himself, he could
transfuse the same holy ardor into the minds of his pupils. What youth
ever visited him in his study, but returned to his pursuits with a
renovated spirit, and a loftier sentiment of glory?
"He had formed the noblest conceptions of the powers of the human
mind, and of its ultimate progress in knowledge and refinement. This
sentiment called forth the energies of his mind, and gave direction
and character to his inquiries. It pervaded all his instructions, and
imparted to science and to letters their just preëminence among the
objects of human pursuit.
"He never sought to preoccupy the minds of his pupils with his own
peculiar notions, or to impose upon them any favorite system of
opinions. He endeavored to make them proficients in science, and not
the proselytes of a sect.
"In government he commanded more by example than by authority, and the
admiration of his talents ensured a better obedience than the force of
laws. His elevation of mind placed him above personal prejudices and
resentments, and jealousies of wounded dignity. He practiced no
espionage upon his pupils, but reposed for the maintenance of order
on their sense of propriety, and his own powers of command. He
conciliated their attachment while he inspired their reverence; and he
secured their attention to the stated exercises and reconciled them to
the severest studies by the example he exhibited, and the enthusiasm
he inspired. He knew how to adapt his discipline to the various
dispositions and characters, and could discriminate between the
accidental impulse of a youthful emotion and deliberate acts of
intentional vice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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