Colleges in America

The author of this volume aims to give the reader a brief survey of the growth, functions, and work of the American Colleges. It has been a pleasure to visit many of the colleges and gather facts, receive impressions and carry away many pleasant recollections regarding them. The following authorities have been helpful in the preparation of the work: "A History of Education," by F. V. N. Painter; "The Rise and Early Constitution of Universities," by S. S. Laurie; "Education in the United States," by Richard G. Boone; "Essays on Educational Reformers," by Robert H. Quick; "Education," by Herbert Spencer; "Universities in Germany," by J. M. Hart; Huxley's "Technical Education;" Froude's "Essay on Education,"; "The American College and the American Public," by President Noah Porter; "Prayer for Colleges," by Professor W. S. Tyler; "American Colleges: their Life and Work," and "Within College Walls," by President Chas. F. Thwing; "Universities on the Continent," and "Culture and Anarchy," by Matthew Arnold; "Educational Essays," by Bishop Edward Thomson; "Christianity in the United States," by Daniel Dorchester; "College Life," by Stephen Olin; "The Intellectual Life," by P. G. Hamerton; "Essays on a Liberal Education," by F. W. Farrar; "History of Higher Education" in the several States, prepared by the Bureau of Education; "Reports of the Commissioner of Education for 1890-'91;" and the periodical literature bearing on the subject. CONTENTS. I. The Rise of Universities in the Old World, 13 II. The Planting of Colleges in the New World, 36 III. Characteristics of the American College, 69 IV. The Functions of the American College, 104 a. A Symmetrical Development. b. The Advancement of Knowledge. c. Preparation for Service. V. Student Life in College, 156 VI. The Personal Factors in a College Education, 178 VII. The Practical Value of an Education, 196 VIII. Our Indebtedness to Colleges, 229 INTRODUCTION. I cannot be unwilling to avail myself of any opportunity to turn the attention of the Christian public to the Christian College. It is a noble public and an equally noble object. I can conceive of no worthier or more Christian thing than the caretaking of one generation that the next one which must necessarily lie so long under its influence and for which it is therefore so thoroughly responsible, should receive a Christian education. To put Christ at the center and make Him felt to the circumference (as Bungener said in speaking of Calvin's school policy),…