Story and Anecdotes - School Rules

Harvard Rules for Students 1643

     “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3).” (The purpose was to lead student to know God the Father and to know His son, Jesus Christ.)
     The rules go on to stipulate that students were required to read and study the Bible at least twice a day. They were to show the utmost respect to God’s ordinances, to memorize the Scriptures and be able to recite these publicly if called upon by their teachers. God’s Holy Name was to be used reverently. No profanity was allowed. Students were to attend their classes and chapel services “without any disturbance by word or gesture.” Furthermore, the rules continue: “None shall under any pretense whatsoever frequent the company and society of such men as lead and unfit and dissolute life.”
The students were expected to know Latin, the language of most theological writings at that time. They were also expected to know Hebrew and Greek in order to translate the Scriptures from their original languages.

Statutes of William and Mary 1727

     “There are three things which the Founders of this College proposed to themselves, to which all its Statutes should be directed.

1. The first is that the youth of Virginia should be well educated to learning and good morals.
2. The second is that the churches of America, especially Virginia, should be supplied with good ministers after the doctrine and government of the church of England, and that the college should be a constant seminary for this purpose.
3. The third is that the Indians of America should be instructed in the Christian religion, and that some of the Indian youth that are well behaved and well inclined, being first well prepared in the Divinity School, may be sent out to preach the gospel to their countrymen in their own tongue, after they have duly been put in orders of deacons and priests.”

Regulations at Yale 1745

     “All scholars shall live religious, godly, and blameless lives according to the rules of God’s Word, diligently reading the Holy Scriptures, the fountain of light and truth, and constantly attend upon all the duties of religion, both in public and secret.”
     Furthermore, there was a penalty imposed for denying the faith. “If any scholar shall deny the Holy Scriptures or any part of them to be the Word of God, or be guilty of heresy or any error directly tending to subvert the fundaments of Christianity, and continuing obstinate therein after the first and second admonition, he shall be expelled.”

Columbia 1754

     “The chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ.”