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 CONNECTED WITH THE ORIGIN OF 
 
 GENEVA COLLEGE. 
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S O M E 
 
 HISTORICAL NOTICES, 
 
 CONNECTED WITH THE ORIGIN OF 
 
 GENEVA COLLEGE 
 
 f> UTICA, N. Y. . 
 
 &. H. CUKTISS, PKINTEE, DEVEREUX BLOCK, 
 
 1849. 
 

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a 
 
 HISTORICAL NOTICES, &c, 
 
 In a note to the address of the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
 DeLancey to the late Convention of the Diocese, 
 the Bishop gives a series of historical facts, to show 
 that the College at Geveva was designed original- 
 ly to be an Episcopal College. The facts are of 
 course, in that brief note, but barely indicated. 
 A fuller exposition of them, with the addition of a 
 few others may not be uninteresting. The Col- 
 lege is an object of interest to Churchmen within 
 and without the Diocese, though not so much so 
 as it ought to be — and to some it may become an 
 object of more interest, when they know how 
 much it was, in its design and origin, the work of 
 Bishop Hobart. 
 
 To name him as the founder, as in fact he was 
 more than any one or all else, is to prove the point 
 that it was designed to be an Episcopal College. 
 It was indeed no part of the design in its estab- 
 lishment, to exclude any class of students from the 
 full enjoyment of its advantages or, as Bishop 
 Hobart expressed it "to impose any restraint upon 
 their religious principles;" but it was the design 
 
to establish a college " which should combine 
 an accurate and extensive course of literary and 
 scientific education, with a system of religious 
 worship and instruction, according to the prin- 
 ciples of the Protestant Episcopal Church." — 
 (Jour. N. Y. Conv. 1822 ; p. 39.) 
 
 There w r ere already numerous colleges in the 
 country, but, almost without exception, they, were 
 non-Episcopal. Established by the different reli- 
 gious denominations, not only for the promotion of 
 learning but religion, they were of course man- 
 aged according to the distinctive views of their 
 founders. From the want of Church colleges,, 
 they were crowded by young men from Church 
 families, who were therein receiving their educa- 
 tion in morals and religion, as well as in literature 
 and science, listening to theological lectures, study- 
 ing perhaps theological text books, and attending 
 daily and weekly devotions, which were framed ac- 
 cording to the views, and breathed the spirit of the 
 founders, or present managers of these Institu- 
 tions. 
 
 About that time, there was a religious power 
 in operation and expanding itself in the American 
 colleges, which could not but increase the solici- 
 tude of intelligent Churchmen to have colleges 
 under their own direction. " Revivals in Col- 
 leges" were systematically prayed for, labored for 
 
and managed for. The machinery of excitement 
 was put in motion within their walls, and the sol- 
 emn duty of securing "the one thing needful," 
 was made to consist in falling in with the move- 
 ment, and accepting its impulses. 
 
 I make no comment upon these things. They 
 are past. But thoughtful Churchmen could not, in 
 view of them, do other than desire to see colleges, 
 in which their sons might enjoy the value and 
 healthful influence of the prayers and teachings 
 of the Church, and be trained up in all soberness 
 " in the way they should go/ 5 in pursuance of the 
 vows which had been made for them in their bap- 
 tism, and in harmony with the principles, which 
 their parents and sponsors had professed in their 
 name to believe. 
 
 To unfold the history of the origin of Geneva 
 College, it must be premised, that in Jan. 1813, 
 the Vestry of Trinity Church, N. Y. made an 
 annual grant of $750 to the academy at Fairfield, 
 on condition, that the Principal should be a clergy- 
 man of the Church, and give classical and theo- 
 logical instruction to eight young men in prepara- 
 tion for Holy Orders. There were then only six 
 clergymen within the bounds of our present dio- 
 cese, and the object was to increase the number 
 by increasing the facilities for education. 
 
 This grant was made at first for seven years, 
 
and afterwards continued at the pleasure of the 
 grantors. 
 
 In 1817, the General Convention took meas- 
 ures to establish the General Theological Semi- 
 nary. The next General Convention in 1820 
 removed it from New York to New Haven. The 
 Convention of New York, in the autumn of the 
 same year, proceeded to make provision for theo- 
 logical education, as had been before contemplated, 
 within the Diocese and instituted the Protestant 
 Episcopal Theological Education Society, with 
 power to establish schools, professorships and 
 scholarships — and to do whatever else might be 
 necessary. (Jour. N. Y. Conv. 1820, pp. 16—22, 
 and 25.) 
 
 The managers of the Society proceeded to or- 
 ganize two schools, the principal one in New 
 York, the " branch school" in the interior. Geneva 
 was the place contemplated for the interior school, 
 and the Vestry of Trinity Church, on the 8th of 
 Jan. 1821, resolved, that, if the managers of the 
 Society should establish the " branch school" at 
 Geneva, they would transfer to that seminary the 
 ajmual donation of $750, which had been granted 
 to Fairfield. 
 
 The managers, 8th Feb. 1821, resolved upon 
 Geneva on condition that the inhabitants would 
 erect a suitable building for the accommodation 
 
of the theological students. A subscription for 
 this purpose was immediately commenced, (a copy 
 of the subscription paper is printed in the note to 
 Bishop DeLancey's address above referred to,) 
 one of the present College buildings, Geneva Hall, 
 was begun, the transfer was made and the Rev. 
 Dr. McDonald, the Principal and theological pro- 
 fessor in Fairfield Academy, became Principal of 
 the Academy at Geneva, and a professor in the 
 " branch theological school" connected therewith. 
 Theological instruction commenced in June, 1821, 
 and in a short time there were eight divinity stu- 
 dents. The site of the building was selected by 
 Bishop Hobart, and in the subscription paper it 
 was intimated that it was the purpose of those 
 who thus established the theological school, to 
 have the Academy elevated to the rank of a Col- 
 lege. 
 
 In March, 1821, Mr. Sherred died, leaving a 
 large legacy to a college school or seminary, for 
 educating young men for Holy Orders, "which 
 should be established within the state of New York, 
 under the direction or authority of the General 
 Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States, or of the Convention of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New 
 York." In the opinion of the best legal counsel of 
 New York, the schools organized by the Protestant 
 
Episcopal Theological Education Society, were^ 
 entitled to this legacy, but the Convention of the 
 Diocese of New York, at once opened the way for 
 the return of the General Seminary to New York, 
 and its consolidation with the Seminary establish- 
 ed under its authority, if such should be the wish 
 of the General Convention, and if it could be done 
 " upon fair and correct principles, so as to preserve 
 all the essential provisions and regulations of the 
 Diocesan Seminary, and to secure a just influence 
 in the government and control of the General insti- 
 tution to each Diocese, within which contributions 
 may be obtained towards its funds." (N. Y. Jour. 
 1821, pp. 37 to 47, and'67 to 69.) 
 
 A special General Convention met Oct. 30, 1821 
 — the General Seminary was removed to New 
 York and permanently established there in con- 
 junction with the Diocesan Seminary, and the 
 " branch school" at Geneva became a " branch" 
 of the General Theological Seminary. 
 
 When the " branch theological school" was 
 fixed at Geneva in connection with the Academy, 
 it was the wish of its founders, as before intimated^ 
 that the Academy should be raised to the rank 
 of a College. Bishop Hobart, in his address to 
 the Convention of New York, in Oct. 1821, says of 
 it, " Indulging the reasonable expectation, that the 
 Academy there will, at some future period, be 
 
advanced to the privileges of a college, we must 
 be forcibly struck with the immense advantages 
 of the contiguity of our theological school to an 
 institution of this discription. The principal 
 -school in the city of New York, and the branch 
 school at Geneva, both enjoying the advantages of 
 colleges, in which there will be no influence un- 
 friendly to the Church, will be placed under as 
 commanding circumstances, as could well be ex- 
 pected."— (Jour, of 1821, p. 21.) 
 
 In January, 1822, the Trustees of the Geneva 
 Academy petitioned the regents of the University 
 for a college charter. Bishop Hobart wrote to 
 Lieut. Gov. Taylor, Chancellor of the Board of 
 Regents, March 13, as follows — " Dear Sir, I hope 
 you will permit me respectfully to call your atten- 
 tion to an application from Geneva for a charter 
 for a college. I understand there is a similar one 
 from Ithaca [for a Methodist College] and may 
 not both be granted, on the principle, that whenever 
 a denomination of Christians raise funds to a cer- 
 tain amount for a college, it is expedient to grant 
 them a charter ? Would not the security which 
 this would give to every denomination as it respects 
 its influence in literary instruction, the impartiality 
 which this would discover, the removal of all cau- 
 ses of jealousy, and the competition, which would 
 thus be excited among the various colleges for 
 
10 
 
 public patronage, more than counterbalance any 
 disadvantage, which might arise from the multi- 
 plication of colleges ? And after all, those only 
 would be eminent, which were deserving, and de- 
 grees would be intimated according to the charac- 
 ter of the college, which conferred them. 
 
 The establishment of a branch of the theolog- 
 ical school of our Church at Geneva, leads to an 
 earnest wish, that the powers of a college may be 
 granted to the Academy there. Union College 
 and Hamilton are de facto under Presbyterian influ- 
 ence, and subservient to Presbyterian views in a 
 great measure. All that the Church would wish 
 is an opportunity to employ her means as she 
 may think proper for the advancement of literature 
 and religion, having of course no objection to the 
 same opportunity being enjoyed by others. 
 
 May I presume, Sir, that you will give these 
 suggestions an indulgent consideration, and believe 
 me to be with great respect, 
 
 Your obedient friend and servant, 
 
 J. H. HOBART. 
 
 Bishop Hobart wrote also to other members of 
 the Board. In a letter to Dr. McDonald soon 
 after the provisional charter had been granted, he 
 says, " the moment I heard it [i. e. that the appli- 
 cation had been forwarded] I took all the measures 
 
13 
 
 " An eminently favorable opportunity of obtain- 
 ing a college of this description is now afforded. 
 The Regents of the University in this state, rec- 
 ognising the right of all religious denominations to 
 colleges of their own ; and viewing, in the compe- 
 tition thus excited, results highly favorable to the 
 general interests of science, have, with great lib- 
 erality, granted conditional charters for two col- 
 leges, one at Ithaca, and the other at Geneva : 
 the former of which, it is understood, will be under 
 Methodist influence, and the latter under that of 
 our own Church. Not that there is to be exacted 
 any religious test for office, or any exclusion from 
 the benefit of these institutions of those of other 
 denominations, or any restraint imposed on the reli- 
 gious principles of the students, or any obstacles 
 presented to their worshipping where they may 
 think proper. But it is presumed that, without 
 infringing on the rights or privileges of others, 
 these institutions will be managed as other institu- 
 tions are, with an especial reference to the inter- 
 ests of those religious denominations who have the 
 principal control over them. 
 
 " In my address at the last Convention, I took 
 the liberty to allude to the eminent advantages of 
 Geneva as the site of a literary institution, and 
 I much question whether, in any part of the con- 
 tinent, a place can be found, uniting so many 
 advantages for a college which is to accommodate 
 
14 
 
 Episcopalians generally. Central in its situation 
 in reference to the Western and Atlantic states ; 
 immediately contiguous to the canal, the great 
 water communication between them ; in a country 
 that is destined to be the garden of America, af- 
 fording from its soil the richest products, and in 
 its numerous lakes and diversified surface, the 
 most interesting and picturesque views, the healthy 
 village of Geneva unites all the local requisites 
 for the site of a literary institution. Our Church 
 has now an opportunity of obtaining a college that 
 may he made, in all respects, to answer her wishes ; 
 and much is it to be desired that Episcopalians, 
 laying aside all local jealousies and partialities, 
 should unite their liberal and zealous efforts in the 
 establishment of an institution that will be honora- 
 ble to their Church, and productive of calculable 
 and lasting benefit. It is believed that the insti- 
 tution may be so organized as to present powerful 
 inducements to general support." 
 
 This part of the Bishop's address was referred 
 to a committee which reported the following reso- 
 lutions. " Resolved, that this Convention is deep]}' 
 impressed with a sense of the advantages, which 
 would result from the establishment of a college, 
 combining an accurate and extensive course of 
 literary and scientific education, with a system of 
 religious worship and instruction, according to the 
 
15 
 
 principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and 
 that in their opinion the local situation of Geneva 
 and the conditions of the charter recently granted 
 to the college, proposed to be founded in that vil- 
 lage, are eminently favorable to the attainment 
 of these objects." 
 
 " Resolved, that the Bishop and Standing Com- 
 mittee of this Diocese be requested to prepare and 
 carry into effect, by and with the advice of the 
 Trustees of the proposed college, such a plan for 
 the collection of funds and the endowment of a 
 college, as may seem to them best fitted to promote 
 the general and permanent interests of the Church 
 and to recommend the institution to the patronage 
 and confidence of Episcopalians, throughout the 
 United States/" 7 — (Jour, of 1822, p. 39.) 
 
 In the report on the state of the Church, at the 
 next General Convention in 1823, it is spoken of 
 as a matter of public congratulation to the whole 
 Church, " that there is now a prospect of securing 
 at Geneva, in this Diocese [New York] what has 
 been so long a desideratum in our Church, a, college 
 to be under the management and direction of its 
 members.*' 
 
 There can be no question then as to the views 
 of those who moved and effected the establishment 
 of this College. They expressed them to the 
 Regents when they asked for a charter, — they ex~ 
 
16 
 
 pressed them to the world. If any thing is clear 
 about it, it is that their intention was not to add 
 one to the already very numerous Presbyterian 
 colleges of the country — nor to establish a college 
 of no particular religious character, but one under 
 the control of the Church, as much under its con- 
 trol, as other colleges are under the control of the 
 denominations, which manage them — and more 
 than that they needed not desire. They felt it as 
 Bishop Hobart expressed it in a passage above giv- 
 en, to be an " alarming" fact, and only saved from 
 being " a disgraceful one to our Church," by her 
 peculiar circumstances before that time, that while 
 others had done so much in establishing and endow- 
 ing colleges, she had done almost nothing, and it 
 was their purpose with this College, to make a 
 beginning. 
 
 There was at that time, and owing to similar 
 causes, a very general movement in the Church 
 in regard to education. Bishop Griswold express- 
 ed his feelings, in speaking of the church at Cam- 
 bridge, (Jour. G. C. 1832, p. 20.) A memorial 
 was before the Legislature of Connecticut for the 
 incorporation of Washington, now Trinity College, 
 (Jour. G. C, p. 25.) A Theological Seminary 
 had just been established in Virginia, (Jour. G. C, 
 p. 36;) and the Bishop of South Carolina had ex- 
 pressed his views with great emphasis to the 
 Convention of his Diocese. " No Christian com- 
 
IT 
 
 ttni&lty, says he,- " in Christendom, except that 
 of the Protestant Episcopalians in the United 
 States, does not as a community, make provision, 
 or where provision cannot systematically be made, 
 anxiously watch, against what is considered the 
 perverting influence of academical education. It is 
 the mode in which, above all others, a real solici* 
 tude to transmit to their children the religion, 
 which men cherish, is most unequivocally express* 
 ed, to commi* their education to no circumstances, 
 that shall have a tendency to counteract its claim 
 upon their respect and adherence," (Jour. G. C, 
 1823, p. 43-45.) Bishop Bowen had before this 
 written to Bishop Hobart " expressing his deep 
 sense of the importance of our having a College, 
 and wishing success to the plan in relation to Gen- 
 eva.*' (MS. letter of Bishop Hobart to Dr. Mc- 
 Donald.) 
 
 The provisional charter of the College was grant- 
 ed by the Regents, April 10, 1822. In that 
 instrument, they approved " the plan on which it 
 was intended to found and provide for the Col- 
 lege,'* required that a certain amount of funds 
 should be secured ; allowed three years for the 
 purpose, and declared that the Academy should 
 therefore be incorporated as a College." 
 
 Among the sources relied upon for funds, there 
 was an expectation from the beginning, of about 
 
18 
 
 $20,000 from New York, through the influence of 
 Bishop Hobart. More than that was received. 
 
 After the General Theological Seminary was 
 brought back to New York, as above stated, the 
 next General Convention in 1823, recommended 
 to the Trustees " to reduce the expenses of the 
 Seminary by abolishing the Branch School at 
 Geneva.' 5 (Jour. G. C. 1823, p. 53.)' This could 
 not properly be done without some equivalent ; and 
 to enable the Trustees of the General Theological 
 Seminary to effect it, the Trustees of the Protestant 
 Episcpopal Society, for promoting Religion and 
 Learning in the State of New York, in February* 
 1824, agreed to advance to the Trustees of the 
 Seminary $8,000, or to secure the annual interest 
 of that sum. The Trustees of the Seminary re* 
 ceived from the parties concerned at Geneva, a 
 formal renunciation of all claims on the Seminary, 
 secured the annual interest of $8,000 at 6 per 
 cent, towards the endowment of the proposed coU 
 lege, and in return to the Prot. Epis. Society, gave 
 to its Trustees four scholarships in the Seminary, 
 (Proceedings of the Trustees of Gen, TheoL Sem. 
 July, 1824, p. 7-9.) 
 
 The Trusiees of the Prot. Epis. Society, at the 
 same time, (Feb. 1824,) made a permanent grant 
 of the $750 per annum, which had been annually 
 allowed to the Branch School, towards the endow- 
 
19 
 
 ?nent of what they call "the Episcopal College at 
 Geneva." This sum is the interest of $12,500 at 
 6 per cent, which, added to $8000 above, makes 
 820,500. 
 
 Another contribution from New York was re- 
 ceived from a legacy of Mrs. Sarah Startin, 
 through Bishop Hobart, at whose disposal it had 
 been placed by her will. It amounted to $5,260. 
 
 The plan of the College thus devised, and thus 
 carried on, was brought to its successful completion 
 by the granting of a full charter Feb. 8, 1325. 
 
 To give further proof, that it was an " Epis- 
 copal College" which all these means and measures 
 were building up, let us refer to acts since the in- 
 corporation of the college — acts which were mu- 
 tual between the Trustees and the body from which 
 they received funds — and which therefore express 
 authoritatively the views of both. In 1836, the 
 Trustees asked for further aid from the Protestant 
 Episcopal Society. At a meeting of the Trustees 
 of this Society in July, 1836, further aid was 
 granted accompanied by this, among other resolu- 
 tions. " Resolved, that looking to the high impor- 
 tance of providing more effectually for the educa- 
 tion of necessitous young men desirous to enter 
 on the Holy Ministry of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, and the facilities which, in the promotion 
 of such a design, may be expected from the co-op- 
 eration of a well regulated college, judiciously 
 
20 
 
 located in the interior of the State, and under the 
 control and influence of persons favorably disposed 
 towards this pious work, this Board recognizes in 
 Geneva College a useful auxiliary in promoting the 
 most prominent object of this Society : nevertheless 
 they would deem it incompatible with a faithful 
 and discreet execution of the trust, under which 
 they act, to place the funds committed to their 
 charge, at the uncontrolled disposal of any general 
 institution of learning, without a distinct expression 
 of the purpose of the grant, and some definite pro- 
 vision, by which to secure its accomplishment. " 
 
 " It is declared therefore, that the intent of the 
 grant, about to be made to Geneva College is to 
 advance and secure the fundamental object, for 
 which this Society was established and endowed, 
 viz. the promotion of Religion and Learning in the 
 State of Xew York, in connexion with the inter- 
 ests of the Protestant Episcopal Church : and that 
 the Trustees of this Society rely on the honor and 
 good faith of the Trustees of Geneva College and 
 their successors, that in all future time this intent 
 will be scrupulously observed/" 
 
 The Trustees of the College accepted the aid 
 bestowed by these resolutions, under the conditions 
 and with the understanding, upon which it was 
 voted. 
 
 The College has a charter, like that of the 
 other Colleges of the State of New York. It is 
 open like them to young men of all religious per- 
 suasions. It is thus a " general institution/"' It 
 was devised and established however, by members 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church, just as other 
 colleges have been established by the denomina- 
 
21 
 
 tions, which have the control of them ; it received 
 the mass of its funds from Church sources, a part 
 of them with a definite understanding on this point 
 — and its charter was placed by the Regents, with 
 a full understanding of the matter, in the hands of 
 Churchmen. 
 
 These things being so, it is not a little remark- 
 able, that it should have been assailed as if it had 
 unwarrantably departed from its original purpose, 
 because it avows itself to be under the direction 
 of members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 and uses the Liturgy in its chapel. It is very 
 true, that it was not the design of its founders to 
 make it exclusive — nor has it been made so in 
 any degree in practice. All who have come with 
 proper character and qualifications, have been re- 
 ceived, and treated with equal consideration, and 
 with scrupulous delicacy in regard to all their 
 rights. But it was their design, clearly made 
 known from the beginning, that the College should 
 be under the direction of members of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church and that, as every college 
 must and will have a religious character of some 
 kind, unless conducted upon the infidel principle of 
 cultivating the mere intellect and leaving the reli- 
 gious principles and habits of the pupils to take 
 care of themselves, this should in its religious aspect 
 be conformed to the standards and offices of the 
 same branch of the Church. 
 
 It will not of course be said, that members of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church are under any 
 disability to hold the charter of a College, or in 
 competent to manage its concerns. It will not be 
 said, though it may by some be thought, that a 
 
22 
 
 college under the direction of Churchmen must be 
 " sectarian/ 5 while others are " catholic ;" nor said 
 in so many words, that the use of a Liturgy in the 
 chapel service is not as allowable, as extempora- 
 neous devotions. Nor will it be thought by the 
 reflecting, that a college is less entitled to confi- 
 dence, in these times of religious distractions and 
 collisions, because its devotions are embodied in 
 familiar forms, which may be " read and known 
 of all men/' and the rule of its faith is neither new 
 nor admits of novelties. 
 
 The College is not, nor was it designed to be a 
 Theological Seminary. It is in fact the successor 
 of such an institution, and derived a part of its 
 funds from the cessation of that " Branch of the 
 Gen. Theological Seminary/' of which it has ta- 
 ken the place. It is a College strictly and properly. 
 It aims to prepare young men, by the discipline of 
 a thorough education, in the proper studies of an 
 undergraduate course, to enter with the highest ad- 
 vantage upon professional study, or upon the duties 
 of life ; and the laborious diligence, with which it 
 has pursued this end, it may safely challenge com- 
 parison with any othe. It would send out its 
 graduates also not merely scholars, but gentlemen, 
 and Christians. It must guard therefore the form- 
 ation of their habits — and it must teach them by 
 precept and example ; and the lesson must come 
 regularly in the circle of the College hours, that 
 u the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 
 It claims the confidence of all, for it scrupulously 
 regards the rights of all, and serves them with equal 
 fidelity, but it expects more from Churchmen. It 
 expects from them active sympathy and support. 
 
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