THE HAZING PROBLEM IN 1765

[The following letter, which was brought to the attention of the Editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE by Professor J. K. Lord, was written by Eleazar Wheelock in 1765 to David Avery and David M. McClure, formerly his pupils at Lebanon, Conn., and then freshmen in Yale College. It gives an interesting glimpse of college customs (happily now wholly reformed!), and also a good illustration of Dr. Wheelock's mode of thinking and of the method of apt illustration for which he was noted.]

Lebanon, November 5th 1765 My dear Children

Your Favours by Mr. Williams last Week came safe to hand. I am glad to hear of your comfortable Situation, and am greatly obliged to the dear Tutors, Messrs Austin and Johnson, for their singular Condescension, Care and Kindness exercised towards you.

I had heard so much of the rough, savage, clownish, ungenteel Manner of Conduct towards Freshmen; particularly in the young Gentlemen who are more especially appointed to inspect and form the Manners of raw and unpolished Hoys, when they- first come to College, as inclined me to give my Attention to that subject, as I travelled home alone. And I could not refrain from indulging some Concern for you, how you would overcome the many Temptations, and persevere in a modest, meek and becoming Behaviour, through such a new Scene of Trials, as I apprehended to be before you. I wanted again to see you, to refresh your Minds anew with what I have heretofore so often inculcated upon you. And tell you again with particular Application to the present Occasion.

Ist. That you are to know, and always remember, whatever Examples or Instructions you may have to the contrary, that Christ's Example and Precepts are the Rules by which you are continually to walk.—And he was meek and lowly, kind and benevolent, courteous and gentle towards all Men. We never once in all his History, find him stamping or furious, or haughty in Word or Behaviour towards any, even the meanest of Men, and especially towards such who were willing to do right, so far as they knew, and were willing to be influenced farther. Much less did he ever seek Occasion to make any seem to be guilty of an Error, when none was intended. Nor ever any Thing like the commanding a Youth, .a Stranger, one ignorant of Persons and Customs, to go, and stand an Hour in a Room alone, as a Punishment for he knew not what. (I refer to the Account which Pomeroy gave me of their Treatment of honest Backus.) This, and several other Instances I heard, as clownish, savage and ungenteel as that, and done too in a College, and by Young Gentlemen (so called), who were appointed to teach Freshmen good Manners, and a decent, comely Behaviour towards all Men.

One morning after I came home, I walked abroad, and saw my large Herd of fatting Hogs shut up in the long Yard in the Street, and to their Number were added several Strangers which were brought down from the Farm to be fatted with them. The extraordinary Discipline among them, exercised towards these new Comers the whole Length of the Yard, commanded my Attention, and the more so because it seemed to be so exact a Resemblance of, and even an acting over, the Scene which had before so much engrossed my Thoughts; but only with this Difference, these were really Hogs; and in that View their Discipline seemed tolerable, though very cruel, and inhumane; But had they been young" Gentlemen of a liberal Education, and honoured with the important Trust and Office of forming the Minds and Manners of the junior Members of that very respectable Society to Rules of the most polite and decent Deportment among their Fellow Men; the Sight, instead of diverting me, must needs have filled me with Indignation.

I charge you, my Children, that you take heed that you don't grow into a liking, or a less Abhorence of such Conduct, by seeing it practiced by others, and by your Superiors in Standing. And that you don't indulge the least Disposition ever to imitate it, if, by the Providence of God, you should ever have an Opportunity for it. Leave that Manner of Conduct intirely to the Hogs, who may practice it without degrading or debasing themselves, or dishonouring the Society to which they belong.

2nd. That you watch and guard against those Vices and Evils to which you are in a special Manner exposed by the various Temptations before you— such as Anger and Disaffection towards others—Contemptuous Behaviour- Pleasure in disobliging them—Lying— or any breaking over the good and wholesome Laws of College, in Compliance with the Solicitations of others. For Instance. If you should be enticed by your Superiors to comply with any fashionable Practice which is forbidden by the Laws of College, such as playing Cards—clandestinely bringing forbidden Liquors into College—Reviling Authority—or clanning (planning?) or devising any mischievous Plots, &c modestly, but resolutely refuse, and every thing else whereby you shall expose yourselves to guilty Fears of being detected, or expose yourselves to Temptations to injure the Truth, if you should be called in Question for it. The loss of your Peace is an Evil too great to be repaired by any thing you will have in Return for such Compliances with others. Never be afraid to be unfashionable, when Truth and Vertue are so.

It would grieve me much to hear that you have been guilty of Lying, or doing any thing mean and unworthy of your Christian Character. But it would not grieve me at all to hear that you have incurred the Displeasure of all the vicious part of College by an unfashionable Adherence to Truth, and a strict Practice of Religion and Vertue.

May God mercifully keep you in his Fear continually,* .... you eminently for the important Business you are* .... for. This is the earnest Desire, and daily Prayer* ....

My dear Children,

Yours very affectionately,

P. S. Give my Love to your dear Tutors. And you may show this unpolished Letter to them, if you please. And write me, if they think me wrong in my Notions. But don't expose it to any others without their Advice.

... Words torn out.