Here is a picture of the new president of Harvard. She is the first woman to serve in such manner. I forgot her name since I read the story! oops. Anyway, she is. Good for her.
But do you know who the first person to be president of Harvard was? His name was Henry Dunster. He was asked to start a school, originally called Cambridge, but then changed to Harvard. He was an effective public speaker, a great student of the Bible, knowledgeable of Greek, Latin, and what was known at the time as "the oriental languages." He was also a puritan.
Do you know why he was fired from the job? Here's a multiple choice. If I get 5 people taking a shot at the answer, I'll tell you if you are right. If not, I'll post the answer tomorrow.
one rule: NO PEAKING! NO LOOKING THIS UP ON THE NET! IT'LL TAKE ALL THE FUN AWAY. Educated guesses only!
A. Changed his mind on the doctrine of Baptism of infants.
B. Morally inappropriate behavior with a domestic servant from the nearby town.
C. Refused to support Jonathan Edwards' ministry after hearing "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
D. Opposed the Salem witch trials.
E. Was asked to resign due to age and fading health, but refused, saying, "Whom God hath appointed, God will sustain."
F. Neglected the spiritual duties of Church attendance during tenure as president of college
G. Spoke out for just treatment of savage peoples (now called Native Americans)
One Hint: this is what he said in his defense after being removed:
"I conceived then, and so do still, that I spake the truth in the feare of God, and dare not deny the same or go from it until the Lord otherwise teach me."
17 comments:
...in school I always followed the "when in doubt, guess C" mantra, and I suppose it could fit, but isn't Edwards the psychic guy that talks to dead people? I'm going to have to go with A.
Andy, you're killing me, buddy. Edwards being the psychic guy? Edwards is a pop-culture flash in the pan. The Edwards I am speaking of the towering historical figure of the earliest colonial era! For a primer on Edwards, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards
(by the way Edwards also had a short tenure as an Ivy League university president --I won't say which one here, as I don't want to give away too much before a couple of answers roll in!)
probably the baptism issue - that seems to be one many people/ churches get bent out of shape on -this from experience!
lol, I always screw it up, John Edward is the medium guy, John Edwards was Kerry's right hand man, kind of one in the same if you ask me, but Edward holds a little more credibility in my book ;) Now, going back a couple hundred years, I have to say that sadly, they used words too complicated for me to actually grasp what he did without ending my lazy streak of not looking the definitions up. But I did check on my educated guess while I was at it :)
Good question. I marvel at how far our universities have strayed from their original purposes. Many were founded in the context of Biblical training.
I guess G. It's ringing a tiny little bell but I can't really remember anything about it.
Yeah, Robosteve, there has been quite a drift. Did you know there used to be regular chapel service at my alma matre, Penn State? and many of the founders whose names are on the buildings were the preachers!
They couldn't even get Tenure there today.
I say D....opposed the salem witch trials.
I say D...he opposed the Salem witch trials.
I am teetering from A to C, with a lean more towards A, the baptism one because Edwards was a Yale alumni, and a Connecticutt guy. I think Harvard was more of an old light school. I'm probably wrong though, it's the witches isn't it?
I exude a great deal of confidence, don't I?
I was going to answer(since he was a Puritan) that maybe he slacked off in his church attendance and got booted but with the hint I would guess it was his views on infant baptism.
I was going to say it was because his church attendance was slacking (since He was a Puritan) but with the hint I will say that it was his views on infant baptism. I like the trivia question-that's fun.
I was going to answer(since he was a Puritan) that maybe he slacked off in his church attendance and got booted but with the hint I would guess it was his views on infant baptism.
Oops. I have 2 messages waiting for "approval" now don't I? Well, now you have 3 ;) Could you post the most intelligent sounding comment???
Although I think the "when in doubt always go with C" is an interesting hypothesis it is not the reason I'm guessing C.
The Ninja is guessing G.
That should count as 5 guesses now.. it's after 11... Are you going to give us the answer now?
You guys did great! And on the honor system.
the answer is A. Interesting theological fact: All puritans were in the habit of baptizing infants. So was this guy. But then, he studied the Bible on the issue and changed his mind and refused to baptise his own son. So he was asked to leave. I wonder if they still argue about such things at Harvard? Anyway, that was the founder.
Jonathan Edwards was thrown in as a red herring. He Henry Dunster by many years. Dunster was 1600's, Edwards was 1700's.
Homework for Andy: Study up on your history! You are off the hook because public school probably ignored such important figures in American history.
If you knew my schooling history you'd put me back on the hook and raise it.
Baptism issue and I only know this because my 11th great-grandmother is his sister. A little family history.
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