February 12, 1859 [sic]

Listen to a lecture on the Philosophy of Dreams, read by Dr. Wilson at Mr. Simons’.

February 12, 1859

W. D. Pringle leaves College. His class and society burn an effigy of Prof. W. W. Folwell at night in front of Geneva Hall, instigated to it by the society to which Pringle belongs – the Theta Delta Chi. It was a dark night and persons could not be seen distinctly, but several were recognized near the bonfire.

January 18, 1859

All day with the Trustees.  Preside at the Commencement of the Medical College.

January 11, 1859

Meeting of the Literary Society at the house of Rev. Dr. MacLaren.

January 6, 1859

Second term begins to-day with Morning Prayer at ten o’clock.  It annoys me to have been absent;  but the snow delayed me.

December 21st, 1858

After Evening Prayers I read aloud the promise to be obedient to the College. Then all who were prepared to give their names to the Head of the College were bidden to write their names in the Matriculation-book. After the signing, I made them a twenty-minute address about the meaning of this ceremony, and the way in which their Alma Mater therefore relies on them to do their duty. The whole oration was received by the students with applause, which I do not like, nor would I permit it to be done again.
Sophomore prize exhibition at Linden Hall in the evening. Twelve students from this class distinguished themselves in speaking. All spoke well: but T. Merriman received the first prize, and R. M. Duff the second. The class had a dinner afterwards, but without wine or anything to drink except water.

December 19th, 1858

Chapel closed.  Dr. Bissell, having a cold, begged that Dr. Metcalf and I would take his services for him, which we did.

December 18th, 1858

Sophomores in Greek with Prof. Wheeler.

December 17th, 1858

Freshman in Greek and Algebra.

December 16th, 1858

Examinations begin.  Seniors in Butler’s Analogy with me, and in Moral Philosophy with Dr. Wilson.

November 21st, 1858

Mrs. Allen came to see me about her son Charles—suspended from College.

November 20th, 1858

Go to the station to see Bishop DeLancey off.  He goes to New York to sail for Europe.  There were many of the clergy and laity at the station.  Some of us went to Waterloo with the Bishop and some to Syracuse.

November 18th, 1858

The College Chapel is closed on account of the giving of thanks to God by the people of this republic.
Go to see Dr. Towler, who is seriously ill.

November 17th, 1858

College is dismissed with due ceremony.

November 10th, 1858

Dr. Towler ill.

November 4th, 1858

Birthday – Alas!

September 2nd, 1858

Go to Havana to be present at the laying of the corner-stone of the People’s College. Great crowd there,– about 8,000. I offered prayers and gave the benediction. Amos Brown, the president, told the history of the work. Rev. Dr. Hopkins of Williams College made an address on the Bible – the foundation of all good institutions. Horace Greely and D. S. Dickinson and Rev. P. G. Hubbard spoke. I made an address.
This is the first day of the college year. The students are present in unusual numbers.

September 1st, 1858

Busy with College affairs;  receiving students and directing their examinations.  I am pleased to see many coming to enter.

August 25th, 1858

In Hartford.  Prof. Pynchon came to see me.

August 17th, 1858

In Rochester at the meeting of the Diocesan Convention to interest New York in the western Diocese.  I found the city was illuminated, and there were bonfires. Bishop DeLancey read from his annual charge.

July 2nd, 1858

I was waked at 4:30 A. M. by the singing of the class graduated yesterday. I was called out to speak.  They sang “Auld Lang Syne”, “Home, Sweet Home” &c.  Afterwards I said a few words to them.

July 1, 1858

Commencement Day. Cool and clear. The graduating class came to me at eight o’clock for the purpose of agreeing on the way of receiving the degrees conferred. The customary procession was formed at 9:30 and led by music. We went to Linden Hall. I wore a black gown and Oxford cap. I assigned seats on the stage to the Trustees, Bishop DeLancey, the clergy and best men of all sorts. The Master’s oration was not heard – the speaker not being present, because he was not able to prepare an oration; so he wrote me. His name is Edward H. Jewett. Before conferring the degrees, the White Rhetorical and Greek prizes were presented; the former to Harvey Baldwin by Dr. Littlejohn, and the latter to John T. Wheeler. I awarded the Greek prize with words of deserved commendation.
Next in order was the dinner in Fremont Hall. After dinner took place the presentation of a solid silver vase to Rev. Dr. Hale, for twenty-two years President of Hobart College, and without salary. Rev. Dr. Van Rennselaer, on the part of the alumni and friends of the College, presented it to Dr. Hale with suitable words; and Malcolm Douglas[sic], (son-in-law of Dr. Hale) answered for the Doctor, or rather read an address written to those present by him, Dr. Van Rensselaer afterwards carried the vase to Dr. Hale in his hand.
Dr. Huson, (President of the Alumni, and who presided at the dinner), then read a Preamble and Resolutions voted by the said Society which greatly praised Dr. Hale for his services to Hobart College in the past. These ceremonies finished, the extemporaneous speeches went on,
1. I, first, for Hobart College,
2. General Stewart, Geneva.
3. Hon. H. B. Staunton, Seneca Falls,
4. Dr. Littlejohn,
5. Rev. Dr. Cressy, Auburn,
6. Rev. Mr. Neely, Rochester,
7. Rev. H. Winslow, Geneva,
8. Bishop DeLancey.
After the speaking the greater number went out on the lake on an excursion.
Four, at least, of those who were assembled at the dinner followed me with congratulatory words and proclaimed publicly their strongest belief in me for the future. Dr. Littlejohn bore most able testimony to me, so likewise Dr. Neely, Mr. Winslow, and Bishop DeLancey. God grant that I may be able to fulfill that hope. I went home tired enough; but to God be the praise that all things went off happily.
One, not ready, was sent away. O miserable one, among a class advancing to graduation!
The degree of B. A. was not conferred at the right time on George Herbert Patterson, because when his name was called he did not present himself with the class. This puzzled me. I wondered whether I ought to confer a degree as if upon one absent. When therefore I rose in the midst of the dinner to confer the degree I said, “To advance Hobart College it is necessary for each one to perform his whole duty. I did not complete a part of my duty to-day; but now in this gracious presence I ask of the Trustees and Alumni and friends of the College the privilege of conferring the omitted degree”. Turning then, I raised up the gown and cap lying near, and put them on. This done, I pronounced the words of the Bachelor’s Degree, which were received with enthusiastic applause.
I was in perturbation of mind the whole day; not thinking what people thought of me, but in what way everything should be done, according to the plan in my mind.
The excursion on the lake was cut short by the fall of a young man from the deck of the steamboat into the lake. They were not able to recover the body. This unfortunate event cast a gloom over the otherwise festal and happy day.

June 30th, 1858

The Board of Trustees met at nine A.M.  I remained silent among the silent all day.  In the evening we went to hear Dr. Littlejohn’s address at Linden Hall on Public Opinion.  Park Benjamin recited a poem.  Good music by a band from Syracuse.

June 29th, 1858

Examinations. The White Essays are read in the Medical College in the afternoon. First prize was won by Charles D. Vail; the second by Post.

Geneva Medical College – photo from the Hobart & William Smith Colleges Archives. 

June 28th, 1858

College examinations.  I am present.

June 27th, 1858

Sunday. Bishop DeLancey confirmed two students.  I preached the Baccalaureate sermon.

June 24th, 25th, and 26th, 1858

June 24th, 25th, and 26th.
Examinations all day.

June 14th, 1858

We have spent two weeks in arranging and ornamenting our home, then a week in rest.

May 23rd, 1858

Pentecost. At Trinity Church in the Morning, and in the College Chapel in the evening.

May 22nd, 1858

Busy all day unpacking furniture and attending to it.  My wife joins me, to my great delight.  We begin to live in our home to-day.  Only one room is ready.