ENLARGEMENT UNDER
PRESIDENT LORD'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM 1828 TO 1863.

President Lord's official course was marked by a judicious
conservatism.

In nothing was this more conspicuous than in his treatment of the
matter of "college honors." Near the close of his administration, the
occasion requiring, he published a statement, in which we find the
following language:

"It will be recollected that about a quarter of a century ago there
arose a simultaneous questioning among the students at most of the New
England colleges, in regard to college appointments in general. It was
a spontaneous movement of the young men, consequent upon an unusual
religious awakening among them, and seemed a common reaction of
conscience against a common injurious custom. The students of this
college were excited more than others. At least, they were more
demonstrative. By memorial, they unanimously requested the Trustees to
abolish the existing system.

"The Trustees gave great attention to the request. Having ascertained
that the Faculty would readily try the experiment of a change,
although but two of them were convinced of its utility, they set aside
the existing system of exhibitions, prizes, assignments, etc., and
ordained the present system, which fully and consistently excludes the
principle of the old. This action of the Trustees was thorough,
consistent, and decisive, and was far in advance of what had taken
place in any other institution. It gave great content to the students.
It was followed by many tokens of public approbation. The Faculty at
once found their administration relieved, simplified, and greatly
facilitated in general. The college rapidly attained to a degree of
patronage and prosperity unprecedented in its history.

"After a few years, a severe outside pressure produced a degree of
anxiety in regard to the prudence, if not the principle, of the
change. Some distinguished alumni of the college, and other gentlemen,
remonstrated against it as an innovation not soundly moral and
conservative, but radical and disorganizing. They feared that the
college would lose its tone and dignity among learned institutions.
The Trustees, though not convinced, were stirred, and again asked the
judgment of the Faculty.

"The Faculty replied, that, although they had not, as a body,
recommended the adoption of the new system, they had given it, as duty
required, a fair experiment, and were constrained to say, that it had
turned o