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Line 18: − + + − The college received the name ''Harvard'' from Rev. John Harvard, who was was the son of a butcher whose family died when a plague swept England, leaving him an estate. Educated in [[England]], Rev. John Harvard was ordained, married and sailed for Massachusetts where he pastored the First Church of Charlestown. He then tragically died of tuberculosis at the mere age of 31. The College at Cambridge was then renamed in his honor him. − + − − The school was highly religious in the 1600s. Harvard's Rules & Precepts (Sept. 26, 1642) declared: − − :"Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life. John 17:3." Line 34:
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→History and Mission: tweaks
==History and Mission==
==History and Mission==
With some 17,000 Puritans migrating to New England by 1620, Harvard was founded by Puritan Calvinists who realized the need for training clergy for the new Bible commonwealth, a "church in the wilderness."
With some 17,000 Puritans migrating to New England by 1620, Harvard was founded by Puritan Calvinists who realized the need for training clergy for the new Bible commonwealth, a "church in the wilderness." It was named for a ministger who died young.
[[File:Col-mass.jpg|thumb|300px|Harvard College was founded in 1638 making Boston the intellectual center of New England]]
In 1692, the Puritan preacher Increase Mather became President of Harvard. One of his acts was replacing Roman Classics with books by Christian authors in ethics classes, and maintaining a high standard of discipline. Both Harvard College Lawes of 1642 and Harvard College Laws of 1700 testify to its original high level of discipline.<ref>[http://www.peacebyjesus.com/HARVARD_LAWES.HTML Laws and Statutes for Students of Harvard College]</ref> Students were required "to observe rules of pious decorum inconceivable in the nineteenth century, and ultimately to prove their fitness for the bachelor's degree by showing that they could 'read the original of the Old and New Testament into the Latin tongue, and resolve them logically.'"<ref>Cotton Mather, the Puritan priest", by Barrett Wendell</ref>
In 1692, the Puritan preacher [[Increase Mather]] became President of Harvard. One of his acts was replacing Roman Classics with books by Christian authors in ethics classes, and maintaining a high standard of discipline. Both Harvard College Lawes of 1642 and Harvard College Laws of 1700 testify to its original high level of discipline.<ref>[http://www.peacebyjesus.com/HARVARD_LAWES.HTML Laws and Statutes for Students of Harvard College]</ref> Students were required "to observe rules of pious decorum inconceivable in the nineteenth century, and ultimately to prove their fitness for the bachelor's degree by showing that they could 'read the original of the Old and New Testament into the Latin tongue, and resolve them logically.'"<ref>Cotton Mather, the Puritan priest", by Barrett Wendell</ref>
The early motto of Harvard was ''Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae'', meaning "Truth For Christ and the Church." Among its graduates in that century, 50% were ministers. Prior to the Revolution, ten out of twelve of Harvard's presidents were also ministers. In the words of Harvard's founders:
The early motto of Harvard was ''Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae'', meaning "Truth For Christ and the Church." Among its graduates in that century, 50% were ministers. Prior to the Revolution, ten out of twelve of Harvard's presidents were also ministers. In the words of Harvard's founders:
Systematic theological instruction was inaugurated in 1721 and by 1827 Harvard became a nucleus of theological teaching in New England.<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/Harvard</ref>
Systematic theological instruction was inaugurated in 1721 and by 1827 Harvard became a nucleus of theological teaching in New England.<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/Harvard</ref>
The departure of Increase Mather from the presidency in 1701 marked the beginning of a long term struggle between orthodoxy and liberalism. Harvard's first secular president was John Leverett, who began his term in 1708. Leverett left the curriculum largely intact and sought to keep the College independent of the overwhelming influence of any single sect <ref>[http://www.president.harvard.edu/history/07_leverett.php John Leverett - History - Office of the President]</ref>. The takeover of Harvard by the Unitarians in 1805 resulted in the secularization of the American university. Before the mid 1800's, Harvard would become what was basically described as the "Unitarian Vatican." <ref>[http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0100_Christianity_in_U.S..html A Brief History of Christian Influence in U.S. Colleges]</ref>
The departure of Increase Mather from the presidency in 1701 marked the beginning of a long term struggle between orthodoxy and liberalism. Harvard's first secular president was John Leverett, who began his term in 1708. Leverett left the curriculum largely intact and sought to keep the College independent of the overwhelming influence of any single sect <ref>[http://www.president.harvard.edu/history/07_leverett.php John Leverett - History - Office of the President]</ref>. The takeover of Harvard by the [[Unitarians]] in 1805 resulted in the secularization of the American college. By 1850 Harvard was the "Unitarian Vatican." <ref>[http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0100_Christianity_in_U.S..html A Brief History of Christian Influence in U.S. Colleges]</ref>
Radical changes in educational scope and growth were in seen during the 40 year reign of Harvard president Charles W. Eliot (1869-1909).
Radical changes in educational scope and growth were in seen during the 40 year reign of Harvard president Charles W. Eliot (1869-1909).