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fied if ladies were admitted, and fears were expressed that the standard would thereby be lowered. The idea of identical co-education was not, at that time, generally entertained, nor was it supposed that both sexes would be taught in the same classes in all subjects. The extension of the elective system has removed some of the difficulties then anticipated, and the natural progress of events has removed others.

One who desires to understand the views and perplexities of intelligent, candid, and conservative men in Michigan, forty or fifty years ago, should read a report made by a committee of the Board of Regents, in 1859 upon the petition of certain young women to be permitted to enter the University. The report was written in a most admirable spirit, and treated the subject in all its bearings in a manner entirely dispassionate. The conclusions of the committee were adverse to the request of the petitioners on grounds of expediency, but the right of women to equal advantages for higher education was fully admitted.

On the influence of this report President Haven said in 1867, "Since that time, I believe, no superintendent of public instruction in the State, no board of visitors, nor other authorities appointed to investigate the affairs of the Universiy, have recommended a departure from the policy established from the beginning." Of the results which would follow the admission of women, he said: "I am confident that such a change could not be made without a radical revolution, that would require a large expenditure of money and give a totally new character to the University, and infallibly be attended with a temporary breaking up of its prosperity." He favored the establishment of a separate college for women which should give them all the facilities en

VIEWS OF PRESIDENT HAVEN

joyed by young men.

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During the same year the Legisature resolved: "That it is the deliberate opinion of this Legislature that the high objects for which the University of Michigan was organized will never be fully attained until women are admitted to all its rights and privileges."

This put a new aspect upon affairs; and in his report of the following year, Dr. Haven, after referring to this resolution and to his previously expressed opinions, stated that he had come to the conclusion "that the best method for Michigan would be to make provisions for the instruction of women at the University, on the same conditions as men.' He took a more cheerful and hopeful view of the probable consequences than he had taken the previous year. He said: "I have come to this conclusion slowly; a few objections have sometimes seemed to me strong, but the most of what is urged against it is fanciful, and partakes of the nature of the thoughtless opposition made to what is new. The standard of education would not be changed, the habits of study would not be affected. The honor of the University would be increased rather than diminished." President Haven, more than most men of his rank, was exempt from that false notion of consistency which forbids a man to acknowledge that he has changed his opinion, or that circumstances may justify a change of policy.

Two years later, on the fifth of January, 1870, the governing board of the institution resolved, "That the Board of Regents recognize the right of every resident of Michigan to the enjoyment of the privileges of the University; and that no rule exists in the University statutes for the exclusion of any person from the University, who possesses the

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WOMEN ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY

requisite literary and moral qualifications." This ended a struggle which had continued for five and twenty years. All State educational institutions in Michigan, from the lowest to the highest, are open on the same conditions to both

sexes.

Attempts have been made to claim special credit and special honor for particular individuals or particular organizations in bringing about this result. Many individuals are entitled to great credit and to grateful remembrance, for their efforts towards securing equality of educational rights and privileges for women; but preeminence cannot with justice be claimed for any one person. The end was attained by the combined labors of the friends of justice and of rational progress. It is a natural outgrowth of the spirit of the age.

CHAPTER XVI.

AS TO MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

The religious instinct or sentiment is one of the most fundamental and powerful elements in the human soul, and in human society. The question of the origin of this sentiment is not important for our present purpose; its existence and influence must be recognized.

The men of today are prone to judge the men and measures of a half century ago by the standards and conditions of the present decade; to forget the changes which have occurred, the liberalizing influence of a broader and more general culture, the humanizing effects of more intimate intercourse and acquaintance between people of all classes, of all sorts, and of diverse opinions and races. Some one has said: "It is all well enough for us of another generation to wax wise with advice to those who bore the burden and heat of the day." It indicates our superior wisdom, and gratifies our self-complacency. This tendency is not wanting among the workers in the educational field; occasionally it manifests itself in an offensive form.

In the organization of public school systems, in the management of public institutions of learning of all grades, in the selection of officers and instructors, and in educational affairs generally, it has been a necessity, in the not very remote past, to take this religious sentiment into account; and the time has not yet come when it can with safety be entirely ignored, whatever may be the affirmations of a sur

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VIEWS OF SUPERINTENDENT PIERCE

face philosophy and of men with no profound personal convictions upon the subject of morals or religion.

* * *

The founders of the Michigan school system wisely recognized these obvious truths. In his first report Superintendent Pierce said: "It is not to be expected that the study of theology, as a profession, can ever be made a separate department of the University. * But so far as the great principles of the science of theology are concerned, they necessarily come within the compass of that general knowledge with which every well educated young man ought to be acquainted."

The first legislative act for the organization of that institution provided for a Professorship "of moral philosophy, and natural theology, including the history of all religions." So much Mr. Pierce believed to be essential to the continued existence of the University. While no religious test should be allowed, and no sectarian dogmas should be inculcated, yet Christianity, as the religion of the people, should be fully and freely recognized. He wrote: "The fact is not to be concealed that there is a strong prejudice in the minds of many worthy and enlightened men against State institutions. This feeling has originated from the attempt of two or three States to exclude everything in the form of religion from their universities. The moral sense of the community was found to be against the plan, and the institutions could not flourish. The truth is, the nature of man is such that this result might have been anticipated. There is a medium between bigotry on the one hand, and atheism on the other, and the success of the University, its life, energy, character and usefulness, will essentially depend on that medium course."