FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

SERIES III.

VOL. V.	B E T H A N Y, JANUARY, 1848.	NO. I.

      My dear Clarinda--WHILE on the subject of the Literary Institutions of England, I must not forget the ancient, and venerable, and long celebrated University of Oxford. My visit to it was, indeed, but a call; but while on the spot and its environs, I was diligent to ascertain so much of its past and present condition as I could gather from the best sources of information. In looking especially into the condition and history of Merton College, one of the most ancient and reputable, I learned that this institution was as old as the earlier part of the 13th century; and, like Cambridge, owed its origin to the policy or benevolence of the Roman Catholic community, then in the possession of the Western Roman Empire, with but a few small reservations. Merton College was removed from Surrey to Oxford in 1274.

      The University of Oxford, governed by two Houses--that of Congregation and that of Convocation; and, like Cambridge, sending two members to the British Parliament, is a corporation of [22] nineteen Colleges and five Halls, having on its book a membership of 5,600 persons.

      There is some difference between Colleges and Halls. "Colleges are all endowed with estates, and are incorporated bodies. Halls are not so, although some of them have "exhibitions" towards the maintenance of certain students. The Principals or Heads of the Halls receive annual rents for the chambers inhabited by the students, who live at their own expense. The Chancellor of the University has the disposal of the Headships of all the Halls except that of St. Edmund Hall, which is in the appointment of the Provost and Fellows of Queen's College. With respect to every academical privilege, the members of Halls stand precisely on the same footing with those of the Colleges. Their discipline, course of studies, length of residence, examinations, degrees, dress, and expenses are the same as the Colleges.

      "Every College and Hall has a governor, whose nominal distinctions vary. They are called in different Colleges, Dean, Rector, Provost, Warden. President, Master, and Principal. The Heads of Halls are called Principals."

      "The members of the University may be divided into two classes: those on the foundation, commonly called Dependent Members; and those not on the foundation, termed Independent Members. The Dependent Members derive emolument from the revenue of their Societies, and on some of them the management and discipline of the whole body devolve.

      "The Independent Members consist of such persons as repair to the University for their education and degrees; but who, as they have no claim on the estate of the Society to which they belong, so they possess no voice nor authority in its management; and during their residence in a College or Hall, they are supported at their own expense.

      "The Dependent Members, or Members on the Foundation, are as follows:--

      "The Head of the College; the Fellows, (called Students at Christ Church;) the Scholars, (called Demies at Magdalen, and Postmasters at Merton;) Chaplains, Exhibitioners, Bible Clerks, and Servitors.

      "Under the head of Members on the Foundation, may also be included the College Officers, who are chosen from among the Fellows; and some of the servants hereafter mentioned.

      "The Head of a College (except in the instance of Christ Church, where the Dean is nominated by the Crown; and Worcester, where [23] the Provost is appointed by the Chancellor of the University) is chosen by the Fellows, from those who are or have been Fellows of the Society.

      "The qualifications for Fellowships vary in almost every Society. The Fellows are, according to the statutes of the College, or the will of the Founder, elected from certain public schools, and admitted on their arrival in Oxford; or they are young men, who, having studied and distinguished in other colleges, offer themselves as candidates, and are selected by the votes of the Fellows. In some Societies they are confined to the natives of particular counties, or elected from the Scholars; and in others, the kindred of the Founder have peculiar privileges. The Fellows, in conjunction with the Head of the College, are, in all cases, the directors of the internal regulation of their Society, and the managers of its property and estates; and from among this body the Church Preferment attached to every College, is distributed, according to seniority as a vacancy occurs.

      "The Scholars are, in a few Colleges, Probationary Fellows; although, in some others, the attainment of a Scholarship is attended with no other beneficial consequence than the receipt of a stated annual sum towards the education of the person who holds it.--Strangers are often perplexed with the terms Scholar and Student, and sometimes apply them indiscriminately to all members of the University. For their information we repeat, that by a Scholar is meant the person who holds the rank above mentioned; and that a Student is one of the 101 members of that name at Christ Church, whose rank is similar to that of Fellow of other Colleges.

      "The Chaplain has a stipend, and generally chambers and provisions in his College. His duty consists in the performance of divine service in the chapel.

      "A Bible Clerk performs a different duty in various Colleges, and his stipend, and the fund from which it arises, differ in like manner. He is required to attend the service of the chapel, and to deliver in a list of the absent undergraduates to the officer appointed to enforce the discipline of the college.

      "Exhibitioners, although not on the Foundation, may be reckoned amongst the Dependent Members, as they receive from particular schools, from the bequest of private persons, or from the colleges themselves, a stipend, which assists in supporting them during their collegiate residence. Many of the London Companies have Exhibitions of this description in their gift.

      "The Servitors also may be considered as Dependent Members, [24] having certain emoluments from their Society, whilst they enjoy all the benefits of a collegiate education.

      "In each college one of the Fellows is appointed to superintend its management during the absence of the Head he takes his title from that of the governor of the college, Vice-President, Sub-Rector, &c.

      "The Tutors undertake the direction of the classical, mathematical, and other studies of the junior members; they prepare them for the public examinations, and furnish them with advice and assistance in other respects; many of the Undergraduates have also private tutors.

      "The office of Dean, (or Censor of Christ Church,) consists in the due preservation of the college discipline. He also presents the candidates for degrees in Arts, in the House of Convocation.

      "The Bursar receives the rents from the estates and other property belonging to the college; he disburses all sums necessary for the expenses of the Society, and pays the stipends of the Fellows, Scholars, &c. He is generally assisted by another officer, entitled Junior Bursar.

      "In colleges that have choirs, the singing clerks, choristers, and organists, may also be reckoned among the Dependent Members.

      "The established college servants are the Butler, who has the care of the books in which the names of the members are entered, the college plate, &c., and who delivers out bread, beer, butter, and cheese; the Maniciple, who purchases the provisions; the Cook, and the Porter; also, the Barber, or Tonsor, who was formerly of considerable consequence; so much so, that to this day the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors entertain the Fraternity, which is an incorporated company, with an annual supper at their apartments. No barber nor hair-dresser can practise his trade in the University unless he be matriculated; that is, unless his name be entered in the book of the University, before the Vice-Chancellor, when he takes his oath of matriculation.¹ [25]

      "The Independent Members are Noblemen; Gentlemen Commoners, (at Worcester College called Fellow-Commoners;) and Commoners.

      "The Noblemen are Peers and sons of Peers of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In proceeding to their degrees, they submit to the same forms, and undergo the same examinations as every other member of the University.

      "Gentlemen Commoners are young men of family and fortune, who are educated at their own expense. The fees, &c. of a Nobleman and Gentleman Commoner are higher than those of a Commoner.

      "A Commoner is a young gentleman who resides in the University at his own expense.

      "It may be proper to observe, that all members of the University are placed on the same footing with regard to discipline, and that neither rank nor riches can, in the slightest degree, tolerate any infringement of the statutes, nor advance their possessors to academical distinctions, in the absence of the real substantial claim of literary merit."

      "UNIVERSITY DEGREES.--The first degree taken in the University is that of Bachelor of Arts: for this a residence of sixteen terms is necessary, Michaelmas and Hilary Terms requiring six weeks', Easter and Trinity three weeks residence, according to the regulations of the University; for the colleges vary as to the time they require their own members to reside; but in no case can it fall short of the period prescribed by the University. As the term in which any one is matriculated, and that in which he takes his degree, are excepted, and two more are dispensed with by Congregation, the residence may, in point of fact, be stated at twelve terms. The sons of the English, Scotch, and Irish Peers, and the eldest sons of Baronets and Knights, when matriculated as such, and not on the Foundation of any College, are allowed to have their degrees after having completed three years. Previously to admission to this degree, it is necessary to undergo two examinations: the first termed Responsions; the second, a Public Examination. Responsions must be performed from the sixth to the ninth term inclusive, when the Examination is in the Classics and Logic, or the Elements of Euclid. After entering the fourth year of residence, the candidate must he publicly examined in the rudiments of religion, including a knowledge of the gospels in the original Greek, the Classics, Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, Logic, and Latin Composition, to which the candidate may add Mathematics and Natural [26] Philosophy. If the candidates distinguish themselves, they are placed, according to their merit, in the first, second, third, or fourth class, and their names published. The list, which is alphabetical, points out whether a candidate excelled in the Literæ Humanores, (Classics, &c.) or in the Disciplinæ Mathematicæ et Physicæ, (Mathematics and Natural Philosophy,) and it is by no means a rare case to find the same name placed in the first class of both the honorable columns. The fifth class consists of such as have not distinguished themselves in their examination, and their names are not published. The examinations take place in the Schools, before the Examining Masters, who are always gentlemen eminent for their learning. A Bachelor is entitled to his degree of Master of Arts twelve terms after the regular time for taking his first degree, without any further examination. One term of intermediate residence, comprising one and twenty days, is all that is requisite.

      "A Student in Civil Law undergoes the same examination as that for Bachelor of Arts, previously to his being admitted Bachelor of Civil Law. The number of terms to be kept for this degree is twenty-eight, which, by dispensation, may be reduced to seventeen.

      "A Bachelor of Divinity receives his degree seven years from the time of his Regency, which is taken out the first Act after his Master's Degree. The ACT is the first Tuesday in July. No one is entitled to vote in the University until he has taken his Regency.

      "A Doctor of Divinity, four years after his degree of Bachelor of Divinity; a Doctor in Civil Law, five years from his Bachelor's degree; a Bachelor in Medicine, one year from his Regency; a Doctor in Medicine, three years after his degree of Bachelor. If the time be completed, the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor may be taken on the same day.

      "For the degree of Bachelor and Doctor of Music, no examination in the Schools is necessary, as for other degrees; but the candidates prepare a composition, which being previously examined and approved by the Professor of Music, is publicly performed in the Music School, before the Vice-Chancellor, and other officers of the University, with such of the members as think proper to attend."

UNIVERSITY DRESSES.

      "Graduates.--The Doctor in Divinity has three dresses: the first consists of a gown of scarlet cloth, with black velvet sleeves and facings, a cassock, sash, and scarf. This dress is worn on all public occasions in the Theatre, in public processions, and on those Sundays and Holydays which are marked thus (*) in the Oxford Calendar. The second is a habit of scarlet cloth, and a hood of the same [27] color, lined with black, and a black silk scarf: the Master of Arts' gown is worn under his dress, the sleeves appearing through the arm-holes of the habit. This is the dress of business; it is used in Convocation, Congregation, at morning sermons at St. Mary's during term, with the exception of the morning sermon on Quinquagesima Sunday, and the morning sermons in Lent. The third, which is the usual dress in which a Doctor of Divinity appears, is a Master of Arts' gown, with cassock, sash, and scarf. The Vice-Chancellor and Heads of Colleges and Halls have no distinguishing dress, but appear, on all occasions, as Doctors in the faculty to which they belong.

      "The dresses by Graduates in Law and Physic are nearly the same. The Doctor has three; the first is a gown of scarlet cloth, with sleeves and facings of pink and silk, and a round black velvet cap. This is the dress of state. The second consists of a habit and hood of scarlet cloth, the habit faced, and the hood lined with pink silk. The habit, which is perfectly analogous to the second dress of the Doctor in Divinity, has lately grown into disuse; it is, however, retained by the Professors; and is always used in presenting to degrees. The third, or common dress of a Doctor in Law or Physic, nearly resembles that of the Bachelor in these faculties; it is a black silk gown, richly ornamented with black lace. The hood is a black silk gown, richly ornamented with black lace. The hood of the Bachelor of Law (worn as a dress) is of purple silk, lined with white fur.

      "The dress worn by the Doctor of Music on public occasions is a rich white damask silk gown, with sleeves aad facings of crimson satin, a hood of the same materials, and a round black velvet cap. The usual dresses of the Doctor and of the Bachelor in Music are nearly the same as those of Law and Physic.

      "The Master of Arts wears a black gown, usually made of Prince's stuff or crape, with long sleeves, which are remarkable for the circular cut at the bottom. The arm comes through an aperture in the sleeve, which hangs down. The hood of a Master of Arts is black silk, lined with crimson.

      "The gown of a Bachelor of Arts is also usually made of Prince's stuff or crape. It has a full sleeve, looped up at the elbow, and terminating in a point; the dress hood is black, trimmed with fur. Noblemen and Gentlemen Commoners, who take the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts, wear their gowns of silk.

      "Undergraduates.--The Nobleman has two dresses; the first, which is worn in the Theatre, in processions, and on all public occasions, is a gown of violet figured damask silk, richly ornamented [28] with gold lace. The second is a black silk gown, with full sleeves; it has a tippet attached to the shoulders. With both these dresses is worn a square cap of black velvet, with a gold tassel.

      "The Gentleman Commoner has two gowns, both of black silk; the first, which is considered as a dress-gown, although worn on all occasions, at pleasure, is richly ornamented with tassels. The second, or undress gown, is ornamented with plaits at the sleeves. A square black velvet cap, with a silk tassel, is worn with both.

      "The dress of Commoners is a gown of black Prince's stuff, without sleeves; from each shoulder is appended a broad strip, which reaches to the bottom of the dress, and towards the top is gathered into plaits. The square cap of black cloth and silk tassel.

      "The Student in Civil Law, or Civilian, wears a plain black silk gown, and square black cap, with silk tassel.

      "Scholars, and Demies of Magdalen, Postmasters of Merton, and Students of Christ Church, who have not taken a degree, wear a plain black gown of Prince's stuff, with round full sleeves, half the length of the gown, and a square black cap, with silk tassel.

      "The dress of the Servitor is the same as that of the Commoner, but it has no plaits at the shoulder, and the cap is without a tassel."

University Officers, distinguished by their Dress.

      "The dress of the Chancellor is of black figured damask silk richly ornamented with gold embroidery, a rich lace band, and square velvet cap, with a large gold tassel.

      "The Proctors wear gowns of Prince's stuff, the sleeves and facings of black velvet; to the left shoulder is affixed a small tippet. To this is added, as a dress, a large ermine hood.

      "The Pro-Proctor wears a Master of Arts' gown, faced with velvet, with a tippet attached to the left shoulder.

      "The Bedels are those who walk before the Vice-Chancellor in processions. There are three called Esquire Bedels, and three Yeomen Bedels. The Esquire Bedels, who carry the gold staves, wear silk gowns, similar to those of Bachelors of Law, and round velvet caps. The Yeomen Bedels, who bear silver staves, have black stuff gowns, and round silk caps.

      "The dress of the Verger, who walks first in processions, is nearly the same as that of the Yeoman Bedel. He carries a silver rod.

      "The Vice-Chancellor seldom walks out without being preceded by a Yeoman Bedel, with his staff.

      "Bands at the neck are considered as necessary appendages to the academic dress, particularly on all public occasions." [29]

      Such are the authentic regulations of the great University of Oxford, of which his Grace the Duke of Wellington is Chancellor.

      While we accord to these institutions of Oxford and Can bridge much that is wise, and judicious, and venerable, we cannot but think that there is something that savors of weakness, or prejudice, or superstition, if not of all three, in some of their laws and customs. Their literary and religious taste and costume are very similar.--But, whence, we must ask, the beau ideal of all this consecrated and by-law-established foppery? Can we find it in the canonicals of the ancient schools of the prophets and philosophers--in the sacred vestments of the high priest Melchisedec, or in those of the house and lineage of Aaron? Or are these the meretricious decorations of the mystic lady of the Papal throne, who was "clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones, and pearls, bearing a golden chalice in her hands"!!

      I blame not Kings and Queens for royal robes and vestments--the bridegroom or the bride for a wedding garment; but to see students of nature, of the philosophy of the great universe--Bachelors and Doctors of Divinity, in apparel so theatrically vain and foolish--scarfed and cassocked, gowned and tasseled, hooded and sashed, caps the climax of learned folly and sainted pride. With the change of fortune into learning, one might say with Pope of these University fashions--

      These great seminaries commenced, one might say, in the dark ages, when men venerated robes, titles, and livery, more than wisdom, learning, or grace. They were in good keeping with the spirit of the Popedom--with its grimace, genuflexions, and gorgeous ceremonials during the 12th and 13th centuries.² They were, [30] indeed, Papal institutions, and Protestant Reformation laid its corrective hand upon them as light as possible. Their sympathies with their mother have, therefore, always been in harmony with the spirit of the 5th commandment. Hence the reverence and veneration of some of her greatest masters for the secular glory and mystic theology of Rome are all predominating in some of her colleges, and indicate a strong desire to return to the bosom of Holy Mother. The "Oxford Tracts" are, therefore, all backward to the gates of the mystic city.

      True, the spirit as well as the forms of the English hierarchy, so far as it is a state or secular religion, are more Papistical than Protestant, and savor much more of Rome than Jerusalem. And yet no one can obtain any honorable degree, from Bachelor of Arts to Doctor of Divinity, at either of her Universities, who does not vow a bona fide allegiance to her doctrine, discipline, and government!

      How illiberal, exclusive, and proscriptive the spirit of a University that knows no merit; that recognizes no genius, no moral worth, no literary eminence, no public service outside the pale of Queen Victoria's church! True to herself alone, she engrosses all her chartered powers; and while indebted to the whole government of the whole empire for protection and support, she honors and rewards enthusiastically only according to her Thirty-nine Articles and her Rubric.

      Bishop Wilberforce, son of the great philanthropist, who, by the way, is likely to be an Archbishop--a very respectable lecturer, though a very insipid, monotonous, and uninteresting speaker, addressed a most imposing audience, last summer, at the University, on the necessity of humility in the pursuit of science. On hearing of this discourse, pronounced in the presence of such an audience, I could have wished that his Lordship had applied the doctrine to that portion of his hearers that advocate the engrossment of all literary and scientific honors to bona fide subscribers to the royal creed.

      But the Lord Bishop who addressed the Cambridge clergy and literati at its grand commencement last July, gave a very conclusive reason for this provision. His sermon had but three points:--1st. England is the greatest nation in the world. 2d. Its greatness is founded upon its Protestant Hierarchy. And, in the 3d place, its Protestant Hierarchy is founded upon its Universities--especially upon the single University of Cambridge, that of Oxford having gone back from its once Protestant faith. Therefore, the practical [31] application of the subject was;--England and its church must look well to the prosperity and glory of the University of Cambridge.

      This is as good philosophy as was that of another Bishop, who, when asked on what did the heavens rest, answered, 'On the earth;' and when asked on what did the earth rest, answered, 'On the back of a huge tortoise.' A third question brought him to his senses:--And on what does the tortoise rest! Answered, 'I presume upon itself.' I am disposed to think (and I hope there is nothing in it either irreverent or even disrespectful) that his Grace the Lord Bishop, if asked on what did the University of Cambridge rest, must have been as much perplexed as the philosopher who builded his universe upon a mere presumption; for certainly he would not say that the University was founded upon the Church or upon the State, being the basis of both. As little could he say it was founded upon itself.

      We American citizens think that England would be much more glorious and respectable if she would abolish her hierarchy and her spiritual Lords, and divorce her Colleges and Universities from their present irrational, proscriptive, and intolerant attitude, and thus make them national and popular, rather than aristocratical and hierarchical institutions.

      I visited a much more rational and useful institution at Huddersfield than either of these mammoth institutions, in view of its age and patronage, of which I may say something again. Meantime I presume I have been sufficiently copious in my notices of the two great English Universities; and shall for the present say. Adieu!

[The Millennial Harbinger, Third Series, 5 (January 1848): 22-32.]