Preface.

To prevent misapprehension and enhance the interest of this volume, it may be proper to sketch briefly the history of the University of Virginia, and to give some account of the origin of the following course of lectures on the Evidences of Christianity. This task seems naturally to devolve on the undersigned, who was Chaplain in that institution at the time of the delivery of these lectures.

It is a familiar fact that this distinguished State University was brought into being mainly by the exertions of the illustrious Thomas Jefferson-a man of versatile genius and varied literary accomplishments, if not of sound logical talent and profound erudition; one personally conversant with the most advanced forms of civilization in his day, yet thoroughly devoted to all that belonged distinctively to the structure of society and form of government in America, and ever desirous to contribute all in his power to the advancement of his country. He was fully possessed with the American idea as to the necessity of education and good morals among the people at large. And after his withdrawal from the national service, nothing seems to have engaged his thoughts and active exertions so much as the intellectual elevation of that State in which he was born, and in which was his fixed residence through his whole lifetime.

As early as the year 1814, in a private letter to a friend in Albemarle County, he proposed a scheme for a State College, and in 1816 the Legislature took the initiatory step in the execution of his scheme. In the Session of 1817-18, Mr. Jefferson drew up two bills, having for their object the establishment of a system of public instruction for the State, namely, 1st, A Bill providing for elementary schools, and 2d (introduced a little later), A Bill making provision for an extensive system of public schools. This latter bill embraced the provisions of the former, and further provided for a number of Colleges and a Central University. In accordance with the spirit of these bills, an act was passed February 21st, 1818, applying from the revenue of the Literary Fund, forty-five thousand dollars annually to primary schools, and fifteen thousand dollars annually for the endowment of an University. A Committee, of which Mr. Jefferson was Chairman, appointed

by the Legislature, among other purposes, for naming a suitable location for the proposed University, met at Rockfish Gap, on the Blue Ridge Mountain, and decided in favor of the site of the Central College, an embryo institution gotten up by private subscription of the friends of science, Mr. J. at their head, and located near Charlottesville, Albemarle County. The Legislature accepted the suggestion of the Committee; so that the Central College, including all its appurtenances, was absorbed into the University. The beautiful eminence selected for the buildings lay about five miles distant from Monticello, but in full view.

The whole plan of the institution, in respect of buildings, studies, instruction, and government, originated in the prolific mind of its devoted founder. With great discrimination and independence of mind, he culled from extant ideas and wrought out his own conclusions, some of which were novel and of undecided expediency, but are now gaining ground, as wise, practical principles. From the time of the passage of the final bill, January 25th, 1819, until the day of his death, July 4th, 1826, the venerable statesman seemed to possess the fire and activity of youth, so great was the assiduity and energy with which he gave his personal attention to all the details of the designing and erection of extensive and elaborate buildings, and to all the numberless features, great and small, connected with the establishment of a first-class University. He was spared to behold his long-cherished scheme successfully consummated. On the 25th day of March, 1825, its halls were thrown open for the reception of students. Its distinguished Father continued to watch over it, and treated its students with paternal kindness and attention. But in little more than one year his great spirit was summoned from the scene of his honorable and useful labors.

The University went into operation with eight professors and one hundred and twenty-three students. The average number of students up to this date has been over two hundred. For several years past there has been a sound and constant growth. The number of students now is about four hundred and there are nine professors, one lecturer, one adjunct professor, and three tutors, making the corps of instructors to number fourteen in all.

It is a fact of general interest, that the subject of theology is omitted in the plan of studies, and no provision is made for having religious worship in the University. This omission has sometimes been ascribed to peculiarities in Mr. Jefferson's religious belief. It is not to be denied that amidst the violent agitations in the public mind during the latter part of the last century, throughout the civilized world, and the overthrow of many longvenerated opinions, Mr. Jefferson became as skeptical concerning the divine right of Christianity as he did concerning the divine right of Monarchy. But he studiously concealed his sentiments upon this subject during his whole life. "My religion is known to God and myself alone," he wrote within a few years of his death. Only to his most confidential friends did

he ever communicate any part of his religious opinions. He is not known to have ever made any attempt to propagate his views, or in any direct and open manner to interfere with the success of Christianity. The publication of his private correspondence has indeed disclosed fully his errors and bitterness respecting Christianity, but as the object of these lines is to present facts and views not generally noticed, I shall not farther allude to the melancholy revelations of those posthumous papers.

The absence of authorized religious instruction in the University is not justly attributable to Mr. Jefferson's single influence, nor is it in itself a proof of hostility to our religion. Christianity in Virginia, particularly among the more cultivated classes, was certainly at a point of great depression in those days, when memories of corrupt and despised Church establishments were still vivid, and when the wave of French infidelity which had rolled across, and had lashed the very base of the Blue Ridge, had not yet subsided to its parent depths. But in the opinion of many of those best qualified to judge, no greater favor could have been done to the cause of true religion than to save it from the dubious fate of falling again into the unconsecrated hands of State authorities. Virginia, ever shuddering with recollections of the past, and ever having before her eyes the jealousies of Christian sects, and the fierce discords in sister States, has uniformly decided that portentous and much-debated question as to the proper combination of religious and secular instruction, particularly in State schools, by leaving out the religious element entirely from her government institutions, yet never interfering with its introduction by private means, which do not interfere with religious equality.

In the arrangement of the University system, this subject was not left to go by mere default. It is interesting to find in the original scheme drawn up by Mr. Jefferson, and submitted to the Legislature of 1818, that it is proposed to leave a space in a conspicuous part of the grounds, which might be needed at some future time for a large building to be used among other purposes "for religious worship, under such impartial regulations as the Visitors shall prescribe." In the same document occurs the following pertinent paragraph:

"In conformity with the principles of our constitution, which places all sects of religion on an equal footing, with the jealousies of different sects in guarding that equality from encroachment and surprise, and with the sentiments of the Legislature in favor of freedom of religion, manifested on former occasions, we have proposed no professor of divinity; and the rather, as the proofs of the being of God, the creator, preserver, and supreme ruler of the universe, the author of all the relations of morality, and of the laws and obligations these infer, will be within the province of the professor of ethics; to which, adding the developments of these moral obligations, of those in which all sects agree, with the knowledge of the languages, He

brew, Greek and Latin, a basis will be formed common to all sects. Proceeding thus far without offence to the constitution, we have thought it proper at this point to have every sect provide as they think fittest, the means of further instruction in their own peculiar tenets.”

Two years before the University went into operation, the idea contained in the concluding clause of the above extract was clearly and fully developed by Mr. Jefferson in a Report written by him, and sanctioned by the other members of the Board of Visitors, to the President and Directors of the Literary Fund. So true and excellent are the general views, and so novel and interesting is the proposition, contained in this Report, that it is worthy of being quoted entire, with the single omission of the paragraph copied above, which is made to form the opening of the Report. The document continues, "It was not, however, to be understood that instruction in religious opinions and duties was meant to be precluded by the public authorities, as indifferent to the interests of society. On the contrary, the relations which exist between man and his Maker, and the duties resulting from those relations, are the most interesting and important to every human being, and the most incumbent on his study and investigation. The want of instruction in the various creeds of religious faith existing among our citizens presents therefore a chasm in a general institution of the useful sciences: but it was thought that this want, and the entrustment to each society of instruction in its own doctrines, were evils of less danger than a permission to the public authorities to dictate modes or principles of religious instruction, or than opportunities furnished them of giving countenance or ascendency of any one sect over another. A remedy, however, has been suggested, of promising aspect, which while it excludes the public authorities from the domain of religious freedom, would give to the sectarian schools of divinity the full benefit of the public provisions made for instruction in the other branches of science. These branches are equally necessary to the Divine as to the other professional or civil characters, to enable them to fulfil the duties of their calling with understanding and usefulness. It has therefore been in contemplation, and suggested by some pious individuals, who perceive the advantages of associating other studies with those of religion, to establish their religious schools on the confines of the University, so as to give to their schools ready and convenient access and attendance on the scientific lectures of the University and to maintain, by that means, those destined for the religious professions on as high a standing of science and of personal weight and respectability, as may be obtained by others from the benefits of the Univer sity. Such establishments would offer the further and great advantage of enabling the students of the University to attend religious exercises with the professor of their particular sect, either in the rooms of the building still to be erected, and destined to that purpose under impartial regulations, as proposed in the same Report of the Commissioners, or in the lecturing room

of such professor. To such propositions the visitors are disposed to lend a willing ear, and would think it their duty to give every encouragement, by assuring those who might choose such a location for their schools, that the regulations of the University should be so modified and accommodated as to give every facility of access and attendance to their students, with such regulated use also as may be permitted to the other students, of the library which may hereafter be acquired, either by public or private munificence, but always understanding that these schools shall be independent of the University and of each other. Such an arrangement would complete the circle of the useful sciences embraced by this institution, and would fill the chasm now existing, on principles which would leave inviolate the constitutional freedom of religion, the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights, over which the people and authorities of this State, individually and publicly, have ever manifested the most watchful jealousy and could this jealousy be now alarmed in the opinion of the Legislature by what is here suggested, the idea will be relinquished on any surmise of disapprobation, which they might think proper to express."

The general sentiments in this paper with regard to the importance of religious inquiry, not only are just and expansive, but form a very appropriate introduction to a volume such as that now presented to the public, and furnish an ample vindication of the propriety of having such a course of lectures delivered in the institution. This scheme of Mr. Jefferson's, although never opposed by any State authority, has been met by no response from the 'sects,' who perhaps were unwilling to range themselves as satellites around this great orb of secular science.

Although religion, didactic or devotional, has never had an acknowledged legal existence in the institution, yet since the third year after the University went into operation it has always had a footing and a welcome among the practical observances. By the year 1828, arrangements had been made by the faculty in their private capacity for regular weekly service within the walls of the University by the Episcopal and Presbyterian clergymen of Charlottesville, alternately. In the year 1830 a Presbyterian clergyman of Philadelphia accepted the invitation of the faculty to act as Chaplain to the institution. A systematic arrangement for securing regular religious worship was consummated in 1831, by which an annual appointment of a Chaplain was made from each of the four principal denominations in the State, in rotation. In 1848 the appointment of Chaplain was made for two years instead of one, the same system of rotation being continued. Since 1831 the compensation of the Chaplain has been made by the voluntary contributions of the officers and students. With a Chapel, a Chaplain, two services each Sabbath, a weekly prayer-meeting, a Sabbath-school, daily morning prayers, together with entire cordiality and accessibility on the part of all concerned, Christianity is now established at the University of Virginia on a basis