Modern College Entrance Requirements Are Easy Compared to Those Set for Latin in 1643

That the modern College Board examinations are extremely easy compared with the seventeenth century entrance requirements for Harvard was brought to light by the recent discovery of a volume entitled, "New England's First Fruits," published in 1643 in London. It contained a brief description of the University and a list of the "Rules and Precepts that are observed in the College." The first three rules are quoted below:

1. When any scholar is able to understand Tully, or such like classical Latine author extempore, and make and speak true Latine verse and prose, suoet aiunt Marti; and decline perfectly the paradignes of nounes and verbes in the Greek tongue: let him then, and not before, be capable of admission into the College.

2. Let every student be plainly and earnestly pressed to consider well that the maine end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, Joh. XVII.

3. And therefore to lay Christ on the bottom; as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning; and seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of him, Prov. ii. 3.

As if this advice to lead Christian lives of temperance, hard-work, and worship were not enough, the rules went on to enjoin all students to "eschew all profanation of the God's name," and further, that "they studiously redeeme the time" and "dillegently attend the lectures without any disturbance by word or gesture."

In the early days of the College, the authorities took it upon themselves to safeguard the morals of the rising generations. An example of this is included in the account of "the progress of learning in the College of Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay" which contained an article to the effect that "none shall, under any pretence whatsoever, frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit and dissolute life."