Harvard University Rules of Conduct c. 1643

As the son of a Harvard grad student, I have certain memories associated with the university that has been described as "the oldest, richest, and most famous of American seats of learning." Apart from grad student housing on Park Drive, and visits to the Peabody and The Coop, they mostly center around life at Harvard Square, including the ubiquitous Chessmaster, and the diversity of "expression" to be found at the Pit. Be that as it may -- and no doubt everyone's associations with Harvard University in the 20th and 21st centuries are in some aspects unique and subjective -- historically, life was very different for the earliest Harvard student community.

John Milton in 1644 (Of Education) famously described the purpose of education thus:

The end then of Learning is to repair the ruines of our first Parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the neerest by possessing our souls of true vertue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection.

The authors of a 1643 tract called New Englands First Fruits, which outlines the rules of conduct for the Harvard student body, were of like mind in this regard, and hence it is worth looking at the standards of America's first institution of higher learning when it was a Puritan institution.

New Englands First Fruits, pp. 26-28 (modernized spelling):

Rules, and Precepts that are Observed at the College:

1. When any scholar is able to understand Tullius [Cicero] or such like classical Latin author extempore, and make and speak true Latin in verse and prose, suo ut aiunt marte ["to stand, as they say, on his own feet"], and decline perfectly the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue, let him then, and not before, be capable of admission into the College.

2. 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), and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.

And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Prov. 2.3).

3. Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in theoretical observations of the language and logic, and in practical and spiritual truths, as his tutor shall require, according to his ability: seeing "the entrance of the word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psal. 119.130).

4. That they, eschewing all profanation of God's name, attributes, word, ordinances and times of worship, do study with good conscience carefully to retain God and the love of His truth in their minds. Else, let them know that (notwithstanding their learning) God may give them up "to strong delusions" (II Thess. 2.11, 12), and in the end "to a reprobate mind" (Rom. 1.28).

5. That they studiously redeem the time, observe the general hours appointed for all the students, and the special hours for their own classes; and then diligently attend the lectures, without any disturbance by word or gesture. And if in anything they doubt, they shall inquire as of their fellows, so (in case of "non-satisfaction") modestly of their tutors.

6. None shall, under any pretense whatsoever, frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit and dissolute life.

Nor shall any, without his tutor's leave or (in his absence) the call of his parents or guardians, go abroad to other towns.

7. Every scholar shall be present in his tutor's chamber at the seventh hour in the morning, immediately after the sound of the bell, at his opening the scripture and prayer; so also at the fifth hour at night, and then give account of his own private reading (as aforesaid in particular the third), and constantly attend lectures in the hall at the hours appointed. But if any (without necessary impediment) shall absent himself from prayer or lectures, he shall be liable to admonition, if he offend above once a week.

8. If any scholar shall be found to transgress any of the laws of God or the school, after twice admonition, he shall be liable, if not adultus, to correction; if adultus, his name shall be given up to the overseers of the College, that he may be admonished at the public monthly act.