Early American Colleges P8

Of the first 246 colleges started in America, 229 (93%) were directly founded on the Christian faith. By 1860, there were 288 universities in America; and 262 of them, a minister was president of the university - and more than a third of all university faculty members were also clergy. Only 17 colleges and universities at that time were state institutions, but even these were not secular, for the University of Michigan, the University of Georgia, and others had self-declared purposes of Christian education and the insulation of Christian character.

By 1890, James Angels, who had been president of the University of Vermont and then University of Michigan, reported that even a state university, over 90% conducted chapel services; At half of them, chapel attendance was compulsory; and one-sixth required regular church attendance in addition to chapel attendance. Having chapel remained the practice of state universities well into the 20th century.   

Most other colleges reflected the same pattern, and these Bible-based schools produced tens of thousands of influential graduates. Sadly, many of these once Christian universities have now abandoned their heritage, becoming thoroughly secularized and even hostile to Christianity. However, that does not alter the fact that genuine Christian education shaped the early leaders who shaped America. And the Christian principles and Biblical teachings so readily visible throughout the Colonial Era remained prominent and influential throughout America’

Content sourced from The American Story The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton