If to any one, this place of honor belongs to Timothy Dwight, grandson of Jonathan Edwards, whose accession to the presidency of Yale College at the darkest hour in its history marked the turning-point.

We have already learned from the reminiscences of Lyman Beecher how low the college had sunk in point of religious character, when most of the class above him were openly boastful of being infidels.[243:1] How the new president dealt with them is well described by the same witness: "They thought the faculty were afraid of free discussion.

But when they handed Dr.Dwight a list of subjects for class disputation, to their surprise, he selected this: 'Is the Bible the word of God ?' and told them to do their best.

He heard all they had to say, answered them, and there was an end.

He preached incessantly for six months on the subject, and all infidelity skulked and hid its head.