Textbooks, evolution and pirates: these were the topics of a scandal marking the only other time the question of a presidential no-confidence vote was raised at Lafayette College over a century ago.
On Feb. 18, 1914, The Lafayette announced President Ethelbert Dudley Warfield’s resignation following a years-long scuffle with the Board of Trustees and general student body.
Warfield served as president of Lafayette College from 1891 to 1914, the longest term of any Lafayette president.
The beginning of Warfield’s administration was characterized by a marked interest in student activities, including encouraging the development of athletics, debate and fraternity life.
But, in 1913, Warfield began to face widespread backlash after forcing the resignation of popular faculty member John Mecklin, a professor of mental and moral philosophy.
Warfield questioned the methods and content of courses in Mecklin’s department, including the use of textbooks applying the theory of evolution.
The president’s prioritization of theology over curriculum was well known. It prompted one alum to write a letter of concern to the Board of Trustees.
“I must say to you frankly that I regard the last ten years of his administration as misdirected and feel that his conception of present-day education and the place of the college in modern life, are, to say the least, medieval and monastic,” the alum wrote.
While Mecklin agreed to use the textbooks the Board of Trustees approved, this created direct tension between the trustees and Warfield. Mecklin resigned in an attempt to relieve this tension.
The following movement against Warfield was not primarily led by trustees or faculty but by the student body. Students called for his resignation – a group calling themselves the “pirates” began protesting during mandatory chapel by thumping bibles against the pews whenever Warfield attempted to speak.
This protest was copied at the Class of 1913 Commencement, where the graduating class intentionally drowned out only Warfield’s speeches.
The class of 1913 presented a resolution to the Board of Trustees, citing his “incapacity to fill the position.”
“His continuance in office is against the best interests of the college,” the resolution reads. “Therefore, be it resolved, that the gift of the Class of 1913 to the college be withheld until a change be made in the administration of the college.”
Following this increased level of protest, the Board of Trustees appointed a committee to investigate Warfield. The committee was hesitant to issue a vote of no confidence, largely citing a fear of estranging friends of the college — Warfield routinely spoke of his relationship with college donors.
Warfield issued his resignation on Feb. 12, 1914, which was later reported in the Feb. 18 edition of The Lafayette.
“I cannot depend upon the cooperation and support of a large number of the Board of Trustees,” the notice of resignation reads. “I know that no institution can flourish without such cooperation.”
Warfield claimed his resignation was for the “welfare of the college,” and would take place at the end of the academic year.
The resolution accepting the resignation, written by trustee Edward J. Fox, was published in the same edition of The Lafayette.
The board’s resolution was largely complimentary. It attributed a 100% growth in the student body, raised admission standards and broadened curriculum under Warfield’s leadership.
“Such a record demands our recognition and our gratitude, and we feel that the college owes to Dr. Warfield a debt which can never be repaid,” the resolution reads.
Warfield was granted two years of severance pay following his resignation.
The college would not show this level of formal dissatisfaction with a president until January of 2025, when the faculty passed a no-confidence vote against college President Nicole Hurd, citing a variety of grievances including administrative turnover and a lack of faculty inclusion on the strategic plan.
Along with other sources cited and linked, the The Biography of a College; Being the History of the First Century of the Life of Lafayette College was a main source of information for this article.
