Read Part One HERE
In this post I continue to focus on a woman named Mary Mason Lyon. She lived from 1797 - 1849.
Though Mary's policies for the seminary were controversial, it soon attracted its target student body of 200. Mary anticipated a change in the role of women and equipped her students with an education that was comprehensive, regorous and innovative, with particular emphasis on sciences. She required seven courses in the sciences and mathematics for graduation, a requirement unheard of at other female seminaries. She introduced women to "a new and unusual way" to learn science - laboratory experiments which they performed themselves. She organised field trips on which students collected rocks, plants and specimens for lab work, and inspected geological formations and recently discovered dinosaur tracks.
Mary served as the principal of Mount Holyoke Seminary for the first 12 years, she selected her teachers from among her former pupils from Ipswich Seminary and Mount Holyoke itself.
Religion was very important to Mary. She was raised a Baptist but converted to a Congregationalist under the influence of her teacher Rev. Joseph Emerson. Mary preached revivals at Mount Holyoke Seminary, spoke elsewhere, and though not a minister, was a member of the fellowship of New England's New Divinity clergy. At the Seminary she provided spiritual enrichment through Bible study, prayer and worship. Her philosophy was "study and teach nothing that cannot be made to help in the great work of converting the world to Christ." In "A Missionay Offering "(1843), her only published work, she stressed the importance of supporting missions. Mary frequently invited missionaries to speak at the seminary, and many of her students were inspired to travel overseas or serve at home as missionaries and teachers, some founding schools based on Mount Holyoke's principles.
Mary's health began to decline during the winter of 1846-1847. She died in 1849.
Read Part Fity-Five HERE
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