Colleges are religious societies of a superior nature to all others. For whereas parishes are societies for the training up the common people; colleges are societies of ministers for training up persons for the work of the ministry. And therefore all their religious instructions, worship and ordinances are carried on within their own jurisdiction by their own officers and under their own regulations.

The Founders, at their first meeting in 1701, make a formal foundation of the College by express declaration; and giving a number of books for the library...particularly prescribing what books of divinity they should recite; and no other, but such as the trustees should order; and that special care should be taken in the education of the students not to suffer them to be instructed in any different principles or doctrines; and that all proper measures should be taken to promote the power an purity of religion and peace, and best edification of those churches. And particularly order, that the students should attend morning and evening prayers, and other religious exercises, and especially the worship of God on the Lord’s Day, on penalty not exceeding six-pence sterling.

The present governors of the College, esteem themselves bound by law and the more sacred ties of conscience and fidelity to their trust, committed to them by their predecessors, to pursue and carry on, the pious intention and design of the founders, and to improve all the college estate descended to them for that purpose....

Some indeed have supposed that the only design of colleges was to teach the arts and sciences, and that religion is no part of a college education, and therefore, there ought be no religious worship upheld or enjoined by the law of the College, but every student may worship where and how he pleaseth, or as his parents or guardian shall direct.

But it is probably that there is not a college to be found upon earth upon such a constitution without any regard to religion. And we know that religion, and the religion of these churches in particular, both as to doctrine and discipline, was the main design of the founder of this college (agreeable to the minds of the body of the people). And this design their successors are bound in duty to pursue. And indeed religion is a matter of so great consequence and importance that the knowledge of the arts and sciences, how excellent soever in themselves, are comparatively worth but little without it.

Written by Thomas Clap, The Religious Constitution of Colleges, New London, Connecticut, 1754 (pages 4-10, 12,13).