enthusiasm to the churches. When Cossum went to China a few months later, Colgate students undertook to meet part of his expenses as the “University Missionary.”
Since the Volunteer Band in effect took over the functions of the Society of Inquiry that group dissolved in 1893.
Despite James B. Colgate’s belief that the YMCA tended to weaken Baptist loyalties the Y flourished in the College, Seminary and Academy and through this means Colgate students shared in the religious interests common to most other American colleges. In 1896 the spiritual life of both village and University was quickened by a series of revival meetings sponsored by the Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational Churches and conducted by an itinerant evangelist, Rev. W.E. Geil.
The ’90’s saw, also, an acceleration of social life, so much so, in fact, that President Smith wrote to James B. Colgate in 1896 that students “live beyond their means and are a little too gay.”
The Class of 1894, several of whose members were jovial and fun-loving young men, had the distinction of introducing what became known as Junior Week or Junior Prom. This affair grew out of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration staged each year by the Junior Class. In 1893 the Juniors arranged not only for the usual literary exercises but also for an elaborate reception in the new library. There were extensive decorations of flags, bunting, Japanese lanterns, and plants; an orchestra played from the balcony, and a caterer from Utica served refreshments. In 1894 the Class of 1894 instituted Patrons’ Day in April to honor all who had aided the University, especially the Colgates, and to foster interest and loyalty of the alumni who were invited to return to Alma Mater for the occasion. The actual observance focused on a banquet with speeches but the round of events scheduled included fraternity receptions, a performance of “The Rivals”
by the Dramatic Society, and a baseball game. Of particular interest was the “Junior Promenade”
in the new gymnasium the evening before the banquet. Decorations were in orange and maroon, Colgate’s colors, while the “drill room,”
later to be the basketball court, was converted into a reception room with alcoves along the sides fitted up with rugs, sofas, and lamps. A Utica orchestra provided music for the program of marches following which the Juniors and their guests and others danced. Thus was begun a new custom which represented a decidedly new departure in campus social life. Though Junior Prom was later to