Lawrence College trustees called Pusey back as president primarily because of his leading part in the curriculum innovations at Wesleyan. Since its founding in 1847, Lawrence had put its emphasis on a broad inclusive education, and Pusey, then a rising educator of 37, was certain to uphold the tradition.

Ties with Harvard

Lawrence, Pusey soon found, has many ties with his alma mater. Amos Lawrence, its founder, was the brother of Abbott Lawrence, President Lowell's grandfather, and was a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers and a heavy contributor to the building of Memorial Hall. Perhaps as atonement for this architectural sin or perhaps because the land was of no use to him (the Lawrence won renown for their frugality) he donated some Wisconsin acreage he had acquired to the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church to use in founding a college.

Lawrence, an Episcopalian, said later that he would have preferred granting the property to members of his same faith, but since the Methodist sect was the frontier religion, they could make better use of it. Lawrence was careful to insure, however, that the College would not be denominational and forbade "propagating the tenets of any sect." In 1932 the College severed all remaining religious bonds with the Methodists, so that while religion continues to be a prime force on the campus, it is more than ever non-denominational.

The song, set to the tune of "Survey With the Fringe on Top":

To the Charles from the Fox river valley

The Pusey family soon forth will sally

We'll send you with an all college rally

To Cambridge, Mass.

We are singing congratulations

Our President is the pride of the Nation

He'll be a boon to the administration

Out in Cambridge, Mass.

We'll say goodby with a tear in our eye

But a bright a cheery smile on our faces