History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 156

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 156

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Article III. reads as follows :

" The preceding Creed and Declaration shall be repeated by every Professor on this Foundativo at the expiration of every successive period of five yeurs ; and no mao shall he continued a Professor on said Foundation who shall oot continue to approve himself a man of sound and orthodox principles in Divinity agreeably to the aforesaid Creed."

The original founders, having reserved in their constitution the right to amend that instrument, provided such alteration "be not prejudicial to the true design of said Foundation," that they might · bring this constitution into accord with the creed agreed upon with the associate founders, proceeded to establish certain additional statutes.

Their language is,-" We do now, agreeably to the said reserved right, and in furtherance, as we trust, of our original design, therein expressed, make and ordain the following Articles, to be added to, and taken as a part of, our said Constitution, and to continue of full force, as a part of our said Constitution, so long as the said Associate Foundation shall continue at- tached to our said Institution, and no longer."

Article I. of these " Additional Statutes " reads thus :

" Having provided in the twelfth Article of our said Constitution that 'every person, appointed or elected a Professor in the said Seminary, shall, on the day of his inauguration into office, publicly make and sub- scribe a Declaration of his faith in Divine Revelation and in the funda- mental and distinguishing doctrinesof the Gospel of Christ, as summarily expressed in the Westminster Assemtily's Shorter Catechism,' we new ordain the following addition, to be inserted in said article, in connec- tion with the said clause, viz. : 'and as more particularly expressed iu the following Creed, to wit :

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Then follows verbatim the Associate Creed.

The sentence preceding the creed, in Article 1. of the additional statutes, viz., "and as more particu- larly expressed in the following Creed," has been the subject of diverse interpretation, and of much warm discussion. Some contend that it does not in the least infringe upon or modify the preceding require- ments of the founders that their professors shall make subscription to the Shorter Catechism. They elaim that the associate creed, is in addition to, not ex- planatory of, the Westminster Assembly's Catechism.

Others maintain that this clause introduced between the requirement of faith in the Catechism and the associate creed, is a qualifying clause, and was in- tended to indicate that the creed was to be regarded as an equivalent of the Catechism, or that the creed was to be taken as a more definite expression of what the founders meant to include by the language, "as summarily expressed in the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism," or as embodying so much of, and all of, the Catechism which they desired their profes- sors to accept and subscribe. Wise and good men are to be found on both sides of this delicate question. But practically the question was settled in 1842 by the decision of the board of visitors, the final arbi- ters on all questions as to the interpretation of the statutes.

The history of this matter is briefly this: From the first till the year 1826 the professors were not required to, and did not, give their assent to or subscribe the Catechism. In that year the Catechism was introduced by the trustees as part of the confes- sion of faith to which the professors must give their adhesion. They conformed to the requirement, and their example was followed till 1842, when one of the professors, deeming the requirement at variance with the demand of the statutes, refused compliance, and appealed to the board of visitors against the de- mand of the trustees. This board, then composed of Dr. Codman, Dr. Humphrey and Hou. Seth Terry, of Hartford, after an exhaustive hearing, ably con- ducted on both sides, decided in favor of the profes- sor, on the ground that the statutes did not require the professors and visitors to give their assent to and subscribe the Catechism in addition to the creed. Since this decision the professors have not been re- quired to profess adhesion to the Westminster Assem- bly's Shorter Catechism.

In addition to this change in the creed, there was a further provision made, in agreement with that in the foundation of the associates, for a visitatorial board. Thus the two projects were assimilated, amalgamated, forming one homogeneous institution.

This provision for a board of visitors is unique. The circumstances and conditions under which the seminary came into existence were also singular.

The recent perversion, as these founders considered it, of the Hollis Fund at Harvard by the trustees of that institution, together with the fact that a majority

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of the trustees of Phillips Academy might be, and originally were, laymen, and the anomalous status of their school, the same being placed under the con- trol of persons selected to have charge of a classical institution, and without doctrinal tests or qualifica- tions, led these founders of a theological seminary, who proposed to teach for all time certain specified doctrines, to place their professors under the super- vision of a special board. Thus in Article HI. of the additional statutes they say :

" That the trust aforesaid may be always executed agreeably to the true intent of our said Foundation, and that we may effectually guard the same, in all futuro time, against all perversion, or the smallest avoidance of our true design, as therein expressed ; We do Hereby constitutea Board of Visitors to be, as in ur place and stead, the Guardians, Oversvers and I'retectors of our said Foundation, in manuer, as is expressed in the fol- lowing provisions : that is to say, we appoint and constitute the Honor- able Caleb Strong, Kaj, late tivernor of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, the Reverend Timothy Dwight, D.D , President of Yale College, mind the Reverend Sammel Spring, D.D., of Newburyport, Visitors of the raid Foundation ; who, with their Successors in office, to be chosen, as hereinafter directed, shall be a perpetual body for this purpose, with all the powers and duties in themu here n vested and on them eujoined."

The founders- Messrs. Brown, Bartlet, Norris and Abbot-were added to the three above mentioned, to hold office till resignation or death, when, from that day onward, the board was to consist of only three persons-" two clergymen and one layman-all of whom shall be men of distinguished talents and piety." The elected visitors are not to be "under the age of forty years," nor over " the age of seventy years." "A majority shall be a quorum," and, "in ease of an equi-vote, the question shall determine on that side on which the presiding member shall have voted." The board shall lill its own vacancies. The members, on taking their seats, are required to " make and subscribe the following declaration : " "Approv- ing the Constitution of the Theological Institution, 1 solemnly declare, in the presence of God and of this Board, that I will faithfully exert my abilities to carry into execution the Regulations therein con- tained, and to promote the great object of the Insti- tution." They are further required "to subscribe the same theological Creed, which every professor-elect is required to subscribe," and to make a fresh declara- tion of faith in the same every five years. The power and duties of the board are to approve or negative the election of a professor by the trustees; to visit the Foundation once a year, and oftener if necessary ; to Inquire into the state of the fund and the manage- ment of the same with respect to the said Professor ; te determine, interpret and explain the Statutes of the maid Foundation in all cases brought before them in th ar judicial capacity ; to redress grievances with re- Sport to the sand Professor; to hear appeals from decisions of the Board of Trustees, and to remedy upotremplast duly exhibited in behalf of the said portesur, to review and reverse any censure passed Is sand Trustees upon any professor on said Founda- t100 ; 1) belire void all Rules and Regulations made by the hand Trustees relative to said Foundation,

which may be inconsistent with the original Statutes thereof; to take care that the duties of each Professor on said Foundation be intelligibly and faithfully dis- charged, and to admonish or remove him either for misbehaviour, heterodoxy, incapacity or neglect of the duties of his office, and in general to see that our true intentions, as expressed in our said Constitution, in relation to said Professor, be faith- fully executed ; always administering justice impar- tially, and exercising the functions of their office in the fear of God, according to these Regulations, the Provisions of the said Constitution and the Laws of the land."

If the visitors, in the exercise of their power, " ex- ceed the limits of their jurisdiction and Constitutional power, the party aggrieved may have recourse by ap- peal to the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth," who are "authorized to judge in such case," and hy a majority vote " declare null and void any decree or sentence of the said Visitors " by them deemed "contrary to the said Statutes, or beyond the just limits of their power, therein pre- scribed."

It is provided in the statutes that the professors, as well as the visitors, shall renew their declaration of faith in the creed and their subscription to the same every five years.

The associate foundation provides further that if the board of visitors and the trustees " be well sat- isfied," after seven years' experiment, "with the safety and expediency of the Visitatorial system, and that a perpetual coalition is important and desirable, Union shall be established upon Visitatorial principles, to continue as the Sun and Moon forever." Agreeably to this provision, these boards at the time appointed expressed their approval of the system, and hence it has been established "to continue forever."

In establishing this seminary, the design of the promoters and founders was evidently not only to furnish a school for the proper education of ministers of the Gospel, but also to create an institution that should to the end of time antagonize all heresies, and teach those doctrines embodied in their creed which they esteemed Scriptural, fundamental and essential in the religion of Christ. They intended to guard their institution against "the smallest avoidance of | our true design." The occasion of this intense eir- cumspection against any perversion of their trust was doubtless owing to the defection of Harvard from the faith of its founders. Their erced has been called "an iron-bound creed." It certainly is a thoroughly panoplied ereed for cither defensive or offensive ser- vice. Its authors heartily believed in the doctrines they so clearly and definitely stated, and purposed to have these doctrines, and none others at variance with them, taught in their school to the end of time.

Whatever may be thought of the wisdom or unwis- dom of this ereed, of " anchoring" a school of divinity, designed "to continue as the Sun and Moon," the

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purpose of its promoters and founders can hardly be open to mistake.

The seminary having been fully established by the acceptance of its constitution, statutes and trusts on the part of the trustees of Phillips Academy, the in- stitution was opened for students September 28, 1808. This was an entirely new departure in the method of ministerial education. It was the first incorporated and endowed institution of the kind in this or in any country. It was designed to embrace Presby- terians as well as Congregationalists, both in the de- partment of instruction and in that of education. This may account, in part, for the introduction of the Catechism into the original constitution of the sem- inary. The first two professors were Dr. Leonard Woods, designated by one of the original founders, and Dr. Eliphalet Pearson, designated by the associ- ate founders. During the first year thirty-six stu- dents, from various sections of the country, were admitted to the privileges of the institution, a number far in excess of the fondest expectations of ity founders.

From that first opening year to the present day the institution has gone forward in its beneficent work of educating young men for the ministry of the Gospel of Christ with marked success. Indirectly, also, it has been further instrumental of much good. Its establishment created a revolution in the method of ministerial education. Previous to this, what stu- dents for the ministry had by way of instruction and guidance was furnished by the pastors of churches, and that for a limited time. Since the foundation of the Andover Seminary multitudes of like institutions have sprung up, and are continually springing up all over the land, germinated by its example and suc- cess. Thousands of young ministers have gone from its halls to preach the glorious Gospel of the Son of God throughout the world.

It is highly probable that it leads every other ed- ucational institution, in this or any other land, in the extent of territory over which, and in the number of nations and peoples among which, its graduates have performed labors and exercised a salutary influence. It has carried the name of Andover to the end of the earth, and that, too, with a benediction. This fact will justify, if it needs justification, the somewhat ex- tended notice here given of the establishment of this institution.

At the close of the first year Dr. Pearson resigned his office of professor, and removed from Andover.

In the spring of the year 1810, Rev. Moses Stuart, the popular pastor of the Centre Church, New Haven, Connecticut, was elected to the Professorship of Sacred Literature. He was in the thirty-third year of his age, "a young man of uncommon promise," who amply fulfilled the promise of his young manhood by his subsequent achievements. He resigned in 1848, after thirty-eight years of exceptionally val- nable service in a department of study little under-

stood or pursued in this country previous to his in- auguration.

Mr. Bartlet, having founded a Professorship of Pulpit Eloquence, or Sacred Rhetoric, Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D.D., of Newark, N. J., was invited by him to accept the position of professor in this depart- ment. This invitation he at first declined, but after- wards accepted, on the condition that he might preach half the time at the newly-organized Park Street Church, in Boston, this church having extended to him an earnest invitation to become its pastor. He was inaugurated June 21, 1809. He came to the seminary with a flattering reputation for theological learning and soundness, and for pulpit eloquence. As he entered upon his duties with zeal and efficiency, it soon became apparent " that he possessed extraor- dinary qualifications for the work he had under- taken." But his time of service was brief. The duties of the two important positions he held proving too much for his health and strength, he resigned the professorship in 1811, and devoted himself exclu- sively to his ministerial work at Park Street.

Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D.D., of Washington, Conn., was elected to succeed Dr. Griffin, and was inaugurated as professor April 1, 1812. Athis request the title of his office had been changed from Professorship of Pulpit Eloquence to that of Sacred Rhetoric. Dr. Porter entered upon his duties with some reluctance and ap- prehension, owing to his feeble health and his sense of the great importance of the service to be rendered.

He had been a successful pastor, " was possessed of a clear, well-balanced and discriminating mind." With fine literary taste and a nice appreciation of the requirements of the pulpit, he was well fitted to teach young men the arts of sermonizing and the delivery of sermons. With a genial temper, tender sensibili- ties and great benevolence he combined much dignity and gentle courtesy, thus winning the affection and commanding the reverence of his students. To his intellectual and moral excellencies he added diligence and perseverance, which enabled him to accomplish much, though always hindered by feeble health. On the creation of the office of president of the seminary, in 1828, he was chosen to fill that office. In 1832, owing to impaired health, he resigned his professorship, retaining the presidency till his death, which occurred in 1834.

The number of students rapidly increased year by year, and the wants of the seminary in like ratio in- creased. The prosperity of the institution deepening the interest of its founders, led them to provide gen- erously for its needs. In 1821 Mr. Brown endowed a Professorship of Ecclesiastical Ilistory. The Rev. James Murdock, D.D., an eminent scholar, was elected the first professor on this foundation. Dr. Murdock came to the seminary expecting to find fit- ting employment for his extensive and erudite learn- ing, and felt aggrieved that he was required to devote so much of his time to rudimentary instruction. Dis-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

satisfied with his work, he failed to satisfy his asso- ciates. He was accused by them of a neglect of duty, and, on this charge, was arraigned before the trustees. They sustained the accusation. The professor ap- pealed to the board of visitors. After a long and ably conducted hearing, the visitors affirmed the sen- tence of the trustees and deposed the professor. Ile appealed his case to the justices of the Supreme Court. They decided that the visitors had not ex- eceded their powers under the statutes, and hence that their verdict was final. In a subsequent trial for salary, the court decided that the professor could draw his salary up to the time he was deposed hy the visitors. By these two decisions the Supreme Court established the power of removal in the board of vis. itors, and that their judgments of the evidence and merits of a case conkl not come under the review of this court.

The connection of Dr. Murdock with the seminary closed in 1828.

The Rev. Ralph Emerson, D.D., pastor of the church in Norfolk, Conn., succeeded Dr. Murdock as Brown Professor of Ecclesiastical Ilistory in 1829. Dr. Emerson belonged to a family noted for its in- tellectual force, for its extensive influence and for its efficient activity in promoting the interests of higher education. Ile was a graduate of Yale College, a tu- tor for a time there, from which he also received his degree of S.T.D. He was among the earliest gradu- ates of Andover Seminary. When invited to occupy the chair of professor he at first declined. Afterwards, on a renewal of the invitation. he accepted, on con- dition that Pastoral Theology he added to Ecclesias- tical History. This proposition being acceded to, he was inaugurated as Brown Professor in 1829.

Dr. Emerson was especially noted for his rare mod- esty. Never intrusive, never self-asserting, never forward to express his opinion or to press his mcas- ures, never eager for reputation or a foremost place, he had few disagreements, and no quarrels or personal controversies. He was esteemed a man of sound judgment and diseretion, whose opinion in matters affecting conduct it were wise to follow. He brought to the discharge of his duties in the seminary patient industry, a conscientious purpose to do his best, and a deep, fatherly interest in the improvement and use- fulness of the young men who came under his in- struction. The personal advice he gave his students was often the most valuable instruction they received. lle had, in large degree, the wisdom of common sense. Hence, while not possessing the learning of h predecesor, or the ability of one of his colleagues, or the enthusias'n of another, he filled a much-needed place ir a byly of teachers, and, in his unassuming Way, was often of incalculable service to the students.

In 15:30 Res. Edward Robinson, D.D., LL.D., was choses Professor Extraordinary of Sacred Literature. Ile resine bin 1535, after but thre . years' service.

In 18 Rus Thomas H. Singer, D.D., was chosen

Bartlet Professor of Sacred Rhetoric, to succeed Dr. Porter. He resigned in 1835.

In 1836 Rev. Justin Edwards, D.D., for a time pastor of the South Church, was elected president of the semi- nary. He resigned in 1842, and has had no successor.

In 1836 Rev. Edwards Amasa Park, D.D., profes- sor in Amherst College, was elected Bartlet Professor of Sacred Rhetoric. In 1847 he was transferred from this professorship to that of Abbot Professor of Chris- tian Theology. He resigned this position in 1881, having been for forty-five years in the service of the seminary-eleven years as Professor of Sacred Rhet- oric, and thirty-four years as Professor of Christian Theology,-and in addition Lecturer on Christian Theology for one year previous to his appointment as professor. Since his resignation Dr. Park has em- ployed his leisure, as his health permitted, in prepar- ing his lectures for the press, and in other literary labors. It will be seen that Prof. Park held the posi- tion of professor in the seminary for a longer period, by seven years, than any other professor. Dr. Woods and Prof. Stuart held office for thirty-eight years each. By this phenomenal and life-long service in the semi- nary, overlapping the preceding and succeeding gener- ations of teachers, having given the best energies of his mind and the unstinted devotion of his soul to the interests of the institution, it would not be surprising if Professor Park should come to feel a personal iden- tification with it,-to be so one with it as to feel that his individual honor wasinvolved in its reputation, and his personal happiness interwoven with its welfare. The time has not come, and may the day be distant, for giving a sketch of his life, his work, his theology, his mental characteristics, his idiosyncrasies of char- acter, his personality, but the writer must be pardoned for here expressing his personal obligation to Professor Park, as a teacher, for the intellectual stimulus, quick- ening, he received under his instruction.

In 1837 Rev. Bela Bates Edwards, D.D., was elected Professor of Hebrew, and in 1848, Associate Profes- sor of Sacred Literature. He died while in office in 1851, much lamented.

In 1852 Rev. Calvin Ellis Stowe, D.D., was elected Associate Professor of Sacred Literature, to succeed Dr. Edwards. A man of varied learning and experi- ence, he brought to the discharge of his duties unus- ual enthusiasm and energy. With a warm heart, quick impulses and ready speech, he could not fail to give interest to his class exercises. He resigned in 1864.

In 1853 Rev. Elijah Porter Barrows, D.D., was elected Professor of Ilebrew, and in 1858, Hitchcock Professor, which position he resigned in 1862. He is still living at Oberlin, Ohio.

In 18.18, Rev. Austin Phelps, D.D., then pastor of Pine Street Church, Boston, was elected Bartlet Pro- fessor of Sacred Rhetoric, to fill the vacancy made by the transfer of Professor Park. He resigned in 1879, on account of continued ill health. Professor Phelps,

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ANDOVER.

during a considerable portion of the time in which he filled this office, was not able, from poor health, to de- vote as much time, thought and energy to his work as when he first entered upon his duties. His lectures and personal influence, however, were regarded by the trustees as of such value to the seminary as to make his retention expedient, when his resignation was at their disposal.

In 1853, Rev. William Gireenough Thayer Shedd, D.D., was elected Brown Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Lecturer on Pastoral Theology. After nine years of service in these departments, in which he did much to raise to importance the depart- ment of history, and to create for himself an enviable reputation as a scholar and theologian, he resigned in 1862. He is now connected with Union Theo- logical Seminary, New York.

In 1863, Rev. Egbert Coffin Smyth, D.D., was elected to succeed Professor Shedd as Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Lecturer on Pastoral Theology. Ife retained the lectureship till 1868. He still holds the professorship, and is also president of the faculty. He is the oldest in office of the in- cumbent professors. Under his guidance the depart- ment has continued to grow in importance and attractiveness.

In 1864, Rev. Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., then pas- tor of Crombie Street Church, Salem, was elected As- sociate Professor of Sacred Literature. After filling with acceptance his office for eighteen years, he resigned in 1882. He is now Bussey Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Harvard College.

In 1866, Rev. Charles Marsh Mead, Ph.D)., was chosen Hitchcock Professor of the Hebrew Lan- guage and Literature. Wishing to devote himself for a time to special studies, he resigned in 1882. Since then he has been living in Europe, mostly in Germany, pursuing his favorite studies.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 156

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672