History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 157

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 157

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The professors now filling departments are the fol- lowing : Rev. Egbert Coffin Smyth, D.D., elected 1863, Brown Professor of Ecclesiastical Ilistory and presi- dent of the faculty ; Rev. John Wesley Churchill, M.A., elected 1868, Jones Professor of Elocution ; Rev. John Putnam Gulliver, D.D., LL.D., elected 1878, Stone Professor of the Relations of Chris- tianity to the Secular Sciences ; Rev. William Jewett Tucker, D.D., elected 1879, Bartlet Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Lecturer on Pastoral Theology ; Rev. John Phelps Taylor, M.A., elected 1882, Tay- Jor Professor of Biblical Theology and History ; Rev. George Harris, D.D., elected 1882, Abbot Profes- sor of Christian Theology ; Rev. Edward Young Hincks, D.D., elected 1882, Smith Professor of Biblical Theology ; Rev. George Foot Moore, D.D., elected 1883, Hitchcock Professor of the Hebrew Language and Literature.

Up to 1816 the professors and students of the Theo- logical Seminary, the teachers and students of

Phillips Academy, and all other persons having official or other connection with these institutions, at- tended worship at the South Church, and had their religious connection with it. In fact, up to this date all the religious organizations in town were established upon a territorial basis. The General Court divided the town into territorial parishes, and the people were expected to belong to the one in which they resided, and to attend religious worship in the parish church and pay for its support. There were no divisive denominations in town at that day.

On the 22d day of August, 1816, this terri- torial parish regulation was, for the first time, in- fringed upon by the formation of an independent Church at the Theological Seminary, within the terri- torial limits of the South Parish. The members of the academy and seminary had so increased as almost to necessitate for them a separate place of worship. At first they worshipped in one of the rooms of Phillips Hall ; afterwards a chapel was crected for their accom- modation. The professors were, and ever have been, the pastors of the church. The church was reorganized Nov. 1, 1865. This church is, ecclesiastically speak- ing, an anomaly. It has no parish. It has nothing to do with calling, settling, dismissing or supporting its pastor. It is under the charge of a board of trus- tees, no one of whom necessarily belongs to its mem- bership. No one of the pastors is in the slightest de- gree amenable to the church over which he pre- sides, and to which he preaches. He may be hereti- cal, heterodox, or otherwise objectionable; the Church can do nothing about it. It cannot even discipline one of its own members without first obtaining the approval of the trustees. The organization of the church may be called Evangelical, but not Congrega- tional.

After worshipping for many years in the building erected by the liberality of Mr. Bartlet for the triple purpose of furnishing recitation-rooms, a library-room and a place of worship, in 1876 a new and elegant Gothic stone chapel was erected on the seminary campus, a short distance northwest of Phillips Hall. This is an ornamental, no less than a much-needed and highly useful, buikling. Architecturally speaking. it is by far the choicest edifice on the Hill, and, many people think, in the town. Some connoisseurs give the preference to the new edifice of Christ Church. The chapel is used exclusively for religious services, save that the anniversary exercises of the seminary are held there, which, previons to its erection, had been held in the meeting-house of the South Church.

The old chapel has undergone extensive repairs, changes and improvements, and is now an exceed- ingly commodious structure for lectures and recitation purposes, and all other uses of a similar character.

It may be as well, perhaps, to refer here to the one other new building which has been, in the later years of its history, erected for the benefit of the seminary. Brechin Hall, the library building, standing on the

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

south side of the seminary grounds, near where stood the second building for Phillips Academy, is the gift of the Messrs. Smith and Dove. It is built of stone, and was designed to be fire-proof. It is a well-pro- portioned and attractive building, convenient for the purposes for which it was erected. It contains a lib- rary of nearly forty thousand volumes (some of them of priceless value), besides magazines, a large number of curiosities, sent by missionaries in foreign lands, as tokens of their love for the institution that gave them their theological training, and the portraits and busts of the patrons and professors who established and gave character to the seminary. The hall was named Brechin, by the donors, in honor of the city of that name in Scotland, in which they were born. In a like spirit, these same generous benefactors of learning uxmed the hill in Brechin, upon which they erected their free school-house for the benefit of the poor in that city, "Andover Hill." Thus they united the place of their birth and the place of their prosperity hy an interchange of names and a baptismi of far- reaching beneficence.

During the past few years the seminary has been in grievous affliction, by what instrumentality it is no part of our business to inquire. Perchance it is one of those ordeals by which institutions, like in- dividuals, are made (under divine guidance) to pass through sore trials for their profit. The profit in this case, as in the case of the afflicted believer, is not seen at present, but may be seen hereafter. As early as 1883 there began to be rumors that the faith and teaching of some of the professors were not strictly in accord with the prescribed creed of the seminary. These rumors, circulated by newspapers and other- wise, in a measure perhaps fostered, or at least made plansible, by the open avowal of some of the pro- fessors in the Andover Review, of which they are the editors, of their adherence to a " progressive theology " and a " new departure" in theological de- velopment, grew more numerous and pronounced. The publication by the accused parties of a volume of which they are also the editors, made up of articles taken from the indover Review, entitled " Progressive Orthodoxy," led to decisive action on the part of those who felt aggrieved at the course of these pro- fessors. The matter came up for consideration before the trustees, who, with a single exception, approved the course of the professors.

the dogma or hypothesis of a probation after d. ith for the heathen and others who had never known or heard of the salvation of Christ, accepted Ant defended by these professors, was that for which they were especially called to account by the news- papers

In 1ss6, the flissenffient trustee, in conjunction with two other influential gradusses of the seminary, callel the attention of the board of visitors to the tact of the alleged derelichow of certain professors from the creed of the Instalation. This was followe I,

at the instigation of the visitors, by the presentation of a set of charges, drawn up in form, with references to the evidence by which they were supported. Upon these charges, five of the professors were summoned before the board of visitors and put on trial for heterodoxy, or a departure from the prescribed statutes under which they held their professorships. The trial was a protracted one, occupying a number of days. The accused and the accusers were both rep- resented by eminent counsel. Both also presented elaborate and able arguments for the support of the position they respectively assumed. The trial was attended by many eminent theologians and jurists, as well as by the friends of the parties more immedi- ately interested. It was the newspaper sensation of the day. The board upon whom the duty devolved of deciding upon the merits of this controversy of such delicacy and far-reaching significance was composed of Rev. Julius IIarriman Seelye, D.D., LL.D., president of Amherst College; Rev. William Tappan Eu-tis, D.D., pastor of the Memorial Church, Springfield ; and Hon. Joshua N. Marshall, of Lowell. After many months' deliberation the verdict of these visitors was announced on the evening of the closing day of the anniversary exercises in June, 1887, by private notes addressed to each one of the accused professors. By this verdiet the charge against Pro- fessor Egbert C. Smyth was sustained, and he was re- moved from the professorship he held. With regard to the other four defendants, "Rev. Mr. Eustis de- elined to aet thereon with his associates, upon the ground that he was not present on the day of the hearing," "when said respondents severally appear- ed." Thereupon the complaints were "considered and none of the charges" "were sustained." Pro- fessor Smyth has appealed his case to the justices of the Supreme Court. Awaiting their decision, he con- tinues to hold his office and discharge its duties.

This sad episode in the history of this ancient and work-renowned institution of sacred learning is working serious injury to its prosperity and nseful- ness at a time when, in its material strength, it was never before so well equipped to do a glorious work for Christ and the Church.

Permanent Funds .- The following amounts have been given by the persons whose names are men- tioned, to the theological department of Phillips Academy, for the purposes designated at the time specified :

1808. Samuel Abbot, Abbot Professorship. $20,000

1808. William Bartlet, Bartlet Professorship .. 25,000

1809, William Bartlet, $10,000

1809. Moses Brown, $10,000

Associate fund. 60,000

1809. Julin Norris, $10,000

1×15. John Norris, Legacy $30,000 }

1819. Moses Brown, Brown Professorship ... 25,000

1813-15. Samuel Abbot, Legacy, Abbot Fund 84,000

14 5-48. Misses Rebecca and Sarah Waldo ... 15,000

1×41, William Bartlet, Legacy, Bartlet Fund, 50,000

1×56. Boston Fund, Sundry Contributors, 28 420

1857. Samuel A, Hitchcock, Hitchcock Professorship ..... 15,000

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1866-77. Peter and Jobb Smith, and John Dove, sup- port of Library

45,000

1867. Miss Sophia Smith, Smith Professorship. 38,905

1871-76. Frederick Jones, Jones Professorship. 15,000

1869. Samuel A. Hitchcock, Contingent Fund. 40.770

1872. Sanmel A. Hitchcock, Relief Fund. 50,000

1875. Jolin L. Taylor aud family, Taylor Professorship.

38,405

1878-80. Henry Winkly, General Fuud 66,000

1880-81. Park Testimonial. 14,135

1880. Mrs. Valeria G. Stone, Stone Professorship.

50,000

1880. Mrs. Valeria G. Stone, General Fund

100,00 }

1887. N. G. White, Legacy, General Fund. 50,000

Sundry sums at Sundry times for scholarships and to aid poor students.

97,000

Library Funds.

28,000

Lectureship Fouds.

10,000

In addition to these permanent and income-bear- ing funds, the trustees hold buildings and lands con- tributing to the support and carrying forward of the institution valued at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

In the above donations, that given by Mr. Bartlet for building Bartlet Hall, Bartlet Chapel, and the president's house are not ineluded ; neither is there included the amount, forty-one thousand dollars, given by the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Company to build Brechin Hall, nor the amount given by Madam Phillips and Mr. Samuel Phillips to erect the first seminary building.

PROFESSORS IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

LEONARD WOODS, the first Abbot Professor of Christian Theology in the Andover Seminary, was born in Princeton June 19, 1774, and baptized on the day of his birth.

His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, but above the average of his class in intellectual ac- tivity and attainments. He was always known as " Master Woods," having been appointed first school- master of the town. He was a member of the Pro- vincial Congress and one of Governor Gill's Council. His mother was an energetic woman, full of motherly love and ambition for her children, only too willing to sacrifice herself for their benefit.

At a very early period of his life he showed a fond- ness for books and for studies in advance of his years. His father had designed that he should follow the farm ; but, owing to an accident which brought on an illness that lasted for two years, and which affected his bodily strength, the father was induced to comply with the wishes of the son and the desire of his mother, and per- mitted him to enter upon the study of Latin with the pastor of the parish. While the father could promise no assistance to him in pursuing a collegiate course, the mother promised to do what she could to aid him. Under these conditions young Woods applied himself assiduously, spending three months at Leicester Academy, but otherwise mainly conducting his own preparatory studies. He entered Ilarvard College in 1792, and graduated in 1796, the first in the class, which contained some afterwards eminent scholars. His college course came at a time when infidelity and skepticism were popular with young men, and their

pernicious influence pervaded all the higher institu- tions of learning in the land. At one time during his connection with Harvard there was but one profess- ing Christian among its students. Young Woods, though nurtured in a pious family, and taught the Catechism by a praying mother, could not altogether escape the influence of the atmospheric skepticism in which he drew his breath. He did not go to the ex- treme of disbelief, but his faith in some of the car- dinal doctrines of the Christian religion was seriously shaken.

On leaving college he taught school for eight months in Medford. On being thus separated from his college associates, and brought face to face with the work of life, the training of his childhood began to reassert its influence. He entered upon a careful study of the Scriptures with the purpose of finding out for himself the evidence for their truth or falsity. With this spirit of earnest inquiry and candor of judg- ment, he pursued his investigation till he was led, in- tellectually and from the heart, to accept the Scrip- tures as the word of God, and Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour of men. Soon after this he made a public profession of his faith, and united with the church in Medford. This acceptance of Christ and consecration to his service at once gave direction to his future life. He entered upon a course of theo- logical study, with the ministry in view. It being the custom of those days for an aspirant for the ministry to spend a short time under the instruction of some eminent divine, he spent three months with Dr. Charles Backus, at Somers, Conn. The winter following he spent with his parents, pursuing his theological studies by himself, with some assistance from his pastor.

In the spring of 1798 he was licensed to preach, and in November of the same year was settled as pastor of the Congregational Church at West Newbury. This church was an influential and important one, its retiring pastor being Dr. Tappan, who had been chosen to be a professor in Harvard College. Thus, at the age of twenty-four, after a Christian experience of less than two years and scarcely more than one year of theological study, he entered upon his minis- try with an extensive and numerous parish. His mind was mature beyond his years, his knowledge more distinct and available than is common to neo- phytes in religion and his beliefs were more clear, well- considered and terse than is the case with those who have never wrought their way to an abiding faith through grave doubts and questionings. He at once took high rank among his ministerial brethren as a thinker, sermonizer, preacher and pastor. Being naturally of a genial, conciliatory temper, he was re- ccived on friendly terms by ministers of different shades of theological belief between the high and the low, the loose and the consistent Calvinists. After a few years of successful service in West Newbury, he came to be on familiar terms with the distinguished

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

divines of the region. Dr. Morse, of Charlestown, so valued his friendship and esteemed his ability, as to invite him to become an associate editor with himself of the Punoplist, the organ of the old Calvinists. Dr. Spring, of Newburyport, a near neighbor of his and a stanch Hopkinsian, requested his assistance as a contributor to his magazine of the consistent Cal- vinistie shade.

After ten years of ministerial labor and intercourse with some of the ablest divines in the State, he had attained such consideration that, when the Hopkin- sians, under the lead of Dr. Emmons and Dr. Spring, determined on establishing a theological college, they fixed upon him as their theological professor and his parish as the place for its location. And when the important question came up whether there should be one or two theological seminaries to represent the two shades of Calvinism in New England, he was found to be an important medium in bringing the di- vergent elements into agreement. In the narrative we have from the pen of Dr. Woods, written after he had retired from the professor's chair, describing the difficulties attending the project to unite the two con- templated institutions, we are constrained to believe that it was a fortunate Providence that had brought Dr. Spring and Dr. Woods into such intimate associa- tion. Dr. Pearson was doubtless the master mover in all the efforts put forth and all the methods devised to produce harmony between the parties; but Dr. Woods, with less push and persistency and less ac- cumulated power, was able, from his relation to the Newbury men, to exert a most salutary influence in favor of union. Ile clearly saw the waste and folly of having two theological seminaries within twenty miles of each other, of essentially the same religious character and belief. If we understand his narrative, he was, first and last, in favor of union. And when the difficulties in the way of this union increased, and the fears, jealousies and hitches in the way of har- mony threatened disaster to the plan when ap- parently near its consummation, he put forth strenu- ons and effective efforts for its accomplishment. On the apparent failure of the negotiations after months of anxious treating, and when the Hopkinsians had renewed their offer to him of a professorship in their college, he declined the honor and urged a renewal of the endeavor to effect a union. If, as seems likely by this narrative, it was largely by the persistent efforts of Dr. Woods towards the close of these protracted negotiations, that the hindrances were finally removed, the church is hardly less indebted to him for this feat of friendly diplomacy than for the able instruction n afterwards gave in the united seminary.

The summary was opened for the reception of stu- 0. My c Sqoember 25, 1505 Oi that day Dr. Pear- son and Dr. Woods were inaugurated as professors. The narrative of this important event will be given in the words of Dr Wools, who was not only an eye- Wilmes . but linhself no small part of it :

" It was an auspicious day, a day of rejoicing and hope, a day in- volving in no small measure the most precious interests of the church and the world. This was the first Divinity School founded in Amer- ica, and the large asseoibly of Christian ministers from different and dis- tant places, and of other friends of the Seminary, indicated the interest aud the profound sense of the importance of this occasion.

" The public services were conducted in the Parish Church with con- summate order and propriety, while earnest attention, deep silence and solemn feeling prevailed in the Sanctuary.

44 As Dr. Pearson was a layman, the Statutes of the Founders required that he should receive ordination. The prayers on the occasion were appropriate and fervent. The sermon was preached by Dr. Dwight ; the Rev. Jonathan French gave to Dr. Pearson the customary charge, and Dr. Morse gave the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Pearson, President of the Board of Trustees, then gave an historical sketch of the events which contributed to the establishment of the Institution, and read such portions of the Constitution and Statutes as the occasion called for. After this he was inducted into office as Professor of Natural Theology, and the Hev. Leonard Woods as Professor of Christian Theology, and the Seminary was declared to be open for the admission of Theological Stu- dents.

" After the close of the public solemnities, the Founders of the United Institution, and their principal advisers and agents, were all together, and how cordial were their mutual congratulations! They felt it to be the happiest hour of their lives. What joy brightened their counte- nances, and how deep and unutterable their emotions of gratitude to God, as their excited minds glanced over the crowded transactions and events of the two preceding years ! "

Dr. Woods entered upon his duties with great eagerness and high expectations.

Students came to his class-room in greater numbers than could be well accommodated. His popularity and usefulness increased from year to year, till, in 1833, the seminary admitted to its privileges eighty new students.

As a lecturer on theology, Dr. Woods was Incid, didactic, somewhat diffuse, scriptural rather than philosophical, resting his conclusions on the state- ments of the Bible rather than on the deduetions of reason. Of a calm temperament, his words were carefully weighed before they were uttered. lle never indulged in speeulations that unloosed his foot- hold upon Scripture truth. There was in him, doubt- less, a lack of imagination, or vision to see, as is given to some, the germinating life that lies hidden in the letter of Seripture statements. But, whatever his limitations, he was an able and sound theologian, who, from his lecture-room, exerted a wide and sahu- tary influence upon the minds of a multitude of min- isters, and thus did an incalculable service to the in- terests of evangelical religion.

As the seminary came into existence in part as a protest against what its promoters regarded as unsound doctrine, it was from the beginning involved in con- troversy. Asa controversialist, Dr. Woods was, to an unusual degree, dispassionate and courteous. He treated his adversary with fairness and his arguments with candor, while presenting his own position in a clear and commanding manner. Naturally concilia- tory, and having had personal experience in the region of doubt and unbelief, he was the more ready to treat with forbearance and charity the errors of others, though he never yielded a point he deemed seripturally true.

As a man Dr. Woods secured the esteem and con-

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ANDOVER.

fidence of his fellow-men to a marked degree. Tall in person, dignified in manner, approachable, with a winning smile and affable speech, kind and sympa- thetic, he won the hearts of young men, and led his associates to rely, not only upon his ability, but also upon his steadfastness and integrity. As a Christian, his heart was in full sympathy with his doctrinal belief. That which he taught in the lecture-room he accepted as the rule of life. From personal expe- rience he could speak of the depravity of human nature, the influence of the Holy Spirit, the new birth of the soul through repentance, and faith in the Lord Jesus as the Christ of God. His piety had in it a trace of the Puritan piety of the Commonwealth as described by Macaulay. At times, he was all peni- tence and self-abasement before God, while, before mnen, he was serene and self-sustained. His sense of personal guilt was profound, if not at times bitter. But his confidence in the atoning merits of the Lord Jesus and the enduring mercy of the Heavenly Father was equally strong and profound. IIe uses this language regarding himself: "The sight of a thousandth part of my sinfulness of heart and life has filled me with amazement and shame. But O, there is very plenteous redemption-sufficient even for me; and if for me, for any one on earth."

In addition to his duties as professor in the semi- nary, Dr. Woods took a conspicuous part in the con- troversy with the Unitarians, and was forward in originating and promoting all those beneficent pro- jects which had in view the moral improvement of the people or their enlightenment, and the preaching of the gospel to those to whom it was unknown. Many of the charitable, reformatory and missionary organizations of the day had their origin on the Hill, or, if not their origin, their most potent assistance. Dr. Woods was one of those who originated the Edu- cation Society, the Tract Society, the Total Absti- nence Society, and was an early and efficient friend of the Foreign Missionary Board.

In 1846 he resigned his office as professor, after having served in that capacity for thirty-eight years. At the request of the trustees he employed himself, after his resignation, in preparing a history of the seminary. While engaged in this work he was called hence in the eighty-first year of his age. His history, a most valuable volume, was published in 1885, under the editorial supervision of his grandson, Dr. George S. Baker.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 157

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