Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-22
LITNRARY CADET.
PROVIDENCE, SATURDAY. SEPT. %.
REV. Mn. PIERPoNT's DISCOURSE,

scholar, Divine and poot, the Reverend NJ.
rfERpoNr, of Boston, on the subject of the
deaf. of tho Reverend HORACE HoLLEY,
Jato President OF Transylvania University, Lcx-
ihg,on, Kentucky; and We ure prepared to
say, tIrs happier specimen of pre-emnent
palpit eioqucnce, has rarely fallen under our
observation.
The Lie Of Doctor HoLLEy was eventual;
Gn Of those incidents which are 80 generally
f1and cheque.ing the lives OF the eminent CONS
of genius; and every admirer OF talent must
lament that the President Of Transylya Uni
versity, was not allowed 30 live out the goodly
pumber Of days which are allowed 10 no ih-
considerable proportion Of the human family.
The Reverend HORACE lIoLLEY, was born
~ the town OF Fairfield, Connecticut, ard when
rct u child, gave evidence Of those intrinsic
t.licnts which Afterwards distinguished him -
and utter having received The usual benz
Offs OF common education, and gone
through tho preparatory studies, was, in
the year 1882, catered student at Yale Col
lere; ard at tho time that that celebrated Ill
erary institution was under the Presidency Of
the late distinguished Doctor Dwight, where
he was known as an elancnt scholar; aad in
tho year 1903, WIS graduated, with tho high
est honors of the University.
On taking leave Of the classic walls of Yale
lie proceeded 10 the city Of Ncw-York, and
commenced the study of the law, under the
tu,cligc Of Peter w. Radcliii, an eminent law
yer; blt hot finding tho dali and mono'o onoIs
readings of Sir W.lliam Blackstone aud Lord
Coke, congonial st! his views and feelings,
lie abandoned the profession Of the law, and at
the suggestion of President Dwight, returned
10 New Haven, and commenced The study of
Theology and pulpit eloquencc. These studies
we're found coagcnial with his feelings, and
having prepared himself FOR the Ministry, ho
was, IN the year 1906, ordained Pastor OF the
Parish OF Grocnfcld ILL, Connecticut. 3lt
the duties Of a country CITRATE, were not suiTi-
o,cntly extensive to crafty his arLor; and after
short ministry at that place, lie withdrew Lis
conaeyion Eom the parish, and at his own re-
quest, was dismissed hy Tie Synod Of Conucc-
'iiciii, WHO, in their certificate OF dismissior,
declared Their entire appreciation OF his minis
ter.dl chlra cter, and re rocomncndcd him 10 the
Grace of Col, and the Churches, as u Gospel
M.n.sicr.
In the month OF March, 1909, Doctor lIei-
Icy, having been unanimously called to preside
over the Holley-strcot Church and Society a;
l'o5;on, accepted the invitation, and was in
stalled IS their Pastor soon after, where ho
remained until the year 1918, when, on the
recommendation re Of the Honorable Henry Clay,
and James Prentice, Esquire, tho latter indi-
vdual thea a distinguished capitalist OF kca-
tuchy, ho vas invited by tho Board of Trustees
uf fTrlnsylTania University, to preside over that
institution. Before acccd;ng 10 the invitation,
Doctor Hocy made visit to kentucky, for
The pirpOsc Of ascortainng the actual condi-
tOa OF tho Institution, the climate Of the
country, the habits and manners Of the people;
and SO highly was he pleased with all, and the
warm attentions that were paid him, that be-
fore he returned to Boston, he inprudcntly
consented to assume the onerous duties Of the
station to which he had been invited and
from that day, the lustre Of his career was
dimned, and his happiness commenced its
wanc. Happy indeed would it have been for
him, if lie had never visited the regions Of the
West.
On assuming the Presidency Of Pennsylvania
University, he found the institution in q lament
able condition; its catalogue told not OF more
than twenty names; the Proiessorships were
filed by men unequal to the tasks assigned
them; the students were in a state OF nsubor-
dnltion; and University which for thirty
ycays had existed, and realized The rich cndow-
Inents of Virginia, was in a State OF compara-
tive prostraton, aud was known only by its
Rsnc.
Finding the Institution in this lamontablc
condition, all The energies Of Doctor iiolley
weTe put in rcquisiioR, to induce is renova-
tan. and establishment on permanent basis,
in which he received the cheerful support, and
corporation of the Board Of Trustees, and all
the friends o; the sciences and literature.
Sew rules and ordinances were constituted and
pat in operation, for the better govcrnnen. of
tpe College. new Professors were called TO rll
the places Of former incumhents, and addition
pgotGs5orslips we're created. Innovations like
these, whilst they met the appreciation Of the
students, were contcmEcd and dar.dcd by for
;ner incumhcnis, and a war OF persecution was
commenced BY them, against man whose tai
ents and learning they envied, and whose de-
structon was the first wish and prayer of their
hearts; and 10 attain their ends, no calmnny
was TOO gross to be employed by them, and no
art was too contemplate to be made use of. -
But notwithstanding their unprinciplcd opposi-
tion, the University fourished, its daily in
crease was rapid beyond example; and whilst
tue Cncmies OF Doctor Holey and Of the Uni
versiiy chafcd and writhcd with agony az they
tlborcd to destroy both, they had the mortiii-
cation to behold all their Vaccinations fall
fsuiiless 10 tho ground. and their wilos and ants
receiving the just and merited condemnation
OF liberal and upright community. Hope
had now fed them, and for tho moment, they
gave up their pursuit; but their silence was Of
but short duration; when seizing, on a new
theme, they assailed the President with ten
fold vengeance. His religious opinions afford
ed wide field for them TO war upon; and with
the keeuness Of that appetite which is alone
known to tho common calumniator, and the
depredator on private fame and vestal purity,
they raised hnc and cry against him, de-
nannced him as deist, an inlidol, and an
atheist; and charged him with propagating
10 ctrnes subvcrsivo of the public good, and
calculated 10 corrupt the morals and the hab-
its OF tLo5p who were placed under his guard
iinship, 10 receive an acadomical education.
Hereyy and iniidclity wcre now the order of
the day; and whilst his caluinniators infused