New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-06
THE DOC roRATE DECLINED.

We see by tho Indiana papers that at their late
Commencement the Board of Trustees ofHanoyer
College conferred the honorary title of d. ID. on
the Rev. Thornton A. Mills of Indianapolis. In
reply to this compliment letter from Mr.. Mills
is published in which he respectfully declines
the honor in strain of remark which conters
more honor on him than any academic title could
possibly do. We have watched the course of
this gentleman for several years with no little
interest, occupying as he has done, conspicuous
position in one of our great religious denomna-
tons and honored in being chief leader In one OF
the greatest movements in which that church has
ever engaged As Ear back as l6i7 he memorial
ised the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church on the subject of Church Extension, and
as the editor of well conducted religious Jour
nal wrote powerfully in favor of measures which
were binted at in 1850 in Detroit, aitesward laid
out by him in a mastery discourse at Utica in
1851, further elaborated by him in an able
report in 1852, at Washington, and finally were
carried in triumph at Buffalo in 1853. We have
not forgotten the magnificent peroratl0n of his
discourse at Utica, worthy of Robert Hall or
John NJ. Mason, nor the frequent efforts OF his
which the press has published, showing that he
has breadth of mind to grasp, and force of talent
to execute a grand idea We allude to this
because We conceive that Mr.. Mills was
worthy of the honor from his past history. The
son of the late Judge Mills of Kentucky by in
heritance a STAKEHOLDER, yet emancipating his
slaves not without pecuniary loss man of fine
literary tastes, discriminating logic large attain
ments in theology and the leader Of a great
movement in his own denomination, he might
have worn the distinction and ne one would have
questioned his right to it.
But be peremptorily declines the honor. and
stands in the same catalogue with Albert Barnes
OF Philadelphia, Alexander Culbertson of Zanes-
vile, Frederic Merrck Of Delaware, and few
more like them distinguished for their at
tsinments, and position in their respective de-
nominations. In his declensiOn Mr.. Mills has
assigned several reasons, in the statement Of
which be makes some sharp thrusts. "SOms
colleges bid in this way for the support of in
"fueDtial men; and some men, or their friends
"for them, beg or buy degrees from colleges
"whOse dependent circumstances do not elevate
"tkem above the pressure of such touching and
"movDg applications. Some who could not OBJ
"tain degree where they are known, secure it
"by such means where they are not kno an, and
suddenly burst in full dignity on the astonished
community" Such is one Of the discharges Of
grape among the ranks Of d. Ds.; and the worst
Of tits the truth of the allegation. The meritor.
GUS character OF the honor has become mere than
questionable, when we recall the many facts
connected with il. Mr.. A. was made ID. ID.
because be had an influential relative in the 1
Board OF certain college. Mr.. b. because he
gave several hundred dollars to young colegea
good way of. Mr.. c. because a certain Board /
ofIrustees wished to please certain fashionable /
church, and Mr.. ID. because a certain society II
thought it would give dignity to the page of their
report on which their Oficers names were
printed. Now and then one receives it entirely |,
on the ground of bis attainments in taeolsgic
learning; but take it through and through,
the matter OF honorary degrees as conferred BY
our colleges, has become nsuseous-a nuisance
calling ior abatement, as tending to bring the
clergy INTO contempt, and TO destroy that conf
dence we nave been wont to repose in our Ameri-
can colleges. We respect Mr.. Mills for the stand
he has taken and prophecy that be will not lose
by IT,