The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-27
Obituary.

The Rev. Leonard WOODS, ID. D., one OF the ableSt
divines Of the nineteenth century, and one of the
most respectable and influential leaders of public
opinion in everything connected with religion aud
eccesiastcism In New England for full fifty years,
died at Andover, Massachusetts,, on Thursday eve
ming, at the venerable age Of so years. He had
been Ill for some weeks, and was not expected to
recover, though some hopes were entertained by
himself and his more immediate friends that he
would be able to complete work on the history of
the Andover Theological Seminary, upon which he
had been engaged some years, and which he has
left very nearly ready for the press
DR.. Woods was born ON the 10th Of June, 1774,
and was eighteen years Of age when he entered
Harvard College, where he graduated in 1896, with
avery high reputation for learning and abilities,
personal character eminently pure, and such quail.
ties Of ambition, energy and undauntedness as in
spred the highest hopes of his future eminence and
usefulness. He entered i'm medstely upon the study
Of theology, and In 1910 had obtained to such dis.
tinction that both the colleges OF Dart mouth and
Princeton conferred on him the degree Of Doctor in
Divinity.
The great school of orthodox Congregationalism
in New England the Andover Theological Semins-
~, was founded in 1908, under the instruction and
government Of DR.. Woods and DR.. Pearson, with
whom in the course Of the first year was associated
Dr. Griffin, and subsequently the late Dr. Moses Stuart
and several other dvnes and scholars who have been
world famous. It was open, from the beginning, to
students Of all Protestant denominations though its
distinctive character was Congregational Calvansm;
and as it had, from the muniHcence of It's found
ers-the Hon. John Phillips and the Hon. William
Phillps-and from the contributions Of educational
missionary and other societies, extensive means of
aiding INDECENT students il had always large classes
and no other school in this country has perhaps
produced more eminent men, OF exercised q more
powerful influence upon the intellectual moral ana
religious condition Of mankind.
DR.. Woods was Professor in the Andover Semi
nary thirty eight years, having resigned his Office
on account Of the infrnties Of age, in the summer
OF 1649. He soon after, at the request Of many
of his former pupils, undertook the preparation
of q complete edition of his works, including
considerable portion of the lectures on Theology,
which had been read to his classes and not previ
ously printed. These works were published in five
large octave volumes In Boston, in 1851. Among
those which most celebrated are his Letters to
DR.. Taylsr, Of New Haven an " Examination o.
the Doctrine Of Christian Perfection" with an %
pendix, addressed to DR.. Mahan " Dissertation
on Miracles" cause and Eject, in connection with
Fatalism and Free Agency" and "Lettep to Uni
tarians," which were answered by the late Rev.
Henry Ware, ID.
Another volume Of the Works was expected,
besides the "History Of the Andover Theological
Seminary" and It Is probable that with his Memoirs
win be published two or three volumes of his let.
tiers and literary and religious miscellanies
DR.. Woods Was theologian Of the school Of Jona-
than Edwards, and maintained nfexlbly the
principles and practices Of the earlier New England
orthodox diyines. He was thorough conservative,
and was always ready to accept and defend the doc.
trines set forth in the "Assembly's Shorter Cate
chiam," against all the criticism and speculation Of
Tubingen, Cambridge, New Haven, or any other
sect Of contemporary heresies. His learning was
very thorough, though not various, and his style
was eminently pure, transparent'and effective.
The Rev. Leonard Woods, DID. LID, President
of Bowdoin College, aud one Of the most ingenious
and brilliant writers and most accomplished gen.
tlemen Of New England, Is q son Of the deceased,
and was present in Andover at the time Of his death
One Of his daughters is also known in literature as
the author Of 1.-THE Broken Bud" and some other
pleasing performances.