New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-17
,rsr,r pROFF ssoRsHIP.


ing CONSEQUENT upon the College having fallen
under the control of the Untarisns. 1t is main
tsined By all the other sects-who, even in Ms
.acbusetts form very decided majority Of the
peeple-,bst having been originally founded aud
epdov ed by the State, the College is public in.
stitution, belonging to the public generally, aud
that the management of it ough. no. to be mo-
popolized or controlled by asiBgle sect; and
large part even of the Untarians, are inclined
to that view.
The Corporation, q small selfperpetuating body
of seven persons, who have the entire control OF
the funds Of the College, and the nomination of
all its officers subject to the approval of Board
of Overseers elected by the Legislature, set up
that the College is private charity, founded BY
John Harvard; but though thus seeking to escape
the interference Of the public as matter OF
right, they have shown so much respect for the
prevailing public opinion, SIS to have concurred
10 a plumber of recent measures tending to dis.
solve the close and special connection, hitherto
and still existing between the College and the
InitarisDs One Of these measures was the con-
sent of the Corporation to the recent change in
the constitution Of the Board Of Oyerseers under
the operation Of which that Board has already
ceased to be q specially Unitarian body. Another
measure in progress, but not yet completed,
is on entire separation between the College aud
the Unitarian Divinity School, hitherto alta ;hed
to it.
But while thus apparently advancing to warda
complete separation of the College from secta.
rsn influence, the Corporation has unadvisedly
we imagine, and without due deliberation, doubt
LEES from the best of motives, but misled by de-
c.itful mirage, been induced to take step which
threatens not only to counterfeit all they have
thus far done, but to expose the college much
more seriously than ever before to the charge
of being sn institution Of which main aud
leading object is the prOpag CATION of Unitarian
sentiments.
A Miss Caroline Pluumer, OF Salem, Massa-
cbhsett,, lately deceased, has left by her will to
the College the sum of l5,000-as we learn
from her own curious and rather sentimental
laDguage-"for the support of Professorship
"of the Philosophy of Heart and of the Moral,
"Pbysical and Christian Life, in Harvard Unver-
"sity whose province it shall be, according to
"rues and exercises established from time to
Tin by the President and Fellows. and on the
"basis of Christian faith and love, to enlighten
"all who are or may be engaged 10 the education
pursued there, whether governors, instructors
or students, on the manner of dscharging their
respective duties, so as best to promote gener-
"ous affections, manly virtues and Christian con
duct, and more especially to aid and instruct
" the students in what most nearly concerns their
"moral and physical welfare, their health, their
"eood habits, and aei, Christian eharaessr-aet-
"ing to,ea,d them, By personal intercourse and per-
"suasiOn, the part Of a parent, as ceH as that Of
"hacher and frlnd. The Professor shall be Of
1.-The Christian religion and Master of Arts,
bearing the character of learned, pious and
"hoLest man."
A, first blush this seems not only very unex-
ceptiobable, but very excellent foundation;
very desirable improvement indeed on the dry
dull round OF mere scholastic instruction. So
doubtless the Corporation thought when that body
accepted this donation, and making up half the
necessary salary out of the ordinary college funds
proceeded to select for the professOrship d Unita
riaa clergyman of Boston, whose affectionste tenn
pei, sensbity ofhearI and winning address, seemed
to mark him out as the very man who oughtto 6llit
But already, before this nomination is formally
announced to the Board Of Overseers, an ominous
murmur of discomfort is heard, such as may lead
the Corporation, we hope, in future first to sub
nit to the Overseers for their concurrence the
propriety of founding prOfessorships at all, be-
fore going so far as to fill them.
Sectarisn Jealousy has not failed already to dis
cover that the duties marked out for this new
professor, and the line of action which he Is d.
rected by the will of the founder to adopt for
their fulfllment have . most remarkable and
striking resemblance to the course Of procedure
inculcated upon the professors in the Jesuit
colleges, who were directed sedulously and by
every winning art to secure the confidence and
the affection of their pupils asthe first great step
toward becoming the masters and dctat0rs OF their
religious faith. 1t is not unlikely that each and all
the sect, might approve the establishment Of this
father confessorsbip for the young men Of the
college-for so it rather 10 than professorship-
could they themselves have the exclusive selection
ofthe father cObiessOr; but for any one who knows
anything Of sectarian jealousies, it 10 altogether
too much to expect, that any sect should consent
to the appointment of such an officer Of any de-
nomir alton but their swn. And the qualifications
of the gentleman selected do but aggravase the
evil Were bis qualifications as small as those
Of some others who from time to time
have received the nomination for merely
secular professOrships, there would be
at least this consolation TO non Unitarian fathers