New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-23
ANTIOCH COLLEGE AND ITS PROBABLE
PRESIDENT.

cessor; the choice OF the studeots the faculty the
trustees Of the Christian aud Uptmaa bodies 80 far
their wishes could be informally expressed II nav.
appeared however, that his obg atoms to his own
people would not permit him to leave bis poet in New
York at presen the rext person thought Of for the
Presidency Of Antioch wss tie Rev. Thomas Hill Of
Wsltham Mass. 1t is surprising with wi at entire
una unity the sentimt ut of those most deeply inter-
ested settled upon him. LODGED, we have yet to
meet the first dissensr from the wiet)m Of this
nomination. AT preparatory meeting held in Bos-
ton at which SIX Of the trustees three Christians
and three Untarians-were present, aud such fdents
Of the late President aud Of Antioch Drs Gsnnett
and Lincoln the Rev. Messrs ii all aud Waterston Dr.
S. G. Howe, the Hon. Josiah Quincy, the Hon. Al
bert Fearing, G.. Thayer, and G. f. Batter, esqs.,
the Rev. Messrs. Edmunds and Cumming, and Pro
fessor Weston, after urging upon DIR. Bellows the
acceptance Of the nomination. aud hearing bis reasons
for lot being able to entertain the dea it was found
that the choice of every person present Was the Rev
Thomas H and that this judgment had in most
cases been arrived at by independent reflections pre-
vious to the meeting and without any knowledge Of
his being thought Of by Others. The entire unanimy
with which bis received by the meeting, and
the vicOn that peculiar fitness must carry the
consent of the nominee himself all proved the wisdom
Of this nomination, which there can be no reasonable
doubt will be accepted by the Board of Trustees at
their meeting at Yellow Springs on Sept. 7tb, when
it is to be confidently hoped Mr.. Hill will be elected
President accept the Office, and enter Immediately
uponis duties.
Meanwhile, as Mr.. Hill is not as widely known by
the public at large as he is well known and pro-
foundy respected in the educational and scientific
community il may be well TO give slight sketch of
his career. He was born Of highly respectable pa
rents Of English Unitarian origin, in NewJersey,
about 1915 At the age Of 10 he apprenticed to
printer and learned the trade in four years practice.
Next having scientific yearnipgs, he was sppren-
tced for four years to apohecary and at the
expiration Of his term, not being satisfied with his
self education which by dnt Of constant reading had
already become marked, he fitted himself In nine
months for Harvard College and entered at the age of
81 in the year 1880 Here he soon, by native talents
and great application made himse the first scholar in
his class beside pursuing many sudes aside from col
lege requirements, and was gradusted with the irst
honors in 1913. So marked had been his devotion
and success in the mathematical department, that
Prof Peirce the highest authority in the country at
once offered him. with earnest solicitation the post of
Director of the Washington Observatory. Mr.. Hill,
to bis great surprise and admiration, declined the daz
ZDDg OItT, WIFI the ludl no Nouu oooHOi bc
the pastor of the humblest country parish than hold
any merely scientific post in the land Completing his
divinity studies at the Cambridge Theological School,
MIR. Hill was settled at Waltham ten miles from Bos-
toni over the Unitarian parish in lsi. There he has
continued for twelve years; resisting invitations
to more ambitious pupits, and declining al.urng
calls TO several literary and scientific posts The
source of these constant invitations has been the per-
1x.,I nrv NNv1,n nf
the eagerness ard success of his mathematical and sci
entifc studies of his profoundly enlightened interest
in popular and in university education; of his enthu'
astic sympathy with and aptitude for acquiring all
kinds Of knowledge, and the extraordinary gift he
possesses of setting forth the abrusest sciences IN
forms ineligible to ordinary understandings. His
active membership of the Association for Advancing
Science with the valuable papers he has communicated
to that body has brought his name distinctly before
the public as the most universally learned in science
Of all the American cergynen; while his lectures and
communications the educational bodies of the coun-
try, have made him great hope of teachers as an
enthusiastic devotee of their inestimabe art. His re
cent address before the p b. X of Cambridge on the
true distribution Of knowledge, elected homage from
the best heads in the land. These educational and
scientific requirements reinforced by classical scholar
ship. a charming gift for poetry, devotion 10 his
sacred profession which made him the choice oil the
Unitarian denomin alton for the head OF the Mead
vile Theological School, when DIR. Stebbins left it-snd
which makes him still thought of for the first pups
in his professona personal character OF stainless pu-
rily, simplicity, and eevation-a mild and winning
Temperament, versatile tastes and talents-sympa-
thetic and genial manners; necessity Tor teachipS
every body everywhere, without fatigue or pedantryi
who can wonder that such a man, even al middle
soc should be thought of for important posts, and
sboud have TO decline the most inviting positions
Mr.. Hill has accordrgly been called formally or III
formally, to professorshp in the Smithsonan insti-
tute. to the Presidency of the Meadvile School, to
the head of tie Normal School at birmingham, 10
nrofessorshp in Minnesota and has been the favorite
canc idste with many for the Presidency OF Harvard
University, if the threatened resignation OF Dr.
Walker should occur.
Theologically, Mr.. Hill is Unitarian Christian OF
the Evangelical school in lively sympathy with the
most devout and believing portion OF toa' ooayi
not a Sectarsn, hardly UNCONVENTIONAL man, as
his recent call TO make the address before the
Society of Christian Inquiry, In the Orthodox Coi-
lege of Burlington, sufficiently proves. Wherever
he Does. he carries a sound Christian faith, and
tue Christian spirit, and there are no Christians oil
spy sect in the land, that on acquaintance wouo NOT
bid him God speed in the pulpit, on the scientific plat
form, on the educational field.
1t may take few months to make Mr. Hills merits
as much known to the people at large as they are TO
the best scientific and educational judges; bu' we
cannot doubt that his career the President OF Anti
ocb College is destined to be OF solid and brilliant
success II any man is worthy to come after Horace
Mann, be is. In that position he will make himself
the natural head not only as his great predecessor
was of the purely educational interests OF the West
lint Also of the scientific community, while he will