New-York tribune., 1873-07-01

the Congregational ministry OF Massachusetts,. or
limited early education he supplied the defects OF
his training by rare intellectual gifts. His first
seminary barn where he took part in juvenile
dialogue for the entertainment of visitors. Ills SUD
sequent schOOlhOuses were not much better ana ms
teachers were as rude and imperfect az the places IN
which they taught. The best part of his education
he obtained from a small parish library, many oil
whose volumes he read in the long Winter evenings
by the light of pine torches OF OF the kitchcn
fire. From his seventeenth year, ne "orheu
out on the farms of Weather neighbors every sum
mer, and taught school every Winter I'LL ne was
Twenty-Five. Meanwhile, he became deeply inter-
ested in religon. and was encouraged Dy his pas'oi
to study for the ministry. After six months pIepa-
ration. he entered the junior class ofYalo College,
where he graduated. with honors in regular course
He was first settled in Fairfield, Conn, and after
ministry of ten years accepted call from the Con
oreCatonal church in Pittsield in 1917. The parish
was divided on account of political differences Dut
his wise and conciatory course resulted IN the reso
ration of complete harmony. Many anecdotes OF ms
skill and prudence in winning the disatected OF the
indifferent are still related by his parishoneTs one
of those oftenest repeated is that of hs conquernR
the heart of farmer who had steadily refused 10
attend the Sabbath services, by visiting MN Ill MS
harvest-feld, and without a word of professional
exhortatiOn, engaging him IN conversation upon
farming and then taking his cradle ana
cutting swath of grain as II he had
been used only 10 a farmers life all ms DAYS
DR.. Humphrey was q man OF strongly marked
individuality. The highly intellectual features OF
his face gave evidence of great decision and force
of character. He copied no man. His voice. ms
emphasis his quaint and piquant illustrations, ms
impressive but byDo means graceful gestures were
entirely his own. In spite OF certain apparent
coldness. no one could escape the influence OF ms
magnetic presence. He was Cavlnlst OF the Cai-
vipists but his heart was large his sympathies ten
der his affections warm, though his creed was rigid
No trace of afiectaton vitated the transparent sim
ceritv of his nature If he was sometimes little
abrupt in his bearing. with no pretensions to the
nolisbed smoothness of conventional manners, you
could never doubt the sterling excellences Of has
character He gave you the impression of some
fine rich fruit not tempting in external show, but
sound and sweet to the core. After an administra-
tion of twenty two years DR.. Humphrey retired from
tho presidency in 1915. and passed most OF the re-
mainder of his long life among bis old and devoted
friends in PIttsfed
The first year after his resignation OF the Presidency
DR.. Humphrey fixed his residence with his s1l-lnaW,
the Rev Henry Neil, at Hatfield. and occupied ms time
largely IN revival labOrs and in the supply or vacant
congregations in the netghborho0d. But narrower
"a
he spent the remainder OF his days sun hin,steI
lug in nnumerable ways 10 the people OF nis t1rntl
charge still supplying vacant pupts aud assisting hs
brethren extraordinary aDors stil by sermons ana
lectures stirring up the churches 10 renewed efforts ~
The cause Of temperance, philanthropy, and CnIuih
missions still guiding by his wisdom ana graclng pl ulH
presence the ANNIVERSARIES OF the great DeDeyolen so
crties stil thstructng ana degutns tno l1iiEUuo @
public now and then with new book, but mucn more
frequently with articles just as fresh ana IschaHt rs
ever in the newspapers ne never IeHni I'm ~
ular habits. f0rsook his study Ihere from hlne
O'Clock the morning TIL the bell struck ioF dinner he
spent the hours ID Wrluhe-sOlneti1cs "a ~
book sometimes communication from "IDe Olu man
OF the Mountains" sometimes letter to TREND or
few pages OF sermon or autODOSIaphlcaI
lie never ceased 10 love Amherst college AGAIN
and agaln he present at Commencement; ana the
alumni wiltneyer forget the addresses fu OF WISE pa
terual counsels ss well as instructive ana denghtul
annual reunions. The evening OF his life was a. tranquil
aud sunny a ts midday was rough and stormy. HIS
the dlergymcn Of Pittsfed. he delivered Union
Meeting the day Of National Fasting ana Pfayer
Jan 1901 The oocdSiOnthe outbreak OF the Southern
ReUelOn-roused him ike an old warhor% WhO snulls
the battle from sfar He wrote with iorre of afsu
mPnt with "A fervOr Of eOquence with religious ana
patriotic hre inferior 10 that which great occasions
called forth from hun in his best days He spoke In
assembly The discourse puDiisned by request Ot
Gov Briggs aud other leading citizens OF Pttshed and
must strike every who reads il as IL ala an who
heard it, as most remarkable discourse TO have been
prepared and delivered by man standing on the edge
Of his eighty y-thlrd year"
President Humphrey was succeeded by Professor
1854, when on account of declining health he felt
unable to meet its responsibilities, and rendered his
resignation to the trustees He still continued to
discharge the duties of professor of geology and
natural theology until 1864, when his death took
place at the age of Il. The most conspicuous fea-
lures of his chaslcter were enthusiasm for natural
science and religious earnestness. Beneath n calm
exterior he concealed an intense sensitiveness of
temperament and even certain traits that almost
approached eccentIicity were not wanting in his
composition. With decided personal tastes, lie
WIS not entirely free from prejudices though
never addicted 10 intentional ~ f,iuness He was
fond II theory, which he sometime, carried % ORD
extreme point inclined to specllations OF more or
less ncful character, and with spice Of credullty
which was not always tempered by the habit OF
scientific research. His administration gave fresh
impulse to tie prosperity of the college, which for
few years before had been struggling with adverse
circumstances Since the accession of President
SteaIns in 1854 the resources Of the institution have
been greatly enlarged, the standard Of education
has been elevated in accordance with the progress
of science and learning, aud increased brilhancy
shed over its prospects by his wise and energetic
conduct OF ito affairs Some Of the innovations
which have been introduced at Amherst Of Late years
are made the subject Of lively description By the
author
A noteworthy change hss passed over Amherst IN
common with other colleges and the community gru.
orally ~ manners and customs, Und especially ~ re-
card 10 rccrcatlons and amusel1ents Time was when
d, 'ass-.upprr, sand "tOnyyiM entertainments. were
strictly foruiiden"-whCn slave holding was deemed
conl,ritvcy iunorent tnd dnnclu, % mortal sn-vnru
the ten piu alley The hrOsd rud y ruiu ami te hi
Bard saloon The very tCuNuIt oi peruIiun
.uloO the student Who should have BEEN
caught HuuInE suth songs HH Tue WY W. have
iu on Amhtut" Hud others htl Dol, boo thr stree 4.
eoa.a IN. f, been eir'loI. sr r.I,hau.. .glnd hIn
|H Iir tft .U. huW Goo riHss fIHIr. fhH FufI sod
fHfItHH of fHf tNIfHr fH.f. TIIH. NJ" 0I..I HHHNH
r. sImHs.rf 4li diHflH. N.. fuHiHeWff .a t.fF r.H.
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