New-York tribune., 1876-04-19
DIR. BROWNSON.
MS DEATH AT DETROIT ON MONDAY.

HIS DEATH AT DETROIT ON MONDAY.
The death of DR.. o. 4. BrownsOn, which
took place 1T Detroit the l7h inst, leaves void In
the ranks OF our public men among whom be CON
epicuous 10y his positive and vehement individuality Ills
brilliant and versatile gifts his subety and
adroitness as cOntr0versist the keenncss, IL not tae
justness OF his critical powers. and the consummate
energy of his style Although candidate for pub
JIG Office, and in fact exerng little influence IN the
uoldng Of public alaws he OF The few men VINO
could claim tic tile Of American public ST. The dis
eusson Of the vital questions relating 10 the I'D
mini ,raiion Of government the progress and eonserNa-
ton Of society and the politics OF Church an STATE
was the prominent interest OF his mud He strove 10
make up the signal defects OF his carry education Dy
the assiduous cultivation Of literature ms reading IN
clude6 vide range in many languages; ms intimate
knowied of the history of thought IN ali the lights ana
shades OF It's sgnihoance probably not surpassed Dy
that of any living writer, and was only eqnaiod ny iue
acucnes Of analysis and his fertility a1u athes' VI
expression IN the o!ucidaiOa OF p silact d' o' MS
pUg.ut Uf letters and philosophy "as always su0o"e
u the discussion of pOliacl theories, ana eslVA! oi
The relations of ecclesiastical POWER to tue government
of tie Stale Dr. BicwnsOn's Leading mental ciaiaci-
ist{c was the union OF intuye insight wth lo''' sh
The operations Of his mInd wer" rapH - Oh'ih'"uS ii"
cisive bis conclusions the fuii 81 mpuae' IaHer
than OF reflections impatient I" cohtfadi''"n 'r
petuous IN Ormius aud prOuouncinc LIS InGSheS' He
had scarcely trace Of tle sereuliy or the ci!oi'
which ARE the conditions OF the highest wlsd"h'
He zeo upOu his convictions Iy the sheeI
force OF intellect and any attempt ny mo''o'
minds TO modify their coloriDg or shape was
resented as an Insult But his supreme deisht WAS %
exhDit aud enforce them under the forums Of stringent
logic He played with his da'octirs as the fence pays
with Lis fs Every expression OF thought became nid
in his mind aud reproduced as syhosiSln-aid
perhaps sOphisni--in the most ugid formulas 0
mediHval schOOman. S.ill his reissnuhs maze H'ue
impression, and brought forth few results u TS TOO
Ingenious, finely span, with too many hai'-ht"dt"
distinctions. for tho common mind Too dep Tor ms
readers " he went on refining. aai thought Of con
yioing wle they Thought O dining" or lest te force
of his argument while dzZled Nlth tho spieHdoF OF hia
logic Thcy we're bewiidcTed with the 1OuIsbes OF his
blade hut not made u feo the sharpness oi hS
edge. Dr. B!Ownsons writings. including h,s cor rlho
tons 10 periodical Literature, wore singuarig V0dmf
nous No author o. the day exceeded bIm III
read ess o. fertility. HIS essays and reviews ab0l ibe
material for a library in themselves Yet be h'e
left lte that future readers viii be apt TO recall Us
wriiiugs, however profitable FOR rerroof ami cOdee
ton" are not so Instruction in righteousness oi
vehement pO!oniIc tone - repngnani 20 tHt lasio o.
fhoushtil ana cultivated Tney NOT ITI-
fn in suggestion, aud thrill aad DspIo tGe reader
by snrp.isca OF Thought, o. sizes OF cirG'ro sym
pathy Plaps 0f teir most alir ct VIC IetiE,s Is
sheir frequent expressions Of ;" biaad AMI en.d Ao
egotsm, which dwon the private eGprriance o! IN"
author with nuoh unctior as II lie had been r las
ayair OF vissnu but when become weaI1s0me by per
petuai repetition. and ave impression but that -"
wonder at the oxent Of human self cOmp-actiey The
external career OF DR.. BrOwa3on vas varied but a"t
eyeutful. lie WIS bora IN S.ocirige. VI. S-pj. TO-
1903. He FIRST became known Uniyersaiist ain sIe'
in Vermont and Ncw-York. soon after completing hS
one and twentieth year, and contributed papers 40 sey
crsl periodicals in the intore Is of nat demon naon
He subsequently, tooE active part Ia tie mos, nct
the workncInens Grty, lab0ring by speech and pen Tor
the promotion OF It's schemes il behalf OF sOrii reform
In 1882 he bee minister Of Unitarian cnIS!cg tb
In Massachusetts ip 1856 he established i' Boston
the "society FOR CRnstian Union sn1 Progress 10
which be pa cached FOR period Of years In 1888
he established the Boston Quarterly vicv," " .ich
he conducted for hye years writing nearly the Whole
its contents with bis hand and IN 34t, De entered
the communion Of the Roman Catholic CJurcn, I" when
he had become convert after wide expcifonca 81
several psases The Protestant faith. During tie ~aue
year, he foniided " BrOwnSOLs Quarterly R'view,"
which after a strenuous OF discussion anl CON
troveTsy discontinued IL 1854 rcviyed IN 1873 dnd
finally brought to q close within the past yea forming
splendid monument 20 the ability, diligence, phi"so-
phical learning, aud religious zaai Of the cltor D
Brownscn WIS also the author II several separate
which displayed his cGarlctcrs,'o qualities and ar
valuable as illustrative OF the development OF lis
opinions, but which, believe, never ATTAINED
any considerable circulation. In his personal bear
Ing Dr. Browu,on bold sometimes perhaps
10 audeeity, aggressive, ntolerint, vita az mach
hiea-o in his own views rs ii they hal been tie
growth % instead Of changing with the snccrssvc
seasons. after having suDodel toto the ropose o
tie Catholic Church. he dill not al b. disturb tne peace
Of her israel bS the PRONUNCIATION Of new theories Of
philosophy and government although 10 adhered % the
traditions the faithful IN matters OF authority which hc
had adopted with full conviction Of their trntI. His
manners anything but copciatory his disposition
was ayerse to discipline drill teScer IN the case 0i his
OppOneuts for which he invoked the ancient torros Of
the Church, Le naturally Incline TO the freedom OF
the wild IegseIker rather than tho doc'liy Of tne
deYoee and his Of temper took tie shape
of srin exterior, believe him 10 have beon lDaG
high priaepe, Of nte1ty OF purpose, and Of singular
purity o; iio, II Of warmth Of heart o. breadth oil
sympathy