, 1879-03-23
4 uIGH CUURCHMAN.

SOME OF TIE IRREGULARITIES OF THE LATE REV.
DIR. DE KoyES.
A former student OF Racine College contrib
utes the following. to the Indianapolis Journal :
The Rev. James Dc Kovcn, D. D., Rector OF Ra-
cine College, Wisconsin, whose sudden and un-
timely death from apopiexy occurred yesterday
morning, was q remarkable man in many re-
spects. He had national reputation as the
leading spirit Of the Hign-Church faction in the
Episcopalian denomination. He was known for
his great learning and rare powers as pulpit
orator. He WAS q man of fine presence, and
seemed clothed with all the high attributes OF
the ideal ministry. It is the purpose Of this
article to review, briefly, his inner life as it
was unfolded in the close compauionsnip Of
college life. DR.. Dc Koyen devoted his
ripcst culture and best thought to Ra-
cine College. It was the dream Of his life
to make it to this country what Rugby is to En-
gland. He visited TINT famous Institution, when
abroad many years ago, and adopted its leading
features. The students Of Racine College were
US near and dear to him as children; indeed, he
layished on s'the boys the best impulses OF his
neart. He never married; the college hearth
stone was his family circle. We know Of but
one ofiive-and many were his for the asking
that would have tempted him from the duties OF
the Rectorship at Racine-a Bishopric. He un-
doubtcdly coveted this distinction as the crown
ing ambition Of his life, but when it failed him
he turned to bis boys and his books and the dis
,iuguished and lucrative church prefcrments
which have since been extended have not TEMPT
cd li1n. Only last week he was elected to the
Rectorship Of St. Marks, I'll PHILADELPHIA, as the
successor OF DR., Hoffman, and it is understood
that he had expressed his purpose to decline,
DR.. De kOveu was in the haNt OF preparing
f..}fs .1.-r tt.
the students in the college chapel as for the
most critical and Intelligent OF audiences. lie
was often wonderfully eloquent, always DOW
crlul and persuasive. His power for good in
the silent influences OF his daily life among his
boys, Us he called them. was Irresistible and I'M
prcssed all who approached him. He used his
ample fortune for good.
Dr. De kovcn was extremely 'tHieh Church"
iu his views and practice. He was probably the
only minister OF the E Episcopal Church who bor-
dcrcd so closely upon the Rotnish doctrine as to
maintain confessional. Very few, Indeed. OF
his lcllow-churchmen are aware that Tor many
years it has been his custom to hcar confession.
That he went SO far as to attempt absolutton IS
not here positively asserted, but this much is
known: Adjoining his hanlsomey-furnishcdl IL
brary, in the south wing of the old college build
ing, was room barely lurge enough to seat four
persons comfortably, which was known among
the students as 1.-The confessional" 1t con-
taincd kneelins-stool and rack for prayer
book where the person confessing might k11ccl.
10 the right and adjoining this wus handsome
carved walnut chair tor the Doctor. Tie room
was darkencd, and it was evident from the gen.
eral appearance OF the place that its PURPOSES
we're sacred. 4 large portion Of the students,
especially those OF younger years were in the
habit o[ resorting to the. "conlessio1l-6ox "
every two OF three weeks, and there detail to
tie Doctor their sins OF omission and co1nlnls-
sion. Many made no secret Of their business
there. 1t was not known positively that their
sins were formally forgiven by the euict
of the confessor, but tic interencc Is tliat
he was accustomed to do so, for IN learned
argument at church convention in New York
last wear, Dr.. Dc Koven advocated the dlylne
riyht of tile ordained ministry to forgive sins.
Tie burning Of can!lcs on the chapel altar, the
white robes o1 the twenty choir bows, the chants
inr OF the service, nnd ai the tinsel Of gorgeous
" worship which he practiced aud encouraged,
borderrd Us closely upon the Romist as the con-