The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-10
BOWDOIN COLLEGE.
Meeting OF the Phi Beta Kappa and
Alumni Associations.
Prof. Everett's Address on the Late
President Woods.

BRUNSWICK, July 9.-At o'clock this
morning Phi Beta Kappa held its annual
meeting in Adams Hail. Hon. Josiah Crosby
presiding pro tenpore.
Prof. Chapman and Arno Bates, Esq, were
elected committee to nominate officers for
the ensuing year. They reported the follow
ing names which were adopted
President Hon. Josiah Crosby.
Vice President-Hon. j. w. Symonds.
Secretary and Treasurer-Prof. III. d. Chap
man.
Library Committee-Prof. j. B. Sewall,
Hon. w. L. Putnam, Rev. +. n. Packard, ID.
G. Linscott, Esq, and Rev. G. S. Perkins
The members initiated from the graduating
class are Tarbox, Pennell, Stearns, Byron,
Henderson, Carleton, Corey and Fifeld.
This afternoon at 3 O'clock the First Parish
church was filled to listen to the memorial
address of Prof. c. c. Everett of Harvard
College. Every one was delighted with the
production. Below is full synopsis:
President Woods was born at Newbury,
Mass, Nov. "a, 1907. He was the son of
Leonard Woods, the firss professor at the
Theologian Seminary at Andover, Mass. The
father was known as q keen diSputant, a
strong reasoner and a somewhat dogmatic
theologism. The mother of the President was
daughter of the Rev. Joseph Wheeler of
Harvard, Mass, woman of marked character
and great sweetness OF disposition. The
family consisted of ten children, of whom
Leonard was the fourth. His intercourse
with his sisters, especially, perhaps, with those
nearest his own age, was tender and conf
Dental. This relation could not have been
without influence upon his character and
may have prepared the way and furnished the
ideal for those intimacies with ladies of talent
and culture, that formed so marked a feature
of his after life. Indeed his home would seem
ilaAll respects fitted to develop the moral
characteristics with which he was endowed by
nature. His surroundings in childhood tended
to quicken his intellectual growth The
group of theologians at his fathers house and
their discussions must have stimulated his
thoughts and directed them to theological in
quiry.
He fitted for college at Phillips Academy
and entered Dartmouth College in the spring
of 1924 He remained there, however, less
than one term and afterwards entered Union
College as a sophomore. He graduated in
1927. Prof. William Thompson of Hartford
was his room mate, and President Wayland
member of his class, and Bishop Potter of n.
T., though not classmate, was most in
innate friend.
AS scholar he excelled in all branches On
his graduation he delivered a poem, entitled,
"The Suicide" In it he analysed the powers
OF the human mind. He chose the profession
of the ministry and entered the Theological
Seminary at Andover, the year of his gradual
ton from college. He graduated in 1880, and
remained as a teached for a short time. He
was ordained by the Third Presbytery of New
York, at the Laight street church, in 1888. In
1884 he became editor of the New York
Literary and Theological Review. In 1886 he
became Professor of Biblical Literature at
Bangor Theological Seminary. This inter-
fered with his editorial work and at the end
of four years he gave up his connectinp with
the Theological Review.
Remaining in Bangor but three years he
accepted, in 1889, then but 80 years of age, the
Presidency of Bowdoin College. That was
proud day for Bowdoin ON which he was in
augurated. The ceremonies of this Inaugural
ton over, he approached his new duties as he
did everything, by his own methods, In 1910
he made his first visit to Europe. He was
received with marked attention at Oxford and
was the recipient of the hospitality of Louis
Philippe in Paris. On being invited to a din
ner at the Tuilleries he and companion
neglected to answer their invitation and were
moreover little late The king came forward
to meet them intimating that not having
heard from them they were not sure they
happily replied they had supposed that no
reply was necessary, that the invitation of
king they had believed was of the nature of a
command and left but one answer possible.
This happy turn changed defeat into victory.
The President made an especial impression on
the queen, who took him to her apartments
and showed him, among other things, the
embroidery of her daughters, and introduced
him to the room where they were at their
work. Our President made himself thorough
ly at home as he bid everywhere, and we find
him seated among them and hulding skein
of worsted for one of the princesses to wind,
at once as much at his ease and as welcome as
if he had been guest at come New England
farmhouse.
At the Vatican he had long conversation
wit N fret
arose in what language they should converse
Our President suggested French, German or
Latin though he would prefer The latter.
When, after some hours talk With the Pope
in Latin, he had taken his leave, the Holy
Rather expressed his admiration of him. He
mac conquered the Vatican as he had Oxford
and the Tuilleries. On his return from Eu-
rope he settled at once upon his duties at Bow
doin.
In his intellectual condition, our President
was remarkable for the universally of his
gifts Whatever he did seemed the one thing
he was made to do Poet scholar, editor, pre-
fessor, president; to the work of each calling
he came as to his own. At one time in a law
suit which sprang out of the will of Gov. Bow
doin he showed most unusual legal talent, He
ORC mated the case and largely worked it up.
He possessed himself SO fully of the case that
few lawyers were so well posted as he became
in that special department of professional
study. The money that his legal skill had
won, his taste knew how to use, and it took
form in the beautiful chapel of the college.
In all his tastes and habits of mind he was
a conservative. He honored the Catholic
church becau1e for centuries it was indeed
the Catholic church and it alone held aloft
the spiritual faith of men, and for various
other reasons. 1t may be asked, as it was
often asked, "Why was he not then a Cath
olic?" Those who put this question fail
wholly to understand his thought. He be-
lieved that we are largely the product of the
past, that our beliefs and position in the world
are largely determined for us in advance. He
felt that he belonged where he was placed that
he owed sacred allegiance to the church of his
fathers, and as he cherished no thought which
would compromise his sincerity by SO doing, he
chose to stand by the fundamental doctrines of
his church. He also loved and honored the
Episcopal church and could take pleasure in
the general breadth OF the Unitarian He was
man somewhat difficult to De understood, and
one reason for this was that he reached his
views by his own methods He was often mis-
conceived but was patient under msconcep-
ton. If word would explain his course that
word he often had to be urged to speak; often
he would not speak it.
1t is sometimes wondered why he left no
monuments of his labor and genius in perman-
ent works. His ideas of perfection were so high
that he was critical with himSelf. 1t was not
that he would not but that he could not, do
anything complete.
In his college work he adopted his own ways
of discipline, and would much rather try to
save man than to punish him. L think that
under President Woods, Bowdoin Cole ye off
cred means of education in come re3pect1 I'M
equalled in this country
His private influence was made powerful by
the genius that made itcelf felt in his public
addresses. None who ever heard them will
forget his baccalaureatc5 The students