New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-01
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

| bury Connecticut, and graduated at Yale
! College in 1855. After leaving college John
| Adams devoted himself to teaching and was the
nrincipal of the Bacon Academy at Colchester from
| 1903 to 1910. He left Colchester in 1870 three
wears after the birth ofWlliam Adams. and went to
Andover. Massachusetts,. where he assumed charge
of Phillips Academy. This position he filled for
more than twenty years. John Adams was man
of rigid and conscientious integrity. AS he was n
thorough scholar and an able teacher his career al
Andoger was brilliant and useful. Many lIen who
have been well known in American annals were
greatly indebted to his conscientious and able
| teaching.
The childhood OF William Adams was spent in
! Andover He early manifested a fondness for
| books and, as a boy thoughtful and studlous
IN his habits He entered Yale College when about
sixteen. and was graduated IN 81. Owing 10 his
delicate constitution, he was twice Frustrated by
! illness induced hy too much study in his collegiate
course. After his graduation he attended the An
| dover Theological Seminary. Several well-khoWn
! cIerovmep were his classmates at this institutions
among them were She Rev. DR.. George b. Cheever
and the Rev Dr. Schauier, afterward a missionary
to Turkey In February, 1881. William Adams
was ordained and became pastor Of the village
church mt Brighton Massachusetts, having been
/ previously licensed to preach M Boston. In the
early part of 1884 ne left Brighton and went south
on account of the falling health OF his Wiie. lie
was soon afterward induced To- supply for time
fine pulpit of the Pearl Street Church in this cty.
| Before his time there had expired he accepted
call from the Central Presbyterian Church. in
| Brooiuc-st: he remained pastor OF this church
nearly twenty years.
In February. 1898. Dr. Adams became the pastor
of the Madison Squar, Presbyterian Church. winch
WIS i'm q measure an oishoot of has old church, and
/ of Ina. NJ school Ter
The rare g1fts tact and industry of the pastor
abled Al.n 10 make rapid Advancement and before
MANY wears he secured place at the head Of his
profession and became the acknowledged leader of
the Ncw school of the Presbyterian Church. In
l~z he received ,Le degree of Decor OF Divinity.
IYIl. movement 90 reunlte the divisions Of tLe
Church. Dr. Adams played an important part. His
prominence and popularity bis GOODNESS OF jud&-
neut aud powers VI persuasion admirably fitted
him fora leader. II was largely due 10 MS instru-
mentality that the reunion was successfully accom-
/ pii-ned The situation peculiar one. Both
brlnche, were represented by 4 General Assembly,
each claiming To- be the true representative Of the
! Vr..bvteran Church. H. 500 b1ta General As
-lbi.s met in this cirr, I'D the Church Of the
/ Covenant, and the other III the Brick Church. Dr.
! Adams was tine chairman of the New School COM
,,ft.e. and the venerable d.. Beatty. OF Allegheny
seminary wa, the chairman OF the Old school Com
/ u-.tcc. These committees conducted nego ia
r9ns for tine union of the two schools.
The results were submitted to the Assemblies
which met later in P.rs1HrS. and m 1870 the
/ hitherto separate branches NET ia Pullhdc.pla rs
one body and adopted articles OK reorglllz,-io non.
Naturally d.. Adams became leading member OF
| the United General emily, and npon h.s nom.na-
ZION the Rev. Dr. bac.us 0f ,eAcnecraday, Was
elected Moderator by accamlriouihe first time I'D
the history If The Church that choice was thus
made.
In1S73 DR. Adams tool. promina mt part in the
proceedings o.. tlc Evangelical Alliance, which met
n tnls city and uI, address of welcome TO the dele
gates from tle Old World delivered Oh the evening
oil October g. al Ass .cI.oh Hall. is considered one
OF hrs BIS, efforts. and oUe oi tne most remarkable
addresses OF the KIND ever delivered. DR.. Adams
spoke cxtemporaueou,Iy. ana h.- add es- was the
keynote TO the deliberations Of the Whole series Of
meetings.
H. October. 1871. T.. Adams WIS OF. red
a position ia the Union Theological Seminary,
but ne decued n. In 1873 ne was again
chosen President and Professor OF Sacred
Rhetoric at Che Seminary and he accepted
the POSITION II. soon after res gned the pas orate
of the Madison square Church. sttp winch was
dt ply regretted JY both past and people. In his
letter of resignation 20 his church, dated November
49, 1873 Doc sags
Pleasant AS 10 would be 20 ne. gratifying beyond
ur.-,l - retain en1 0i r r name and title
Of ptsjor-that name ny wl.cA hnYe 30 often been All
dressed bv al oi your sorrow and your "
and which never utyc heard or real Without quick
res 1on-c teadcr aI.ctiou-Iup-ssl as u D., Tor me
u reluquI,a tA0ut aetu -urln-, nryerthe"so It
is my conviction tla- Que regard 10 Tuui inter
c,ts nd iIual anu collective requires .Ac sacr'e
ny part that may 80 once take measures which
may secure the u ana undivided services ~ another
pastor.
The meeting Of the church az winch this letter
was read was a notable one. The building was
nlled with the pastors friends
The acceptance OF the pf3tessorship by Dr.. Adams
closed pastoral career OI about forty years
twenty of which were spen, III one church During
ID. Adams's connection With the Union Theological
Seminary, and largely through his instrumental -,
several large gGits were made t. that institution.
The late James Brown. OF the banking firm OF
Brown Brothers. gave 100000 10 the endowment
fund. John Crosby Brown. one Of the members
of the urn. was Or. Adamss son-in-law. Since DR..
Adams became president ol the faculty the endow-
ments of the Seminary have been increased by
| nearly 300 600 including the gitt o. Sir. Brown
! Ii was also through his fundamentally mat Gov
ernor Morgans recent git of PlOO,OOO WAS secured
| 10 tue institution,
Dr. Adams was a very successful teacher. He
| had all old department INTO winch htte that was
/ new could be Introduced but he treated II IN "a
wonderfully fresh way. lie delivered lectures reg
ulary senior class. anu At ncSt, also ID tnt
JUNIOR class. But his strength was IN his method
OF giving private instruction To All Ol the students
10 was lis custom to call some one of them 10 him
every DAY. aud. taxing hlin INTO the chapel, nave
. INN 20 through The = hOs service. lie would urst
have aim pfe lch an orig lua sermon ana then read
] "A h.mn aud offer prayer AT the conclusion OF
these cNrrCi.es ho would crtlcl-e the Ell RS O the
student kindly out severely. Ihs instruction was
esteemed by the students one oi the most vaiua-
bic features of their training III the seminary Every
" ednos,ay afternoon the students were III the
habit ol meeting Tor the purpose OF reading essays
ana having debates. DR.. Adams always pre-
sided over these meetings, ana, at the
close. would up the arguments with
remark, of his own. hes. were always very happy,
aud were 50 highly esteemed by the students tnat
they occasionally brought II Their friends 10 listen
/, 10 them.
Dr. Adams was rema kab.e for his fine personal
appearance. lie had commanding ngure u grace