The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-26
Professor De La Harpe of Geneva
BY Prof Ruffet of the Evangelical
Theological Seminary

Rev. R. L. Dabney, D. D.
The Free Church of Geneva. and the
Theological School of the Evangelical
Society, has Just met great loss in the
person of Monsieur the Professor Louis
Henri de La Harpe.
Of Waldensian origin by his father.
who was first cousin of General Frederic
Caesar de La Harpe, (preceptor of the
Gar, Alexander y, NJ de La Harpe be-
longed to France by his mother. He in
herited from his relatives the grace and
politeness which distinguished them
Born at Bordeaux, the 18th of January.
1909, he signalised himself by remark
able precocity. At the age of nine years,
under the direction of very distin-
guished German teacher, he had already
learned to read the New Testament cur
rently in Greek and in Latin. At the
same time he was studying German, and
laying the foundations of that com lete
knowledge of English, which he finally
possessed. From his youth M de La
Harpe also turned his heart towards God;
he loved, when scarcely youth, to teach
children the fear of the Lord At an
early day, he made himself the preacher
OF his family, and he had the Joy of lead
ing all his near relatives to the faith.
During stay of some years in Scotland,
where, in 1928 he took the degree of
Master of Arts, and at the same time
carried the first prize of natural philoso-
ply, his convictions were confirmed vet
more by intercourse with the sturdy
Scotch nation, and took that character of
stability which marked them even to the
end. AT the same time that he borrowed
from that country his energetic attach
ment to the Reformed doctrines, he also d.
attached himself to those principles of
the independence of the Church, which
were destined to so large triumph in
succeeding years.
M. de La Harpe then began his theo-
logical studies at Montau5an in 1929,
converted, from the heart, to Him whom
he wished to serve. The study of the
oriental languages, and especially of the
S'yriac, occupied him especially during
this first residence at Geneva-where he
had for professor the regretted Dr. Haver-
nick. Returning for time to Bordeaux.
ne at first held private meetings in his
house, and then evangelised around him.
The 24th of May, 1887, he received ordi-
nation to the sacred ministry, and was
arranging to enter the service of the Re-
formed Church. when call came to him
from Geneva. M. Samuel Preiswerk had
succeeded DR.. Havernick as Professor of
Hebrew In the School of Theology, later
the AntlSteS of the Church OF Basic. M.
Preiswerk had allowed himself to be tenn
porarily gained by the Irvingite errors,
and the desertion of professor had led
to that of several students. After mel
ancholy disputes, the Directory of the
School concluded that it was necessary
for them to separate from co-worker
otherwise very distinguished, in March,
1887; and the 25th of May of the same
year, at the suggestion of M Merle (D'Au-
biigne) the department of Theolog y in
vited M. de La Harpe to accept the in
struction of the exposition and sacred
criticism of the Old Testament for eigh-
teen months. The young minister re-
sponded to this call with the amiable
alacrlty which he thenceforward always
showed in accepting all the tasks which
were offered him, whether pleasant or
difficult and in November, 1887. he took
possession of this chair, which he was
destined to occupy, saving some inter
ruptions, for forty-three years. VERY
soon, in fact, the health of M. de Mestral
becoming more and more precarious, he
had to resign the professorship, and M.
de La Harpe was confirmed in its duties.
Thenceforward, the young professor
gave himself wholly to the work of the
Evangelical Society; and while he re-
manned wholly French in heart, he really
made of Geneva his second country
Nevertheless, brilliant proposals did not
fail to be made to the professor of the
Oratory, who at the end of some years,
had resolved to give his time and labor
to the Seminary without any salary. In
l849, Dr. Crawford offered him, on the
part of Lord Shaftesbury, the presidency
OF the English College in Malta, with a
magnificent salary and special advan-
tages: he refused. In Scotland, DR..
Guthrie also made him numerous offers:
he refused still. At last, under the En-
pire, his brother-in-law, Baron Haus-
mann, endeavored to fix him in Paris as
Professor of Oriental Languages in the
College Of France; and he intimated to
him the probability Of his occupying a
charge still more elevated and desirable.
in which he would be able to render to
French Professionalism signal services
But, devoid of personal ambition, he pre-
ferred to the most brilliant posts, his
nuiaf horne onJ L., 49, 1o,A