New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-27
CLOSING WEEK AT YALE.
JOSEPH EARL SHEFFIELD.
A DISCOURSE BY PRESIDENT PORTER C0MMEMoRA-
TIVE OLE Ills LIEE AND CHARACrER.

Porter delivered at the Battell Chapel, a discourse
commemorative Of the life and character of Joseph
Earl Sheffield, the liberal bencfactor of Yale Col
lege who died on February last at the ripe age OF
eighty-nine years. After briefly recounting the
principal events of Mr.. Shelield's career bust
ness man, DR.. Porter spoke, in part, as follows
His experiences mp this time regarded by him
self as having constituted and completed his education
as a man OF business. HIS own reflections upon the
lessons which he derived from this discipline at once
so characteristic Of the and valua lie in them
selves that quote them at length The following was
written from Dresden at the age OF sxtyfoLr, in ia
mar letter to his
But you must bear in mind that then young es.
peciay when called upon. In 1918 In Carolina ana
In 5l7 in Mobile, to exercise my own Judgment In I'M
pOrtsnt matters in which not only my own credit and
future prospects were concerned but the interests ana
credit OF my associates who Here too distant to be con-
suited OF course my reflections and decision IA to the
proper course OF action, being In measure responsible
TO others, made deep and lasting Impression on my
mind of the ssy OF mature and earnest reflection
in forming ones judgment, aud after thus arriving at
conclusion, OF then acting with energy IN carrying out
your plans. My decision and prompt action then. no
doubt gave direction and tone TO my future Dusi-
ness course and standing; and l now recomm nd yOu
never to decide hastily aud without mature ana
nestly seek your Judgment the right course, and
when you have decided, then to act with energy and
prom ptude-takIDg all public matters enter
prises to throw your interest and your
own feelings TO tho winds rather than suffer
actions or decsions swerve not from Your convictions
OF right and duty learn to no with decision yes
with caution No with decision when 1t meets tenpta
ton yes with caution when it implies promse-snd
however things may eyenuate you will have the salts
faction OF having acted honestly, and may sleep quietly
The following written at the age Of eghtythree:
When l embarked in commerce., the most interesting
Of all business occupations my mind was called To
higher plane and tone for then IL became Incumbent on
to seek knowledge and correct information and
whether it cotton coffee, in the former Of which
tor many years chiefly and largely engaged, 1t was
amportant that should make ny self fully
and accurately acquainted with the productions OF all
climates and countries and TO carefully watch and note
the probable which likely to increase or d
nnsh production, not only IN ones own country but IN
all parts o. the world where cotton was grown, ana at
he time watch aud carefully consider all the
causes which were likely to increase or diminish con
sumption.
Whatever else might said of him, it always
that as man Of business his OF honor quick
as the blush OF maiden, and hence it that when
ever he gave his word matter how largely Epeed
lily any credit needed, credit and money were al
ways at his command. say that he abhorred
from the bottom OF his soul sharp practices Of every sort
-that he content to fulfil mis- word Or bond
merely to the letter he could by any eyade ts
spirit
There eminent OF business who say OF their
sociales that every is to be presumed knave,
thereby cOnfessing that this true Of themselves There
also lOOEersOn who sometimes conclude that the
ces OF modern exchange and the enormous Opportuni
ties Of capital are such that what men call honor ana
high-tOned sentiment must be forever dismissed
from the transactions OF traffic and tho lawful competi
and robbery. 10 Mr.. Sheffield SUCH utterlnees were
simply basphemy against his guild and against his man
hood lie not honorable simply from the TRADITIONS
his guild but he honorable from the convictions
OF his conscience and the sentiments Of his heart
THE BENEFACIoR OF YALE COLLEGE.
After the marriage his daughter in 1854 to Profess
sor John A. Porter the Professor Of Analytical aud
Agricultural Chemistry, lS52l664 in the then infant
.nd struggling department of Philosophy and the
Arts" he made his first donation this department
of 900 This just before he went abroad in
800 Tor an absence Oh a%G years OK more rroeSSof
varied knowledge and culture Ill DOtn literature and
science, who well fitted 10 inspire like Mr.
sheffield with interest in he prosperity aud plans OF the
then infant Institution. IL a time when the sO-called
varied projects were devised ana dscussedIoI promoting
education which should be al once more technically
scientific and more positively practical than had veen
provided In the colleges 10 meet tnese wants III a
tentative way one section OF the department already
spoken OF organized, and its friends became
COnNnccL tuat Of ls successful uef eOpntAI IL heCueu
separate building ana apprat u.s. AS also und for the
endowment OF prOfessorsnips All these were in part
provided Tor DY MI Sdched about the Time OF ms return
rom Europe III 1888. The ola Medical College was pur
CHASED for $4,000 then enlarged ana rettgd at an ex-
pense Oh $3o,vOO and completed as Sheid Han IN tine
the opening the school IN September 1861 III DC
tober or the same year, Mr. sneled percevng that an
additional was essential 10 Ito success, au1ed
100000. making according TO bis statements. an ex-
pentlture of SIOl jJ7 o.
In 90 after grant of SI35, 600 he again
enlarged sheffield Hall at an expense Oi @i6139 IS, and
added library tund OF $1,000. Later through iu
nuence Mrs ligsln gave 40,OOO to endOw professor
snip and al her death added OF 4IOUO Tor the
same purpose In IslV u ne gave me land and con
lrlcledOr the erection OF North onefheld Hail at cost
Of ~ 1850 O her large gus are not named, which IN
Cudeu liberal contributions FOR SPECIFIC objects, and fire.
quent additions to its income All these glIts may be
estimated something over @40O,OOO ~ his Will lie
grounds attached should eventually become its
property, and that the school which bears his
should share equally with each OF LIS children in
tue uai distribution ol his large estate All these gits
may De saleiy estimated al considerably more than
900 900. II is worthy Of notice that whenever any
thing Was contributed to the school by others, MT
shcinuld Inspired to add liberal git Ot his own
Tue GIFT Ot the state Fund Induced Min 10 enlarge
oheed Hall aud to add TO It's apparatus anu hDraiy
The efforts for endowment in ls69'7l which were re-
spOndcd to the extent or $4,000 udlng the
in OF Mrs. HiSgn led MN to aad some $4,000 " the
endowment previously gwen oy himself
also deserves to be noted that the relations OF Mr.
Shehed to tue trustees aud officers OF the college and
scientific school nave uniformly been most pleasant aud
friendly Every of his SITS was inspired ~ an III
engent and mistaken confidence IN the theory OF the
school and the wisdom OF It's managers. IL is most
worthy that lie er nan csted the desir
the enOrt To direct It's pOcy OF interfere WIN us au-
minisuatOn. Wnen elected member OF the cor ora
college BY the votes Of the graduates he took
his seat at single session IN acknowledgement VI the
compliment, but forthwith resigned his place;
college anniversary of the Scientific School
Whenever any enlBem,n Of its Resources needed
he glad 10 be informed bat ne was content 10 under
stand Tor the opinions or those In whom he
cOnded, without attempting 70 alter them or advance
judgment of men whom he believed TO he honest,
ana anew competent. In these respects was a
many patrons Of schools OF learning and iu
sttutions OF Dcueiccnee. While III some relations lie
withdraw Ills confidence from those whom lie had
learned 10 trus,. In respect OF intelligent,
institutions vi learning, Nil. Sheffield example
Tie of wealth in all TINS land. His liberality this
description has been surpassed Oy few in respect the
amount OF his gifts Here ana there indeed one has
gwen larger with the press purpose founding
Institution which shOuld be called after his name.
Mr.. sheffield began MS benetactiOns with in
tentiOns expectations but from personal convection
OF the and promise OF ten awe school which
was then regarded only OnshOOt OF a great uni
yersity.
THE NAN AND NEIGHBOR.
need say that Nh sheffield was man Of superior
intellect and that this superiority manifested in the
acueness, penetration and forecast of his Judgment and
b. the skill and with which he made his business
become efficient school OF training his plastic
mind. He delighted i'll the OF pen. and he made
the practice OF writing business and delight. Had he
himself greater leisure and opportunity Tor the
culture literature Tor which he had decided TASTE
he might have become accomplished writer. Us he