The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-05-16

IT,. ....,, ann, eassSs - = aisa.s
Abbott, Professor 81 Thaeiou Aeaovss
marks an 90 In religions devsaopsn1a.t Newnsl
semyth Is : deseendsst % he motAsrs saos o.
the coe3us fhs Porssrs ahd ths Nsgs, three Of
>tha oldest and most dlsdnes ished Nsw England
Families His father late professor Of mathemAt
;cs a, Bowdoin, wasa selEmAde maps Of great
fore. of character, sweetness Of disposition and
breadth of view In his own department ne wS
Distinguished. and his text books attained oe-
servedIy high reputation. He was. however, oy
ma maans eonaasd 70 his department. Hs Was.
a leader in all great enterprises OF reform ana
progress, and an indefatigable worker Tor tne
Institution of which he was an ornament
Without disparagement TO others. IL may be SAID
that he did more hard work Of benevolent kind
than any ten men OF his time. His greatest
work. however, was in his children. OF nve
sons now living, one is Professor Of Ecclesiastical
History at Andover; another was late United
States Marshal for Georgia; third Ii Analytical
Chemist in the service of the United States
Army fourth. gloriously experimenting In
California farming The fifth, Newman Smyth,
quiet gospel minister has given to the English
tongue three classics, " The Religious Feeling,
Old Faiths in New Light" and "The Ortho-
doxy of To-day" As result of these works, he
was with remarkable unanimiiy selected TO sue
coed Professor Park in the leading Seminary Of
the Congregational Churches
By an arrangement of the founders Of the In
sttution, however. there is q board of visitors
whose concurrence is necessary TO the legal in
! auguration of the Professor elect. While this
board were celebrating, strong opposition to
the nomination sprang up. inspired, II is under
stood, by Professor Park, and led by DIR. Dexter
in the columns of the Boston COn0regation0list
A somew hat formidable party, East and West.
was then rallied to the support OF the opposition.
| The grounds of objection were that DIR.
Smyth's teachings were not in accordance with
the creed of the Seminary. That creed is de-
cidedIy Calvinistic; yet DR.. Smyth avows his
cordial acceptance of it for substdnce" Yet
the Congregationast can hardly believe him,
because he teaches that all men who have not
rejected the Gospel in this life, or have not had
the chance, will have it offered to them in the
next life. So great is the charm of his manner
that even the Unitarian and Universalisls,
| Clarke, Bartol, Miner, seem inclined to pardon
orthodoxy for his sake And the board of visit
ors 0hree-headed watch dog by the grim portaD
smile and say they find no fault in his doctrinal
views, at the same time, to the surprise of the
intelligent public, they veto his election on the
ground that he is not qualified to teach. And
why is he notl Because, say they-he writes
too beautiful style, has too imaginative a ge-
MUS and too rich and warm heart. Such, for
substance" is an Interpretation of their language
Virtually they seem to think that the beauideal
of Theological teacher is a cross between DIR.
Dryasdust and Rip VanWinkle This decision
is the most remarkable ever given by respecta-
BILE board. Appointed 10 keep out heresy, they
commit the Institution to what the Congrega-
tionalist considers heretical and not appointed
to judge of teaching qualities, they reject one Of
the best qualified teachers living. We are re-
minded of Rev. E. E. Hale's definition, Boards
are long, and narrow, and made of wood"
The Trustees. however, we are glad to learn,
have invited. DR.. Smyth to deliver course Of
Theological Lectures at the Institution the pres
ent year, as there is not time to 60 into . new
election in season for the regular classes.
At the same time DR.. Smyth received an
almost unanimous call to the Centre Church in
New Haven, of which the late DR.. Bacon was
pastor His decision is awaited with deep in
terest, and which ever way it may be, will lead to
salutary discussions of vital themes.
CHARLES BEEcHKR.