The Portland daily press., 1891-11-23

ner presidents, his administration was yel
avery Important one. For 1t was az bis
suggestion and by him that HarVard's
present extended system Of elective stud
les was adopted. There had been electives
a. harvard before the time Of DIR. Hill
out the great system, which now so distir-
suisnes that University, dates from his ad-
ministration.
IN 1868. his health breaking down under
iamliy Bereavement. he resigned and re-
urea 70 Waitham. In 1870 he had recover
gu ana was elected to the Massachusetts
legislature.
An 1911 came one Of the pleasantest and
most memorable events In his life, an
event 70 which he often referred and from
wnlcn ne drew large portion Of his
abundant knowledge. This was the second
oApeuition to South America by the re-
nowned Professor Agassiz. DIR. Hill was
member OF this exdedition and the in
silnate friend OF Agasslz. Both the COM
pany and the work were most congenial
70 MIN. and "reminiscences of these ex-
peliences were In later years among the
cnoicest portions OF his always interesting
CONVERSATIONS. Just before he left Port
iaDu Ior the last time he completed a
course OF lectures on this expedition, which
ne intended to deliver before his parish.
Inemaps which were to be used in illustra-
uon were prepared and carried to the
church, where they now are.
/ Ile vQar affar hia rak,r, fro,x, kho
siz expedition DR.. Hill came to the pastor
ate OF the First Parish church In Portland.
This church and parish was both old and
famous. Its pulpit had been the consola-
tion and comfort Of the afflicted and dis
conraged settlers Of Old Falmouth In the
days when French ard Indians harried
the shores OF this bay; IL had been poll.
tical power In the times when church and
state were one In New England;
and 1t bore In its ar ,hives lasting remind.
ers OF the humiliation Of Portland at the
hands Of Mowatrs cannoneers. In the
great controversy which divided the old
the First Parish had taken the Unitarian
side. Yet 1t had never ceased to be looked
upon with interest and reverence by those
who took the other side Of the controversy.
DIR. Hill was, In many respects, admirably
suited for the pasterate Of a church so sit
uated. He was conservative Unitarian.
With the tendencies of some of the most
audacious thinkers In his denomination, he
had no sympathy. Congregationalists re-
garded him with kindly feelings. as one
who believed In the divinity OF Christ and
he was invited to their pulplts-a mark of
confidence quite rarely conferred upon
Unitarian ministers by Congregationalists
In this state. t
DIR. Hill could hardly be called popular
preacher. although he gave his hearers the
Impression that he might be such II he
wished. But his sermons seemed to have
most attractions for scholarly people. His
audiences were more noticeable for the
number OF men prominent for intellectual
attainments than for those who are attract
ed by what Is popularity called "good
preaching" Yet he was able to reach all
classes Of hearers; and his sermons to
children were delightful to those for whom
they were intended, as well as to their ell
ders. His relations with the people Of his
parish could never be anything but pleas
ant, so genuine aud lovable was his char
acter. 3yF
OF DR.. Hilps Intellectual ,attainments 1t
would be difficult to say toe much. He
seemed to be learned In all branches Of hu-
man knowledge. He was mathemati-
clan. an astronomer. student of natural
history, classical scholar, a printer and
poet For local students and Investigators
DR.. Hill was the refuge when
encyclopedias and text books failed.
When the newspapers OF the
city got into controversy as to whether
hen or goose laid the tabled golden. egg.
DIR. Hill ended the discussion by producing
authority as far back as the Sanscritin ia
vor Of the claims Of the hen. He told his
townsmen when 70 expect eclipses and
transits Of the stars; he was a leader in
the agitation which gave us standardtime !;
and his lecture upon the toad-a sportive
labor Of his sleisure-elevated that lowly and
much misunderstood creature to q position
Of dignity attained by 1t In no other COM
munities. To give some idea Of the extent
of his learning he could give the botanical
names Of over 7c0 plants. One night Pres
ident Dewitt Of the Union Mutual gave a
party and In his parlors was exhibited a
very rare and beautiful orchid. DIR. Hill
was present aud gave to the company as
soon as he saw II its complste history.
The children are indebted 20 him for two,
at least, Of their most attractivs games, for
he introduced Halus among US and invent
cd Qrin
The chief traits of his character were
perfect simplicity and contempt for shams
and show. He was ons of the most mod
est aud unassamingof men. When Har-
ward celebrated her 25O.h anniversary seats
were reserved ren the stage Of Sanders
Theatre for tue officers and ex-oficers of
the University. DR.. Hill attended the ex.
ercises but buried himself in one Of the
back seats of the auditorium, where he
was dug cut by one Of the marshals and
taken t, a seat reserved for the ex-presl.
dents.
Throughout his long life he has bean
constantly writing articles for newspapers
sometimes lsading editorials, or shorter
paragraphs, bDth anonymously anl over
his own signature; sometimes prose mat
ter and sometimes verse. He has been a
constant contributor als1 to the magazines
aud reviews. Thirty-four articles by him
were published 10 the Christian Examiner,
and many Of his papers have appeared In
the North Amsricin Review, Atlantic
Monthly, Pataam's old and new Maya
zine, Photographic Magazine, Blbliotheca
Sacra, etc. Technical mathematical artl-
cles by him have appeared in the Cam
bridge Miscellany. Mathematical Monthly,
Astronomical Journal, the proceedings of
the American Association for the Advance
ment of Science, etc. and he has also pub
ltshed about twenty occasional addresses
and sermons In pamphlet form.
The following Is partial list Of DR.. HllPs
publications In book form, the first three Of
which are now out Of print;
"Christmas, and Poems on Slavery" 18l3.
"Elementary Treatise on Arithmetic" l846.
Elementary Ireat.se on Clryatgres. lSSO'
"First Lessons IN Geometry" Boston; Will
" "a second Book In Geometry" Boston: VIII
n "a PRACTICAL Arithmetic" I'm conjunction
| with Professor G.. A. Wentworth.) Boston;
Natural sources of Theology" AndOver.
"aGeometry aud Faith.s Boston. G. s. Fran
| els lsi9. Third edition, enlarged; Lee s.
Shepard. 1882.
SIN the Woods and Elsewhere" pub.
lished in 1888. Is a book Of considerable
local interest. as 1t Is dedicated to the
young ladies Of the First Parish Social
Circle. 1t Is q collection Of poems which
4 n