New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-02
THE OLDEST HARVARD MAN
DR.. FARLEY SUCCEEDED BY THE REV. DIR
". II FCRNE>-.
ALMOST NINETY YEARS OF AGE But STILL ABLE
TO PREACH Az OCCASIONAL SERMON IN
HIS OLD CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

HIS OLD CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA
HIS LITERARY CAREER.
Philadelphia April (special.-Thc death OF
the Rev Dr. Farley Of the class Of Isis OF Harvard
College leaves the Rev. william II. FurnesS, d. d.
ILL., d. Of the class Of l52O pastor emeritus Of inc
First Unitarian Church of this city, one OF 'he
best known Unitarian divines in the country, tue
Oldest living graduate Of the college Dr. FurHesS
i, hale and hearty aud though he Will celebrate m'
nineieth birthday April 20. is possessed oi molc
vlgor and energy than many men of sixty ii'
oversight IS not bcdmmed and his frame IS sim sturdy
and lie can walk moderate distances with case
Though his hair is white az snow, his smooth ia'c
Is rudy aud does not seem like that OF Il man VI
four score year, and ten.
DE- Furness resigned from the pas,orte Of the f's'
Unitarian society in leo after serving 1t ialthi"',
isr half "a century. since then lie has ehJoSeu
tho leisure due to his year, Of hard work anu
stu breaches and speaks with vgor raicN
found IN of hi, age. In February u H'9,
Year he made his last appearance bcJre the ee'''"
public speaking before the Historical society 81 I'm"
sylvanla on Philadelphia "Reminiscences Sixty icaS
Ago" Last sunday he said.
DR.. May, the pastor of our church, has Just b'eh
here to get me preach for him next sunday beioe
Easter am to preach in Germantown and on Easter
sunday always preach In ms old church.
Dr.. Fumc,s born In Boston April ~, l7o@' MS
mot her being a descendant Of Captain Capp. VINO eini-
grated 10 America early 1929 and became not
able nguIt, among the Pilgrim Fathers. His early ed
ucaion obtained IN the public school, o. Hosfon
After his graduation from the Boston Latin school he
rcd Harvard University, and receiving his diploma
In 1o2C. b,cnme student in the Divimt} school rom
which he was graduated I'm 1893 on January L. $50
~ was oraiucd pastor Of N" First Unitarian Society
Of this city. then worshpping ln little brcA build
Ing AT Tenth and LOcust-sts. During his pd,ioritc.
the splendid cdlllcc NJ Twcuty-second and Chestnut
81. pct.d ma no .
ordination, In 1870. he r,-;ncd lie received the de
gree Of Doctor OF Divinity from Harvard In -i7, and
that Of Doctor OF Letters from Columbia at s ccnten-
NAL IN lso7.
Daring hi, long pastoruc. DR.. Furncss not only
cndeurcd himself To bis congregation. but made name
outside Of the church II eminent literary
attainment, and Of strong Humanitarian views. His
books. issued from 1888 10 l77G have been chiefly VI
theological character. designed 10 Illustrate The
character and He OF Christ he T. estimated ly the
believers In Unitarian doctrines. lie las been Il
translator from the German Of no mean merit being
one Of the earliest and best of German scholars.
His work Include, translaons from schubert, schcnke
aud schiller.
d.. Furncss one Of tho most prominent
Of Pcnnsylyanias an'i-lnycry men. lie was
for thirty years previous to the Of tho
most ardent. fearless and persistent advocates OF
fr's'iom FOR the slave lie took part ia tie public
prayer meeting held I'm this city on the day Of John
Browns execution. December =. l-j3. and after.
"nTo' went With several others 10 the railroad
station when Browns body was brought from the
sillOw, BY General Hector ryndale and James Miller
Mcklm.
Gu Angus, 20. I-25, DR.. Furness married Mis-
Annie jerks u eHcm. Mass, who died several years
ago. All OF his family uf four children have shed
hi-tre the reputation Of their father. Hls eldest
slI. William Henry Furncs- was artist If great
promise. the complete frnlmcnt II which WAS pre-
vented by death. m, only daughter. Mrs. Annie
Lc Nisar, has enriched literature with long line
Of Of, charming translation from TIE German Of Or.
sly that be- has attained reputation cOcNtcnsiNc
with the English language - Shake pcrinn scholar,
If, NnnOrlim edition oi The great drumnust being u
vcriiaOlc storchOu-c OF Information. lis other son.
Frank Furncss. De- leading architect. Dr.. Fuuc,s
take "A paId pride In III. children and f.
blessed WITH two great grandchildren.