The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-15

features of colleees-all these things were TO
puenant to Porter's mind. We are assured
that no eyewitness can FORGET the eaRernes'
with which DR.. Porter sprong to his feet In one
OF the lat est alumni meetings OF his presidency
| to protest against tho proposed change OF the
| word college, tho name OF the institution upon
which he had expended all his vital powers, to
unire.si'u It IL true that. in point OF fact.
| Yale College was already q university. To
| that IL had been constantly expanding during
| every year OF DR.. Porter's presidency. Its
great professional schools. Its scientific and
art sch FOOLS it's expanding libraries its crowded
museums-all these things gave 1t vastly
different poaition from that which II occupied
when DR.. Porter became professor In lS46.
But the proposed change OF name seemed to
him to partske OF the pretentiouaness In edu-
cationa matters which he disllked. 1t did not
symbolic. he thought the modesty and the
Renuineness OF the scholarly spirit 1t was. he
feared. an outgrowth OF materialistic tenden-
cies President Carter submits that no ono
can refuse to pay DR.. Porter honor for that
protest 1t was the expression OF his loyalty
to all that IL solid and true and simple In
academic life. II may at the same time be ad-
mitted that DR.. Porter's objection to the nane
university did not represent full apprecia.
ton Of the changed conditions OF the college.
conditions which he perhaps moro than any
other had helped to bring about
When DIR. Porter resigned the presidency OF
Yale College in 1886 he retained the Clark pro-
censorship OF systematic theology. From this
he never retired. but he gradually lessened his
work. and in the last year kept only the small
classes In the post graduate department.. This
department was aim ost a creation OF his pres
idency. For many years before there had been
number OF resident graduate students. to
4, l,o L., y ,x;r lNuc Of
guidance. But tho establishment and devel-
opment OF an elaborate system Of post-Gradu-
ate instruction was especially congenial to
him. and among the teachers who laboriously
and generously coGperated to this end he was
the leading spirit. His own teaching OF phi
losophy In this department WAS his latest SER
vice to the college, The failure Of his voice at
last made teaching very difficult. and his
friends urged him TO desist. What can ]
do p he would answer. My hands will not
let me write. and cannot read all day Just for
amusement-l must go on teaching
On the afternoon Of his SOth birthday dec.
IA. 1891. DR.. Porter held an examination OF
ono OF his classes. Early in 1892 he was con-
fined to his bed. and on the 4th of March in
the same year he quietly passed away. We
are told that his face was beautiful in Its last
repose. Upon it eighty years had written n
record OF power. benignity. and wisdom. and
In death it wore a look Of youth.
No reader OF this memorial should overlook
the supplemental essays in which the position
taken and the work done by Dr. Porter. con-
sdered as a thinker. are examined with SYM
pathy and yet with discrimination. His con-
to philosophy. particularly in the we'll
known work. The Human Intellect" is re-
Viewed at length and in fine spirit Of candor
by Prof. George VI. Duncan. Much the same
thing may be said OF the essay on his theory OF
morals. contributed by one of his Japanese
pupils DR.. Hiktzo Nakashima OF Toxic.
NJ. W. II.