New-York tribune., 1893-12-03
4 TYPICAL NEW-ENGL1NDER
PRESIDENT PORTER OF YALE.

PRESIDENT PORTER OF YALE.
NOAH PORTER: a MEMORIAL ny FRIENDS
Edited by George ). Merriam; win portraits.
SSS lss1 p'' '' N'w'' 0'N oA'F's' S'''0'e' 'o"''
From the recollectlons and contributions Of many
friends the compiler Of this volume has constructed
memorial which vivdly recalls the spiritual Inca
mcnis Of Dr. Noah Porter. and traces with sufii-
cient funess for the purpose the outlines Of his
aboroGs ana distinguished career and the iniu-
ences from within and without which inspired his
activities. The time may not have come Tor an
adequate biography of Dr. Porter. but one Of the
results Of this publication. II not one Of It's pur-
poses + 10 suggest the exceeding value ana inter-
est which would belong To- such a work II " were
executed with corresponding knowledge and skn.
Tn" materials must b" abundant and accessible,
and at no distant date the task ought to be un-
d~rtak.n. The type OF man which IT would set
forth ls growing scarce for the state OF society in
which that type was mould d. and of which II WAS
IA. authentic embodiment has ceased to exist any
'. here in the world. The New-England community
OF half a century ago. OF which the Church was
IN. conscience conventional self-cenired. resout"'
ernbeinshed only by the relics and "reminiscences
~ IN. Colonial era: acquisitive of new IDEAS but
reluctant TO apply them; rigid on the surface. but
fluent below 1t. too homogeneous To develop the
finest results OF mental friction. yet fundamentally
fiyaclous and intelligent from inheritance ana hy
Ir -
ls,ion cneenl~rs IN minds OF the right hbre-that
c,rnruult is dead and seel ~ scattered. II IL
rrofoundly true. Mr.. Lowell sam. That New
Enrland has not been rft out In the cold. but slts
by every nresil" In The land where th"r" are virtue
valor and rre, ihourht: but it sometimes is easier
~ recognize her elsewhere than ON her own soii.
Tn. spirit Is Yis ble In lnutlon everywhere. but the
material organism which IL once filed has van
lshe1
or such stock Noah Porter was born. and amid
sueh surroundings and influences he grew to matu-
rlty. b.; upon his character wcr' engiaft"I whhe
n. was stili On early manhood. successive growths
Of aivor,in u experience This process Of accrcton
continued throughout his lf'. yet Il meyer oblit-
Grated the original type The acquisitions remained
10 "A certain extent cXtrlncpus tn" record OF his
career Ia a record of astonishing industry and OF
steady advancement. He took the four-years
course at Yale taught In New Haven school for
two years. rejoinei the college rs tutor and di-
vnity student. WAS the pastor OF one New England
parish for more than six years and OF another for
than three. was recalled to fale as professor
of moral philosophy and metaphysics spent win
ter OF philosophical research and communion In
Berlin resumed his college chair. studied deeply.
read volun uninously. wrote much. corresponded with
eminent men assumed the additional obligations
~ "a theological prof.ssorship. all there was
OF academic life. and gradually grew To be Il large
part OF H. He succeeded to the presi-
dcncy Of Yale. directed It's progress. taught
It's senior classes bore its financial, adj
mlnlstrative and intellectual burdens on his mind
and heart. became the editor OF a great uictOnary
based on Webster's foundation" and the final
Judge Of every question which that vast and
pick task involved. and during all this period.
as the author defender and eVpounder OF great
philosophical system. satisfied every dcmrnd which
the acceptance of that responsibility could make
upon "a vgilant conscience Not the least remark
able fact In DR. Porter's career was his ability
to perform all these abors without neglecting any
OF them. ami with tranquil enjoyment OF them all
II is extremely interesting moreover TO note that
the genius OF this New-Englrnd metaphysIclan for
abstract speculation did not exclude the exer-
clsc OF worldly wisdom. He took excellent OF
his property He thrifty. good manager
and wise investor. and commanded the respect OF
business men In their own field" "He type
Of the late towering OF the old New England
stock. The roots Of that stock fidelity to the
highest known law ana trust In divine guidance;
ana its twofol1 stem II firm grip on the
material world. side by side with u searching
inquiry into the unseen
or Dr. Porters philosophy and OF his system OF
morals two competent Judges contribute to the
volume before us discriminating estimates. In this
brief notice it is possible to follow them 1t
Is as a teacher OF youth and president of an old
and famous college that his memory Is most widely
cherished. In both relations he gained the anec-
tonate regard Of his associates and OF the Young
men brought under his authority and influence. The
editor OF this memorial volume. and some OF his
contributors, speak with gratitude OF the lnspra-
tOn which they derived from his instruction Of adj
vanced students. where he able to assume a SUI
perior state OF knowledge In those before him. and
felt quite free of restraint. In the academic class
room do not think that he uniformly produced
the impression OF "A great teacher. II he possessed
in a high degree the faculty OF mpartng
knowledge II was not generally disclosed to
dergraduatcs. lie was never hampcrcd by inablll-
~ to command the attention OF his classes. for no
body ever felt an inclination to embarrass or irri
tate him. but he did not usually communicate to
his pupils ardor for the task he set them. Per-
haps he made the task too easy. In theory he
was conservative OF rigid discipline but In prac-
tce 1t panied him TO be severe No teacher ever
appeared more unwilling TO convict pupil OF ig-
In fact. he would permit utter
failure II leading questions could avert It, We
doubt If the profoundest ignorance OF The Human
Intellect seemed to the author OF that monu-
mental work sufficient reason for Withholding
degree from Yale senior The compiler recalls
a perfect illustration OF the way in which DR..
Porter interpreted his own convictions. Il engaged
him." says Mr. Merriam, ''n private conversation
upon a subject which pressed upon my own mind
that OF endless punishment the penalty OF earthly
sin. Among other things | put series or ind-
vidual cases Suppose man born 30 and so. cir
cumstanced so and so. acting thus and thus-how
can It be Just that he should be subjected to ever
lasting punishment" As to each case ! was
promptly met: Such IA man would doubtless not IN
cur the penalty In short. he maintained tna'