The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-22
IN ME EMORY.
DR.. Anderson's Eulogy Of DR..
Robinson.
Sayles Hall Filled With Friends OF
Browns Former President.


more Robinson, for IL years president II
Brown University, were held in Sayes
Memorial Hall, this morning. Singing
and prayer opened tie service and after
selections by the glee quartet, Pres-
dent Andrews introduced DR.. Thomas ID.
Anderson, ID. d.. secre iary OF the corpora
tion, who delivered the memorial address.
lie said IN brief:
No mans life ought to be written until
20 years after his death. These words fall
from the lips of Frederick Denison
Maurice, and the general correctness of
the judgment we are forced to admit.
In order TO determine mans
treat historic movements, in order TO APP
preciate his contributions 10 the advance
ment Of mankind, we must wait until the
mind is free from personal prejudice,
and until the ultimate consequences OF
words and deeds have had time to
appear. But we need not always wait
for n score of years before we pay tribute
10 tho influence of life which has wound
itself into other lives and made those lives
more abundant.
So,scoming today as representatives of
the university into whose abiding life our
honored president SO generously trans
fused his own, we would seek TO give ex-
preston TO our high estimate of bis
charactera pay our cordial tribute to the
inspirations OF his life.
It is a long life that passes under review.
Ezekiel Gilman Robinson was born at
Attle eboro, Mass, on March %, 1916. lie
inherited from New England stock
Puritan Will and Puritan con-
science, and at the same time Puri-
tan dislike OF demonstrative emotion
It was not his good fortune 10 begin bis
life in q Literary atmosphere, or 10 spend
any OF his earlier days tum bling about in
library. lie los his father at an early
age and this mother was left
with an Incumbered estate and
four children, OF whom lie was the
youngest. He attended school ut Paw
tucSet, later at Dean Academy, and finally
prepared Tor college al New Hampton,
n. H., entering Brown. The inferiority OF
his preparation ana an illness that at
tackled him were followed by loss of am
bition. The only enthusiasms awakened by
his college instruction we're those re-
ceived from Froiessor IT. +. HacKetr IN
Latin and from President Wayland in
ethics. But through his connection with
the college debating society ne came under
a strong educational influence. AT
the close OF his college career
no spept year in postgraduate study
taking up the study OF German with Prof
Hackett. After this year be deter.
mined to enter the ministry and
accordingly he entered Newton
Theological Institute where he
studied from 1899 20 1872. On graduating
from Newton, Mr.. Robinson was ordained
and settled as pastor of a Baptist Church
ba.ST in S1'i0 Va the In od 1sie Be c.msSS9s SsSs%s
Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass,
The scholar was now in congenial sur
roundings, but the cnll came TO leave the
pastorate and TO devote himself TO
the instruction OF students for the min
istry. He therefore resigned his pastor
ate to become professor of Biblical inter-
probation in a Kentucky theological in
relations between North and south,
Mr.. Robinson rgan entered the
pastorate in 1850 in the service
OF the Ninth Street Baptist Church, of
Cincinnati. Here his reputation as "a
great pulpit orator was firmly estab-
he received and accepted an invi-
tstion to the chair OF theology
at Rochester Seminary, which position he
occupied until called 10 the presidency OF
Brown in 1872. leaving behind him at
Rochester the record OF a brilliant and
eminent snccess.
The condition os the college ct that
time was far from glorious. The rooms
In the two dormitories were small and
disreputable, recitation rooms were
crowded while there was but one
&C centific department which was at all
adequately equipped for laboratory. The
college in its material and intellectual
manded close attention ana self-deuying
effort from the incoming presi-
dent. To the work which lay be-
fore him be consecrated all his
powers, under that stern conviction OF
duty which 80 dominated his life. At the
very start he staixea otft tAae read along
which he purposed that the coll
RCFn a. ~ NJ
was slow for lack of the sinews
of war. The requirements OF admission
were raised until at ono time they were
said to be in advance OF tho requirements
OF other colleges; more room WAS pro-
vided in the curriculum for the modern
and in harmony with the
insistent purpose Of the president,
better equipment was provided for the
application of science TO the arts. Indeed,
the college showed greater material adj
vance during the administration of DIR.
Robinson than at any other period of its
history. Yet, ia specific cases of
happy. The details Of discipline
wcrs annoying TO him, and his irritation
was not always concealed. The great
mistake in President RobinsOn's discipline
Is discovered in his failure TO encourage
the love and confidence OF the students,
yet he had q more kindly heart than
many are led to suppose, but it was a
heart that must be taken by storm. His
teaching ct Brown may not have been
60 eminently succcssful as that in Rochcs-
ter, but many are happy 20 testify that
under that teaching thoy received the
deepest inspiration which came
TO them in the course OF
their education. His intellectual
qualifications we're acuteness Of percep-
tion, koonncss OF anaIysis, sbarpness OF
discriu nation, ,clearness Of exposition and
briliancy OF consolidation.
lt ~ at tho advanced age OF "a that