The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02

~ Hoffman,, D. D., multi-millionaire
and richest clergyman in Amer
~ lea, if not in the world, is a busy,
L = shrewd, clever man. As dean of
the Union Theological Seminary
in New York, he is at the head of the
chief divinity school of the Protestant
Episcopal church, and in the twenty
years he has filled this post he has eXer-
cised a tremendous formative influence
upon the Episcopal clergy of the
country, very large proportion of whom
have been trained under his eye.
Attired in non-distinctive dress, Dean
Hoffmann's appearance would suggest al
most any station in life save that of the
illogical teacher. Perhaps he would more
closely resemble an opulent, self-made
banker than any other type, one, how
ever, who was born with gentlemanly in
stincts, and who by dnt of keeping his
eyes constantly about him has developed
into an alert and courteous man of the
world albeit there is much bluff hearth
ness in his courtesy. His figure is tall
and rotund, his strong features are deeply
scanned and his hair and full beard are
griZzled. His voice is by no means un-
pleasant, but by no means melodious; it
suggests the voice of a veteran admiral
who has sailed over many seas and fought
many a desperate fight.
Dean Hoffman, is sixth in descent from
Martinus Hoffman,, who came to America
in 1640 and son of the late Samuel Yer
planck Hoffman,. The family has been
d
political life of New York City for two
and a half centuries. The dean was born
just east of Broadway, in White street,
when that now downtown thoroughfare
aristocratic residence center.
After courses of study at Columbia, Rut-
gers and Harvard, he sighed for adven-
ture and was allowed to join an eXpe-
dition formed by Professor Agassiz to ex-
plore the region north of Lake Superior.
Some months of rough experiences on that
expedition were quite enough for life
time, and he returned to civilization and
studied theology at the seminary of which
he. is now the head: and in 1851. when
only %, began the life of a clergyman,
only to lay II down for the broader work
in which he. is still active.
Conservative capitalists estimate the
present value of the Hoffman, estate at
from $15 900, 600 to so 100000, but no one,
not even the dean himself, can appralse
1t with certain accuracy. 1t was founded
before the republic was born, and under
the faulty Hoffman, management
has been growing year by year and dec
ade by decade, almost without internis-
sion, ever since. 1t now takes in row ON
row of downtown structures and block
itself worth more than a million, with It's
world-famed bar, is part of the property,
which was divided by inheritance a Few
years ago between the dean and his
brother, also an Episcopal clergyman, by
far the larger share falling to the dean.
Dean Hoffman, has been very lavish of
Since he assumed its headShip the two or
three almost shabby, gray buildings at
IWenllStn street anu Nl1IH avenue. IN
which the institution was then housed
have been increased to a noble cluster of
structures surrounding beautiful quad
rangle, and the school itself has advanced
to the very first place. Throughout his
service to date his salary has been al
lowed to accumulate. and in time Will he
added to the endowment fund. Just how
large his various benefactions have been
no one knows but himself, and he won't
tell. From sources that should be re-
liable, the writer is informed that the
total is certainly more thansa million His
gifts to the seminary include the bea uti-
full deanery, and have been supplemented
by the Chapel of the Good Shepherd
erected by his mother in memory of her
husband.
From the beginning of his career TO
the present time, Dean Hoffman,, rich
cultured. courted by society, has been
a friend of the workingman. He has
no sympathy with the gradual deser-
ton by the churches of those city re-
gions which are crowded with indus
trial population. He believes the entTe