death_date death_place birth_place other_names birth_date image article_title name
12 november 1912 toronto , ontario , canada daviot , aberdeenshire , scotland professor clark 26 march 1829 william robinson clark.jpg william robinson clark
 william robinson clark
william robinson clark

rev. professor william robinson clark -lrb- 26 march 1829 -- 12 november 1912 -rrb- was a scottish-canadian theologian .
he was born in daviot , aberdeenshire , son of rev. james clark .
originally educated for the congregationalist ministry at new college london , he later conformed to the church of england .
after graduating from king 's college , aberdeen ma with honours , he went to magdalen hall , oxford .
foster 's ` alumni oxonienses ' indicates that his ba was conferred by oxford in 1864 and his ma in 1865 .
immediately after leaving new college , london he became minister of the congregational church at lymington , hampshire .
he entered the church of england in 1856 , a fact attributed by his former tutor william farrer -lrb- 1820 -- 1908 -rrb- to the influence of clark 's wife .
he was the curate of st matthias , birmingham , 1857 -- 1858 , and then the dean of taunton and prebendary of wells cathedral from 1859 to 1880 .
he was frequently selected to preach in st. paul 's cathedral and westminster abbey .
in 1882 , aged about 53 , he emigrated to canada and became the professor of mental and moral philosophy at trinity college , toronto , ontario -lrb- from 1883 to 1908 -rrb- .
he was noted as a lecturer and preacher .
he was also professor of theology at toronto university .
he resigned his chair in the college in 1909 , after occupying it for twenty-five years .
from that date to the time of his death he held the title of emeritus professor and as such he sat ex officio on the council of trinity college .
in recognition of his services to the church and to education he was created a canon of st. alban 's cathedral , the cathedral church of st. james -lrb- toronto -rrb- , by the third bishop of toronto , the dr. arthur sweatman .
among these services was the help he rendered in the formation of the general synod of the church of england in canada , in 1893 .
he was described as one of the foremost theologians in north america , and there are records of him delivering lectures in michigan .
amongst honours and distinctions which were bestowed upon him by institutions of learning were the degrees of d.c.l. , conferred by trinity college toronto ; d.d. , conferred by queen 's university , kingston ; and ll.d. , conferred by hobart college , geneva , usa - now part of the hobart and william smith colleges in 1888 ; his appointment by the university of michigan as baldwin lecturer in 1887 , and as slocum lecturer in 1889 ; his appointment as honorary professor of hobart college , geneva , -lrb- usa -rrb- in 1888 .
he was eminent in the councils of the church of england in canada .
he was the author of many biographical and theological works -lrb- both in the uk and in canada -rrb- .
many are held in the british library .
these included : • self-knowledge and the four temperaments .
a series of sermons preached in lent .
1865 .
• the anglican reformation .
1897 .
• antichrist .
the first resurrection .
two advent sermons .
1865 .
• beveridge , the scriptural preacher .
• character and work .
hints for younger men and women .
1878 .
• christmas .
sermon .
1874 .
• the church and science .
1872 .
• the comforter .
-lsb- 1875 . -rsb-
• the comforter : a series of sermons on certain aspects of the work of the holy ghost .
1864 .
• culture .
sermon .
1875 .
• four advent sermons .
1861 .
• four sermons preached during advent , 1860 .
second edition , partially rewritten .
1861 .
• the four temperaments ; together with some occasional sermons ... second edition .
1874 .
• hindrances to the work of the church in the world : a series of sermons .
by w. r. clark .
-lsb- 1872 . -rsb-
• the paraclete .
a series of discourses on the person and work of the holy spirit ... the slocum lectures-1899 ; 1900 .
• pascal and the port royalists .
1902 .
• the prodigal son : a series of sermons .
1860 .
• the redeemer : a series of sermons on certain aspects of the person and work of our lord jesus christ .
1863 .
• righteousness exalteth a nation .
a sermon , etc. 1876 .
• savonarola : his life and times .
1880 ? .
together with some german translations and the water babies .
he became a fellow of the royal society of canada .
he was elected in 1891 and later served as president of the society from 1899 -- 1900 .
it seems that he was involved in the formation of the empire club of canada , and became president of the empire club of canada 1905 -- 1906 .
in canada , he also became a close friend of the long-time prime minister and political figure , william lyon mackenzie king -lrb- 1874 -- 1950 -rrb- , who was also of scottish descent , and the reverend william robinson clark is referred to in the archives of canada .
following his death , the corporation of trinity college , at its annual meeting on 21 november 1912 , adopted a resolution recording the great debt of gratitude it owed to professor clark .
the resolution proceeded to say : -- `` as a preacher and public lecturer , professor clark was very highly esteemed , and his many engagements in these capacities served to make trinity college favourably known far and near .
he showed remarkable versatility and brilliancy in his work , both in the class room and on the public platform , as well as in his literary productions , which embrace theology , history , and literature .
dr. clark 's singular devotion to trinity college and the great ability with which he served it , entitle him to the lasting regard of all its supporters , while his inexhaustible human sympathy and kindness of heart ensure for him the grateful and affectionate remembrance of a host of friends . ''
