VOL. VIII. MAY, 1836. No. 4.

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1836.

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This document was scanned from an original copy of the American Education Society’s Quarterly Register, which served as a digest of the diverse facets in American Education and its outflowing effects worldwide. The society was comprised of leading Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth and Princeton Alumni, and served to promote the work both in the U.S. and abroad for educating the people in the Reformation’s worldview of the Bible serving as the only infallible rule of life, which, of course, was the purpose for which these schools were founded.

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THE

VOL. VIII. FEBRUARY, 1836. No. 3. 193

PRESIDENT STILES

EZRA STILES was born at North haven, in the State of Connecticut, on the 10th of December, 1727. His ancestor, John Stiles came from Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England, in 1631, and settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1635. His son, John Stiles, was brought, an infant, from England. His son, John, the president’s grandfather, had fourteen children, two of whom, Isaac and Abel, were ministers of the gospel. Isaac was born at Windsor, Conn., July 30, 1697, and graduated at Yale college in 1722. In June, 1725, he married a daughter of the Rev. Edward Taylor, of Westfield, Mass. She died on the 15th of December, 1727. Her only child, Ezra, was born with a feeble constitution, and it long remained doubtful, whether he would survive the age of childhood. At the age of nine years, he began to learn his Latin grammar; and, having finished his preparatory studies, under the instruction of his father, at twelve he was prepared to enter college. An admission at so early an age being judged inexpedient, he waited three years longer ; and in September, 1742, entered Yale college, in the 15th year of his age. His principal tutor was Thomas Darling, afterwards judge Darling, of Woodbridge, a faithful teacher, and a man of science. While at college, he was dependent, in a degree, on the patronage of friends. President Clap, among others, was his benefactor, and, by various acts of friendship, lessened the expenses of his education. Among the proofs of his diligence at college, are observations on a comet, made in his sophomore year; an account of the number, periods, distances, velocity, and other properties of comets; numerous geometrical mensurations; and a copious chronological compend of Bible history. He was naturally inquisitive, fond of books, patient of application, and always delighted with literary society.

Having finished his academic course, he delivered, by the appointment of the president, an oration, in the college hall, at the public examination of his class in July. On the 3d of September, 1746, at the age of nineteen, he received the degree of bachelor of arts. On this occasion, he had as distinguished a part, as a syllogistic exercise would admit; and, at that period, the candidates for the first degree had no higher appointment

[ Footnote: For nearly all the facts in the following brief memoir, we are indebted to the full and valuable Life of Dr. Stiles, written by the Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D., LL. D., of Cambridge, and published in one vol., 8vo., Boston, 1798. Brief notices of president Stiles, with remarks on his character, may be found in Trumbull’a History of Connecticut; Holmes’s Annals; Chancellor Kent’s Phi Beta Kappa Oration Baldwin’s History of Yale College; and in professor Kingsley’s Historical Sketch of Yale college, published in the present volume of this work. The portrait in this number, is from the plate engraved for Dr. Holmes’s Life of Dr. Stiles. It will be observed that a period, inserted by mistake, occurs after the first L, in the title LL. D.

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at commencement, except a salutatory oration. He was respondent in defence of the following thesis, ‘The hereditary right of kings is not of divine authority." In professor Meigs’s funeral oration on president Stiles, it is stated that " he was esteemed one of the most perfect scholars, that had ever received the honors of the seminary.

[Footnote: The members of his class were eleven in number. Among them were Hon. Lewis Morris, and Hon. John M. Scott, members of congress. Rev. Elihu Spencer, D. D., and Rev. John Brainerd, a missionary, and brother of David Brainerd.]

Believing his religions principles to be settled, and impressed with a conviction of the duty and importance of making a Christian profession, he united with the church at North Haven, under the pastoral care of his father, on the 2erd of November, 1746. He then returned to the enjoyment of his beloved literary privileges at New haven. A new benefactor appeared in Capt. David Wooster, (afterwards Gen. Wooster, mortally wounded at Ridgfield, April 27, 1777,) who invited him to reside in his family. About this time, he drew up the following rules for his own use.

"I. In every action and station of life, act with judgment, prudence, calmness, and good humor of mind. 2. Endeavor to make the business of your life your pleasure, as well as your employment. Labor ipse voluptas. 3.. Be contented with whatever condition and circumstances Providence shall allot you in the world ; and therein endeavor, some way or other, to be useful to your fellow men. 4. Persuade yourself that to live according to the dictates of reason and religion, is the surest, and indeed the only way to live happily in this world, and to lay a foundation of happiness in the other. 5. Extirpate all vicious inclinations; cultivate and improve the mind with useful knowledge, and inure it to virtuous habits; think, live, and act rationally here, that you may be progressively preparing for heaven. Nulla dies sine linea."

To these rules of his own, he added others, drawn from various sources and closed the whole with the following sentiment and resolution:

In 1749, he was chosen a tutor of Yale college, and was inducted into office on the 25th of May. In the spring of this year, Dr. Franklin sent an electrical apparatus to Yale college. Nothing could have been more opportune than this to Mr. Stiles. In connection with his fellow tutors, he made a variety of curious experiments, above twenty of which are entered into his manuscripts. These were the first electrical experiments made in New England. Having received a license from the New Haven Association of Ministers, he preached his first sermon at West Haven, in June, 1749. At the commencement in September, he received the degree of A. M., and delivered a valedictory oration.

In April, 1750, he took a journey, and preached to the Housatonic Indians, at Stockbridge, Mass. This occasioned an earnest application to him, from the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians, to undertake the mission to this tribe, as successor to the Rev. John Sergeant, who died July 27, 1749. But his health being unequal to so arduous a

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service, he declined it. On the 12th of December, he pronounced a Latin funeral oration, in honor of Gov. Law, which was printed.

[Footnote: The following is a specimen; "Gloria conservande republicae, ae procellas intestinas periculosissimasque confusiones fortiter et elementer administrandae, , sit soli, sapienti, et illustrissimo Law]

He wrote Latin with much facility. In September, 1752, it being the completion of the fiftieth year from the first commencement of Yale college, he delivered, at the request of the president, a Latin half century oration. This year, he was invited to a settlement in the ministry at Kensington; but he declined the invitation. The exercise of preaching being prejudicial to his health, he determined to pursue the profession of the law, and accordingly applied himself to the study of it; not without the influence of religious considerations, which will be alluded to hereafter. In November, 1753, he took the attorney’s oath, before the county court at New Haven, and practised at the bar till 1755. During this period, he studied the most important law treatises, particularly the great principles of the law of nature and of nations. The political and legal knowledge thus acquired, was of great service to him afterwards.

At the commencement in 1753, he pronounced a Latin oration in memory of bishop Berkeley, a liberal benefactor of Yale college. In 1754, he resolved to make an effectual effort for the restoration of his health, which had been for sometime, feeble. He accordingly rode to Deerfield, Mass., Boston, Newport, R. I., New York, and Philadelphia ; about I ,000 miles. He attended the commencement in Cambridge, where he received the degree of A. M. On the 5th of February, 1755, he pronounced a Latin oration, in compliment to Dr. Franklin, then on a visit at New Haven. A friendship now commenced between Mr. Stiles and Dr. Franklin, which was never dissolved till death.

In April, being invited to preach, during the vacation, at Newport, R. I., he went to that town for the benefit of the journey, and with no view to a settlement. In May, the second church and congregation in Newport, gave him a unanimous call to settle with them in the ministry. This appointment embarrassed him, as he had fully determined to continue in the practice of the law. ‘‘ At length,’’ he says, ‘‘ partly, my friends, especially my father’s inclination ; partly, an agreeable town, and the Redwood library ; partly, the voice of Providence in the unanimity of the people; partly, my love of preaching, and prospects of more leisure in pursuing study than I could expect in the law, which, however, I love to this day, induced me to yield; and I gave an affirmative answer to the church and society."

At the commencement in September, he resigned his office as tutor in the college, which he had filled for six years, with singular usefulness and honor. The period of his life from 1747 to 1754, was the most critical, and, perhaps, the most instructive in his whole career. His mind became involved in serious difficulties, and his religious faith was severely tried. "In the years 1747 and 1748," to use his own language, " I had not indeed, a disbelief, but I was in a state of skepticism, and ardently sought a clear belief of the being and attributes of God. Close attention to Dr. Clarke’s Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, in 1747, and, above all, to the views of surrounding nature, at length pretty fully established me in this fundamental doctrine. From thence to 1750, I studied the Scriptures, and had no difficulty in receiving them for the word of God. But in 1750, a conversation with a young gentleman of an amiable and virtuous character, first raised in me scruples and doubts respecting Revelation, which have cost me many a painful hour. By this

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time, I was so thoroughly acquainted with the Scriptures, that I had no doubt what were the fundamental doctrines of Revelation ; but I had a strong doubt whether the whole was not a fable and a delusion. I was alone, there being no person of my acquaintance near me, except the

young gentleman above mentioned, who labored with these doubts. I had begun to preach in 1749; and my doubts increasing till 1752, I determined to lay aside preaching, and actually adopted the attorney’s oath in 1753. An infirm state of health, at this time was a sufficient pretext for relinquishing preaching." At the same time Mr. Stiles applied himself assiduously to the study of the Bible. After a protracted and painful investigation, accompanied with earnest and constant prayer to the Father of lights, and a conscientious obedience to the divine precepts, he became comparatively established in his faith. By 1755, his doubts had entirely vanished. We may here be permitted to remark, that he had probably indulged his speculative tendencies too much, without giving adequate attention to practical duties, and without sufficient communion with spiritually-minded Christians.

Mr. Stiles was ordained at Newport, on the 22d of October, 1755; on which occasion his venerable father preached a discourse replete with sound instruction, conveyed with the affection of a parent. His text was, Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus."

[Footnote: Rev. Isaac Stiles died May 14, 1760. aged sixty-three. He was ordained to the pastoral care of the church in North Haven, November 11,1724. His second wife was Esther Hooker of Farmington, by whom he had ten children.]

In February, 1757, Mr. Stiles was married to Elizabeth Hubbard, eldest daughter of Col. John Hubbard, of New Haven, " a woman of excellent accomplishments, intellectual, moral, and religious; and who, therefore, deservedly possessed his tenderest affection. By her prudence, and exclusive care of every thing pertaining to domestic economy, she left him in possession of his whole time, for literary pursuits and pastoral duties."

His ardor in literary investigations continued unabated. He wrote a learned letter in Latin, to the principal of the Jesuits’ college in Mexico, in order to ascertain what discoveries the Jesuits had made in the countries beyond California. By a learned Jew from Palestine, he sent a letter to a Greek ecclesiastic, living in the Holy Land, or in Syria. Its design was, to obtain minute geographical and historical information of Western and Central Asia, and of the inhabitants. On the 23d of April, 1760, he delivered, before the Convention of Congregational Ministers of Rhode Island, a very elaborate discourse on "Christian Union," which was widely circulated.

[ Footnote: Some account of this sermon may he seen in time Quarterly Register, vol. vii. p. 20.]

He commenced a course of chemical experiments, and also extensive inquiries respecting the aborigines of North America. He began in 1763, an interesting correspondence with Rev. Dr. Lardner, of London. Dr. Franklin having presented him with Fahrenheit’s thermometer, he began a series, of thermometrical and meteorological observations, which he continued with very little interruption, with his own hand, till within two days of his death. They are contained in six quarto volumes.

In 1765, he wrote a letter to the principal of the university of Copenhagen, respecting some ancient Hebrew and Arabic manuscripts, which had been brought from the East. On the 28th of March, through the intervention of Dr. Franklin, the university of Edinburgh conferred on him the degree of doctor in divinity. In 1766, among other correspondence, he wrote to J. Z. Holwell, Esq., author of "Historical Accounts,

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relative to the Empire of Hindoostan," who had resided thirty years in Bengal, for information respecting the Hindoo Shasters; whether the Jews at Cochin and Patna were in possession of a Hebrew Pentateuch, etc. In a letter to Rev. Dr. Welles, he says, "I am stationed in a very difficult part of the Lord’s vineyard, though, 1 thank God, with great tranquillity and happiness in my flock."

In May, 1767, in the 46th year of his age, he commenced the study of the Hebrew language, by the aid of a Jewish rabbi. In the first five days, he read eighteen Psalms. In one month, he translated all the Psalms into Latin. In May, 1768, he had translated the Psalms, Genesis, and Exodus into English. He then commenced Arabic, Syriac, the Chaldee, and Rabbinical Hebrew, etc. In 1769, he commenced a Literary Diary, in which he recorded what appeared to him most worthy of preservation, in his conversation with literary men, and in his extensive reading. It records much useful information on history, philosophy, religion, politics, war, and on every subject interesting to man. This treasure is contained in fifteen quarto volumes, each consisting of above 300 pages. The doctor seldom permitted a day to pass without some addition to its value; and the date of the last entry is six days only before his death.*

[Footnote: Rev. Dr. Holmes made considerable use of this Diary, in preparing his Annat,.]

He now began to write an Ecclesiastical history of New England and of British America. Various circumstances, however, did not allow him to complete it. This year, he copied "Eutychii Origines Ecclesiae Alexandrinae," in the Arabic letter, and translated it from the original. He now "learned somewhat of Syriac, and dipped into Persic, Coptic, and the other oriental languages." On the 3d of June, he was assiduously employed in observing the transit of Venus. The observations which he made and collected on this subject, fill a quarto volume.

In 1770, he had considerable success in the ministry, and admitted twenty-eight communicants into his church. He writes, "This year, a holy God has shown his mercy and loving-kindness to me, to my family, and to my church. It has been to me one steady experience of divine goodness. My spiritual state is rather more comfortable, or, shall I say, less distressing, than heretofore. I hope I love my Saviour for his divine excellencies, as well as for his love to sinners. I glory in his divine righteousness; and earnestly beseech the God of all grace to endue me with true and real holiness, and make me like himself."

In Newport, there were many African slaves. Of eighty communicants in his church, seven were negroes. These occasionally met, by his direction, for religious improvement in his study. in 1772, he says, "In the seventeen years of my ministry, I have had under my pastoral care about 1,000 souls, a third of whom are now in eternity,—without doubt many of them are in misery. I have reason to fear that some have perished through my neglect. And yet I would humbly hope that I have warned all, taught them the evil and danger of sin, and presented the way of salvation by a bleeding Saviour; though I might have inculcated these things with greater frequency, zeal, and assiduity. Oh! how great the work, how solemn and awful the account for the blood of souls; onus humeris angelicia formidandum."

In 1773, he commenced a very profitable acquaintance with Isaac Carligal, a learned Jewish rabbi, who had travelled extensively in the East, and who was born at Hebron in the Holy Land. They cultivated a mutual friendship while present, and corresponded in Hebrew when absent. One

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of the doctor’s letters on the Messiah’s kingdom, occupies twenty-two quarto pages. He also became acquainted with six other rabbis, amid frequently attended the worship in their Synagogue.

By a memoir, May 18,1775, it appears that his daily habit was, first, in the morning, to offer private prayer to God; then, calling his family together, to read a chapter of the Bible in course, and perform family prayer; then to read by himself, from one to three or four chapters of the Bible in course, with frequent references to the original Hebrew and Greek, and to the commentators, ancient and modern; that recently he had made much use of the Zohar, in which, with the Syriac, he now daily read a portion. At ten or eleven, he walked abroad, and visited his flock. After dinner he read an hour or two, and then visited again. In the evening, he read one or two hours. Between nine and ten, he attended prayer in his family. About eleven, he retired to bed, having commended himself and all his concerns to God.

On the 26th of May, he writes, "My pious and good wife has been, this day, setting her house in order, and giving her children her dying counsel. God grant it may make a deep and lasting impression on their tender minds! May they never forget her affectionate concern, especially for their spiritual and eternal welfare! Her disorder so far prevails, as to leave no prospect of her continuance in this vale of tears. The good Lord grant her his divine presence, give her a humble submission to his holy will, increase and strengthen her faith and trust in the divine righteousness of the glorious lmmanuel."

Early on time morning of the 29th of May, Mrs. Stiles died, leaving her friends overwhelmed with sorrow. Her character amid extensive charities seem to have secured for her a great degree of love and respect.

[ Footnote: Her children were Elizabeth. who died Nov. 16,1795: Ezra, a graduate of Yale college, who died in North Carolina. Aug. 22. 1784. Kezin Taylor, wife of Lewis B Sturges of New Haven, who died Dec. 29, 1784: Emiiia wife of Jonathan Leavitt; Isaac. absent sat the time of his father’s death on a voyage, not afterwards heard of; Ruth; Mary, wife of Dr. Holmes of Cambridge, died Aug. 29,1795; and Sarah, who died in infancy, in 1769.]

On account of the war, which was now threatening many of the Atlantic towns, Newport was mostly evacuated of its inhabitants, On the 13th of March, 1776, Dr. Stiles and his family removed to Dighton, Mass. He continued, however, his pastoral labors at Newport, with the remainder of his flock and with the soldiers. On occasion of the declaration of independence, he wrote, "Thus the congress has tied a Gordian-knot, which the parliament will find they can neither cut nor untie. ‘The thirteen united colonies now rise into an independent republic, among the kingdoms, states, and empires on earth. May time supreme and omnipotent Lord of the universe, shower down his blessings upon it, and ever keep it under his holy protection." On the 8th of December, 3,000 British troops took possession of Newport. During Dr. Stiles’s retirement in Dighton, he diligently pursued his literary investigations. He received invitations from various quarters, to engage again in pastoral duties. In May, 1777, he repaired to Portsmouth, N. H., having consented to preach in that town for one year. On the 27th of September, he received official notice of his election to the presidency of Yale college, vacant by the resignation of Dr. Daggett. Before giving a definitive answer, he made a journey into Connecticut, and on the 5th of November, was introduced to the corporation of the college. On the day following, they unanimously elected him professor of ecclesiastical history, in conjunction with the presidency. He "very fully laid before them all his own deficiencies, and what they must

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not expect from him; particularly, his infirm health, want of talents for government, and doubts of becoming acceptable to the ministers, the assembly, and the public, he also communicated to them his sentiments in religion, both with respect to the system of theology, and ecclesiastical polity, and desired them particularly to consider wherein he coincided with and differed from others." " I did this," he says, ‘‘ with all sincerity, as in the presence of God. I requested them to take full knowledge of me, on these and all other accounts, and to interrogate me to their full satisfaction."

Having taken time for ample deliberation and consultation, he determined to accept the office. He accordingly removed with his family to New haven, in June, 1778, and immediately entered on his duties.

The most important facts in his history while president of Yale college, and the manner and spirit in which he discharged his elevated trusts, have been so recently described in this publication, that we shall not now take the trouble to repeat them.

[Footnote: See the number of this work for August, 1835, page 31, sequel.]

It may be Proper in this connection, however, to mention a few miscellaneous facts. In 1780, Dartmouth college conferred on him the degree of doctor in divinity. In 1781, he was elected a counsellor of the American Philosophical Society, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. On the 17th of October, I782, he was married to his second wife, Mrs. Mary Checkley, the relict of William Checkley, Esq., of Providence. The president’s eldest son, Ezra, died on the ‘22d of August, 1784, near Edenton, N. C. In September, the college of New Jersey conferred on him the degree of doctor in divinity, and doctor of laws.

On Friday, the 8th of May, 1795, the president having, at eleven o’clock, walked out as usual, on his return, complained of a lethargic tendency, and of universal indisposition. Not seeming, however, to apprehend a settled illness, he declined a proposal of the family to send for a physician. But, the symptoms assuming a more threatening aspect, a physician was sent for in the afternoon; and from this time, the most assiduous attentions were paid to his disorder. It was a bilious fever of so putrid a tendency, as to baffle every medical attempt to check its progress. He soon became sensible that it would be fatal. "1 do not doubt," said he, "the sufficiency of the Redeemer, or the mercy of God ; but the want of purity makes me afraid to appear before a God of infinite purity." These apprehensions were, however, of short duration; nor did he experience that distress, which he had been accustomed to anticipate in the prospect of his dissolution. He continued to express strong desires after purity, as a qualification for admission into the presence of a holy God, and for the enjoyment of heaven. At four, in the afternoon, on Tuesday, May 11, he took an affecting leave of each member of his family, who was present, and gave messages of dying counsel for his absent children. Two students of the college being present, he called them to his bed, expressed his wish that they might be good and happy, and told them that they had laid the foundation of a good education, and he hoped they would make the most of their advantages. "But, above all," said he, "seek religion; read the Bible; and follow the example of Christ. What I now say to you, I say to all college. Tell the scholars what I tell you; that I wish them happy, and hope they will have a better president than I have been."

He expired at half past eight o’clock, in the evening of the same day. His funeral was attended on the following Thursday, when the Rev. Dr.

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Dana, of New Haven, preached a funeral discourse, from the words, "In my Father’s house are many mansions."

"President Stiles," says Dr. Holmes, "was a man of low and small stature; of a very delicate structure; and of a well-proportioned form. His eyes were of a dark grey color; and, in the moment of contemplation, singularly penetrating. his voice was clear and energetic. His countenance, especially in conversation, was expressive of mildness and benignity; but, if occasion required, it became the index of majesty and authority."

Some traits in his character are thus delineated:

"With a rare felicity, he united, in his address and manners, familiarity with dignity. While an ornament to the highest, he was accessible to the lowest, classes of mankind. Communicative, hospitable, and polite to strangers, entertaining and instructive to all, none left his company without delightful impressions."

"Passionately attached to the interests of science and of religion, his delight in observing, as well as in accelerating, their progress, was next to enthusiasm. Speaking of certain methods of promoting useful knowledge, which gave some offence, he observed, in allusion to an apostolic expression: ‘Notwithstanding every way knowledge is increased, and I therein rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

"If a thorough study of the Scriptures, in their original languages, as well as in many translations; a familiar acquaintance with the Rabbinical writings; a comprehensive knowledge of ecclesiastical history, and of the various systems of polemical and positive divinity, maintained in the successive ages of the Christian church; joined with deep contemplation, fervent devotion, and a pious life, constitute a great divine—he seems to have had a just claim to this character."

"He always carried a pencil in his pocket, and a small quarto sheet of blank paper, doubled lengthwise, on which he minuted every noticeable occurrence, and useful information. When he travelled, he carried several blank sheets, folded in the same manner, and applied them to the same purpose. When these memoranda formed materials sufficient for a volume, he had them bound; and they, collectively, compose four curious volumes of Itineraries, preserved in his cabinet of manuscripts."

"He manifested a paternal concern for such of his pupils, as found it difficult to defray the expenses of their education; inquired and ascertained their exigencies; and, in numerous instances, gratuitously discharged their bills for quarterly tuition. The best scholars are, not unfrequently, to be found among the most indigent...The president coming, one day, out of the library, and seeing a student, of bright parts, and of studious application, walking pensively alone in the college yard, called him, and made some inquiry about his situation. Having encouraged his perseverance, he put a guinea into his hand, and dismissed him with renovated spirits, and a brightened countenance. It was done with his usual delicacy. ‘Make a good improvement of it,’ said he; ‘ask no questions; and say nothing.’

"This characteristic trait is still further confirmed, by the testimony of another of my worthy and valued friends; who was, also, a considerable time, in the tutorship, and was a confidential friend of the president. In a letter to me, on the same subject, he writes: ‘You doubtless are informed of his liberality. Within my knowledge, he afforded very considerable pecuniary aid to a number of scholars, to enable them to pursue a public education; and was ever ready to concur in arrangements to favor those,

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whose finances embarrassed them in their collegiate course. Possessing so much benevolence, his public situation afforded frequent opportunities for exercising it, greatly to the benefit of the rising generation.’—To these testimonies, the compiler, were it necessary₇ could subjoin his own, with the addition of many others."

"When any one of his pupils was taken sick, he immediately visited him, and supplied the place of a parent, by his tender sympathy, seasonable counsel, and assiduous attentions."

"Were any one of his Christian graces to be discriminated, it should perhaps, be his humility; a virtue seldom attached to great intellectual talents, and to high stations; but which confers the truest dignity on both His deep contempt of human pride, whether it betrayed itself in others, or was found lurking in his own bosom, is discernible in a passage, prefixed to his birth-day reflections: ‘how absolutely contemptible is a man, glorying in some little eminency among his fellow worms; while, in comparison with the immensity of the universe, and in the view of superior spirits, and, above all, in the contemplation of God, he must appear nothing, less than nothing, and vanity!"