MARK HOPKINS
HOPKINS, Mark, educator, born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 4 February, 1802;
died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, 17 June, 1887. He was a grandson of Colonel
Mark, of the Revolutionary army, a graduate of Yale, and the first lawyer in
Berkshire county, who was a younger brother of Dr. Samuel, the theologian, and
married a half-sister of Ephraim Williams, the founder of Williams college. He
was graduated at Williams in 1824, with the valedictory, was a tutor in that
college in 1S25-'7, studied medicine at the same time, and was graduated at the
Perk-shire medical school in 1829. He began practice in New York city, but in 1S30
was called to the chair of moral philosophy and rhetoric at Williams. He was
licensed to preach in 1832. In 1836 he succeeded Dr. Edward D. Griffin as
president of the college, which post he held until 1872. when he resigned,
though retaining the chair of moral and intellectual philosophy, which was
established for him in 1836, and that of Christian theology, which he assumed in
1858. the pastorate or the college church, on which he entered in 1836, he
retained till 1883. He became president of the American board of commissioners
for foreign missions in 1857. He received the degree of D. D. from Dartmouth in
1837, and Harvard in 1841, and that of LL. D. from the University of the state
of New York in 1857, and from Harvard at its 250th anniversary in 1886.
President Hopkins had a large influence for good, and was much beloved by his
pupils, many of whom became eminent men, among them James A. Garfield. He was
one of the most acute students of moral science that this country has produced
since Jonathan Edwards. The last and fullest expression of his philosophical
system is found in the works entitled "The Law of Love and Love as a Law" and "An
Outline Study of Man," both extensively used as college text books, and the
latter illustrating his methods in the class room. Williams college grew through
his efforts to a famous and powerful institution of learning. Of more than 1,760
graduates living at the time of his death, he had taught all but thirty. His
first literary essay was an article on " Mystery" which appeared in the "American
Journal of Science and Arts" in 1828, and attracted wide attention. He delivered
a course of Lowell lectures which were published under the title of "Lectures on
the Evidences of Christianity" (Boston, 1846; new ed., 1864). These lectures are
used as a text book in many colleges. His subsequent publications are "Miscellaneous
Essays and Discourses" (1847); "Lectures on Moral Science" (1862), originally
delivered before the Lowell institute; "Baccalaureate Sermons and Occasional
Discourses" (1863); "The Law of Love, and Love as a Law; or, Christian Ethics" (1869);
"An Outline Study of Man" (New York, 1873); "Strength and Beauty" (1874), which
was reissued in a revised form under the title "Teachings and Counsels" (1884):
and "Scriptural Idea of Man" (1883). His published annual baccalaureate sermons
were widely read. "The Law of Love," in which his theories of morals were
presented, was reviewed by Dr. James McCosh, and a controversy between the two
philosophers resulted. --His brother, Albert, astronomer, born in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, 14 July, 1807; died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, 24 May, 1872.
He entered Williams in the junior year and was graduated in 1826, subsequently
devoting a year to the study of agriculture and engineering. In 1827 he was
elected tutor, and in 1829 professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in
Williams, and went to Europe in 1834 for the purpose of selecting philosophical
and chemical apparatus for the college. In 1835 he began on his own
responsibility the building of an astronomical observatory in Williamstown, the
first that was ever established in connection with an American college. This
building, though equipped with a telescope and other instruments of but moderate
power, under Professor Hopkins's management, made many discoveries which aided
in establishing a high reputation for American scientists. In 1869 David Dudley
Field endowed a memo-rim professorship of astronomy in Williams with $25,000,
stipulating that the proceeds should be secured to Professor Hopkins during his
life. From 1835 till 1840 he also gave instruction in the French language. He
was licensed to preach by the Berkshire Congregational association in 1837, and
for many years was stated supply to churches in Williamstown and South
Williamstown, and much of the time was acting college pastor. In 1846 he built,
largely from his own means, a chapel at White Oaks, a previously neglected
district of the town, where he performed missionary work, and in 1868 organized
a church there. Professor Hopkins was a skilful botanist, and was the first to
organize scientific expeditions from colleges, founding in this connection a
natural history society and an Alpine club at Williams. He received the degree
of LL.D. from Jefferson college in 1859, and was elected corresponding fellow of
the Royal society of Great Britain, to whose transactions he was an occasional
contributor of papers on astronomical and philosophical subjects.--Albert's wife,
Louisa Payson, born in Portland, Maine, 24 February, 1812; died 24 , January,
1862, was the daughter of Reverend Edward Payson, and married Professor Hopkins
in 1842. She contributed articles to Kitto's "Biblical Cyclopedia," "The New
York Review," and other periodicals, and composed several question-books for the
Massachusetts Sunday school union. Mrs. Hopkins also wrote numerous works for
children which have been admired for their excellent method of illustrating the
Bible and its doctrines. They include "The Pastor's Daughter, or The Way of
Salvation Explained" (New York, new ed., 1868); "Lessons on the Book of Proverbs,"
"The Young Christian Encouraged," "Henry Langdon, or What was I made for?" (1846);
"The Guiding Star, or The Bible God's Message," a sequel to "Henry Langdon" (Boston,
1851); "The Silent Comforter: a Companion for the Sick Room" (1874); and "Payson's
Select Thoughts."
HOPKINS, Mark, educator, born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 4 February, 1802;
died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, 17 June, 1887. He was a grandson of Colonel
Mark, of the Revolutionary army, a graduate of Yale, and the first lawyer in
Berkshire county, who was a younger brother of Dr. Samuel, the theologian, and
married a half-sister of Ephraim Williams, the founder of Williams college. He
was graduated at Williams in 1824, with the valedictory, was a tutor in that
college in 1S25-'7, studied medicine at the same time, and was graduated at the
Perk-shire medical school in 1829. He began practice in New York city, but in 1S30
was called to the chair of moral philosophy and rhetoric at Williams. He was
licensed to preach in 1832. In 1836 he succeeded Dr. Edward D. Griffin as
president of the college, which post he held until 1872. when he resigned,
though retaining the chair of moral and intellectual philosophy, which was
established for him in 1836, and that of Christian theology, which he assumed in
1858. the pastorate or the college church, on which he entered in 1836, he
retained till 1883. He became president of the American board of commissioners
for foreign missions in 1857. He received the degree of D. D. from Dartmouth in
1837, and Harvard in 1841, and that of LL. D. from the University of the state
of New York in 1857, and from Harvard at its 250th anniversary in 1886.
President Hopkins had a large influence for good, and was much beloved by his
pupils, many of whom became eminent men, among them James A. Garfield. He was
one of the most acute students of moral science that this country has produced
since Jonathan Edwards. The last and fullest expression of his philosophical
system is found in the works entitled "The Law of Love and Love as a Law" and "An
Outline Study of Man," both extensively used as college text books, and the
latter illustrating his methods in the class room. Williams college grew through
his efforts to a famous and powerful institution of learning. Of more than 1,760
graduates living at the time of his death, he had taught all but thirty. His
first literary essay was an article on " Mystery" which appeared in the "American
Journal of Science and Arts" in 1828, and attracted wide attention. He delivered
a course of Lowell lectures which were published under the title of "Lectures on
the Evidences of Christianity" (Boston, 1846; new ed., 1864). These lectures are
used as a text book in many colleges. His subsequent publications are "Miscellaneous
Essays and Discourses" (1847); "Lectures on Moral Science" (1862), originally
delivered before the Lowell institute; "Baccalaureate Sermons and Occasional
Discourses" (1863); "The Law of Love, and Love as a Law; or, Christian Ethics" (1869);
"An Outline Study of Man" (New York, 1873); "Strength and Beauty" (1874), which
was reissued in a revised form under the title "Teachings and Counsels" (1884):
and "Scriptural Idea of Man" (1883). His published annual baccalaureate sermons
were widely read. "The Law of Love," in which his theories of morals were
presented, was reviewed by Dr. James McCosh, and a controversy between the two
philosophers resulted. --His brother, Albert, astronomer, born in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, 14 July, 1807; died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, 24 May, 1872.
He entered Williams in the junior year and was graduated in 1826, subsequently
devoting a year to the study of agriculture and engineering. In 1827 he was
elected tutor, and in 1829 professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in
Williams, and went to Europe in 1834 for the purpose of selecting philosophical
and chemical apparatus for the college. In 1835 he began on his own
responsibility the building of an astronomical observatory in Williamstown, the
first that was ever established in connection with an American college. This
building, though equipped with a telescope and other instruments of but moderate
power, under Professor Hopkins's management, made many discoveries which aided
in establishing a high reputation for American scientists. In 1869 David Dudley
Field endowed a memo-rim professorship of astronomy in Williams with $25,000,
stipulating that the proceeds should be secured to Professor Hopkins during his
life. From 1835 till 1840 he also gave instruction in the French language. He
was licensed to preach by the Berkshire Congregational association in 1837, and
for many years was stated supply to churches in Williamstown and South
Williamstown, and much of the time was acting college pastor. In 1846 he built,
largely from his own means, a chapel at White Oaks, a previously neglected
district of the town, where he performed missionary work, and in 1868 organized
a church there. Professor Hopkins was a skilful botanist, and was the first to
organize scientific expeditions from colleges, founding in this connection a
natural history society and an Alpine club at Williams. He received the degree
of LL.D. from Jefferson college in 1859, and was elected corresponding fellow of
the Royal society of Great Britain, to whose transactions he was an occasional
contributor of papers on astronomical and philosophical subjects.--Albert's wife,
Louisa Payson, born in Portland, Maine, 24 February, 1812; died 24 , January,
1862, was the daughter of Reverend Edward Payson, and married Professor Hopkins
in 1842. She contributed articles to Kitto's "Biblical Cyclopedia," "The New
York Review," and other periodicals, and composed several question-books for the
Massachusetts Sunday school union. Mrs. Hopkins also wrote numerous works for
children which have been admired for their excellent method of illustrating the
Bible and its doctrines. They include "The Pastor's Daughter, or The Way of
Salvation Explained" (New York, new ed., 1868); "Lessons on the Book of Proverbs,"
"The Young Christian Encouraged," "Henry Langdon, or What was I made for?" (1846);
"The Guiding Star, or The Bible God's Message," a sequel to "Henry Langdon" (Boston,
1851); "The Silent Comforter: a Companion for the Sick Room" (1874); and "Payson's
Select Thoughts."