commonwealth; fortunate in enjoying the full sympathy of the people
around and the entire confidence of the Christian community of the
land; fortunate in the great class of young men who seek her
instruction, with their mature characters, simple habits, manly aims,
and resolute purposes; fortunate in a laborious Faculty, whose
well-earned fame from time to time brings honorable and urgent calls
to carry their light to other and wealthier seats of learning;
fortunate in her magnificent roll of alumni, unsurpassed in its
average of good manhood and excellent work, and bright with names of
transcendent lustre. The genius of the place bespeaks our reverence
and awe. For to the mind's eye this sequestered spot is peopled to
overflowing with youthful forms that went forth to all the lands of
the earth to do valiantly in the battle of life. Across this quiet
green there comes moving again invisibly a majestic procession of the
faithful and the strong, laden with labors and with honors. In these
seats there can almost be seen to sit once more a hoary and venerable
array of the great and good whose names are recorded on earth and
whose home is in heaven. And over us there seems to hover to-day a
great cloud of witnesses--spirits of the just made perfect. It is good
to be here. I only pray that the new arm may not prove too weak to
bear the banner in this great procession of the ages."

CHAPTER XX.

PROF. JOHN SMITH.--PROF. SYLVANUS RIPLEY.--PROF. BEZALEEL WOODWARD.

Having completed our survey of the work of the successive presidents,
the deceased professors now claim our attention.

The following sketch of the life and labors of Prof. John Smith, is,
in substance, from "Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit."

"John Smith, son of Joseph and Elisabeth (Palmer) Smith, was born at
Newbury, (Byfield parish,) Mass., December 21, 1752. His mother was a
descendant of the Sawyer family, which came from England to this
country in 1643, and settled in Rowley, where she was born. The son
was fitted for college at Dummer Academy, under the instruction of the
well known 'Master Moody.' He early discovered an uncommon taste for
the study of the languages, insomuch that his instructor predicted,
while he was yet in his preparatory coarse, that he would attain to
eminence in that department.

"He entered the Junior class in Dartmouth College, in 1771, at the
time of the first Commencement in that institution. He went to Hanov