Many honors came to Dr. Angell in the course of his long life, as was
inevitable. His scholarship was universally recognized. He received
the degree of LL.D. from Brown University in 1868, Columbia University
in 1887, Rutgers College in 1896, Princeton University in 1896, Yale
University in 1901, Johns Hopkins University in 1902, the University of
Wisconsin in 1904, Harvard University in 1905, and the University of
Michigan in 1912. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society
of Philadelphia, the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences of Boston, and the American
Historical Association, of which he was president in 1893. Dr. Angell
was a charter member of the American Academy at Rome. For many years he
was also Regent of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. He was
always a leader in the Congregational Church and presided at the
International Congregational Council which met in Boston in September,
1899. This body was composed of delegates from all parts of the world
and represented the scholastic and ecclesiastical organization of the
church in the persons of its most distinguished members.
All through his career, Dr. Angell gave evidence of certain
characteristics which had definite effects upon his policy as President.
Professor Charles H. Cooley, '87, has characterized the especial
qualities which made for his success as "his faith and his
adaptability." Dr. Angell always believed in the tendency of the right
to prevail, and was willing to wait with a "masterly inactivity,"
avoiding too much injudicious assistance. He was always able to maintain
a broad and comprehensive view, the attitude of the administrator, and
was faithful in his belief in the Higher Power which guides the destiny
of men--and universities. His diplomatic genius, the combination of
teacher and man of the world, enabled him to keep in close and
sympathetic touch, not only with the student life about him, but also
with the difficult problems of an ever-growing Faculty. He always showed
himself surprisingly shrewd, yet withal charitable, in his judgments of
men and their character, a qualification which enabled him to follow a
_laissez-faire_ policy until the proper time. Often his penetration and
insight, in analyses of current problems and questions, which might be
supposed not to interest so particularly a man of his years, surprised
his young associates and gave evidence of the wonderful vitality, the
spirit of youth, which lived within him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account