JAMES WALKER. 4?! 



they should he taught something ahout a good many things, hut every 

 thing about at least one thing. But before all systems of iustructiou 

 he placed character ; as character alone would enable the young to 

 profit by the many accidental circumstances which schools and colleges 

 do not create and cannot prevent. 



Dr. Walker had been a member of the Board of Overseers of Har- 

 vard Colleire from 1825 to 183G : after resiouins; the office of President 

 in 18G0, he was again elected into that body, at the first opportunity, 

 and remained in it to the day of his death. His services in that board 

 are well expressed in the words of one of his associates in it. " With 

 this long experience, his comprehensive and trained intellect, sound 

 moral nature, his devotion to the college, his clear and forcible state- 

 ment, his modesty and courtesy, gave to his judgment at this board an 

 authority which no other could command." With this exception, when 

 Dr. Walker left the office of Pre.-ident, he relinquished all official 

 responsibility. The fifteen years of comparative leisure and retirement 

 which he then enjoyjcd made the happiest pei'iod of his life. And yet, 

 perhaps, no other period could show greater intellectual activity, or 

 overflowed in richer blessings to others. The mere presence of such a 

 man in any community, — so strong in thought, so abundant in learn- 

 ing, and yet so accessible to young and old ; so severe in his principles, 

 rtnd yet so lenient in his judgments ; so firm in his own convictions, so 

 liberal to others ; ever ready to give good counsel Avhen it was asked, 

 but with no desire to force his opinions upon unwilling minds ; often a 

 peacemaker between those who were alienated, but without any quar- 

 rels of his own, — the presence of such a man in the community is a 

 benediction. But more than this. Dr. Walker was ever prompt to 

 respond, to the full measure of liis physical strength, to the many 

 public calls which were made upon him, in the name of patriotism, 

 good learning, and religion. The sermon which he preached in King's 

 Chapel, on the 12th of May, 18G1, on the "Spirit proper to the 

 Times," though it does not contain a harsh word, was nevertheless a 

 trumpet-call to arms. AVhere can be found a more masterly analysis 

 of the causes, remote and proximate, of the troubled state of the country 

 durino- the war of the great rebellion, than in Dr. Walker's sermon, 

 preached before the Government of Massachusetts, at the annual elec- 

 tion, on Jan. 7, 1803? And who can forget his thoughtful and in- 

 spiriting address, on the " Duties of Educated men to the Country," 

 delivered before the alumni of Harvard College, on July 16, 1863, in 

 which he closed with a most eloquent appeal to the living alumni to 

 erect a monument to their dead heroes ? " Do not," he said, " cover it 



