578 EZEKIEL GILMAN ROBLNSON. 



dominated the synthetic, as is evident from the fact that his theology 

 was never thoroughly systemized. 



But the moral man is grander than the man of intellect, and Dr. 

 Robinson's moral character demands a higher admiration than his 

 intellectual power. He had his faults; but his aim was higli, his 

 motives noble, and his heart sincere. His most prominent moral char- 

 acteristic was tremendous power of will. The man's whole counte- 

 nance betokened a dominant, imperious will ; but this mighty energy 

 was associated with a stern sense of moral obligation. This will was 

 not prostituted to low ends. It was not self-will. It recognized a law 

 to be obeyed, and it held the man in its grip until he rendered obedi- 

 ence. As in the tremendous energy of will we discover the centrifu- 

 gal force, so in the high moral ideal we discover the centripetal force, 

 which determined the orbit of his life. 



The life which was characterized by this striking combination of 

 tremendous energy of will and high sense of moral obligation also dis- 

 played a not unhappy union of pride and humiHty. Probably no 

 human pride is virtue unalloyed ; but there is a pride which savors 

 more of virtue than of vice. Essential manhood is worthy of respect. 

 The Almighty has placed man's head erect upon his shoulders ; He 

 has " made him a little lower than God, and has put all things under 

 his feet " ; the great moral teacher of the ages inculcates self-respect, 

 as he instructs man to love his neighbor as himself. In the philo- 

 sophic Christian sense, Dr. Robinson was exceedingly proud. He had 

 abundant self-respect ; he had little self-conceit. His pride was akin 

 to the awe with which Kant reflected upon the moral law within, and 

 •differed heaven-wide from that Narcissus-like vanity which pines away 

 in admiration of its adventitious and ephemeral beauty. 



This pride, however, retained its virtue, and was raised from the 

 level of the Stoic philosophy to the higher elevation of the Christian 

 religion, as it was mated to humility. Humility, with him, was not 

 cringing before one's fellows and asking their pardon for one's exist- 

 ence ; it was not an undue depreciation of self ; it was rather a just 

 appreciation of another and a worthier, in comparison with whom self 

 seems but little. Dr. Robinson bared his head before the Almighty. 

 He walked humbly before his God. 



It was in the closing period of life that the strength and nobility of 

 his character found fullest and most beautiful expression. Although 

 Dr. Robinson was seventy-four years of age when he laid aside 

 his duties as President of P>rown University, his work was not yet 

 done. In response to the call of honor and of duty, the stern believer 



