350 OUtuary Notices of Fellows deceased. 



happened to be engaged in some scholarly work. In that even the 

 would soon obtain a professorship. Otherwise he would retire on one 

 of the numerous college livings. Further, any member of the Univer- 

 sity of note had a good chance of a bishopric. Hamilton's predecessor 

 at the Observatory left it for a bishop's palace just ten years before 

 Salmon entered college. The number and the value of ecclesiastical 

 offices steadily declined, and the college patronage was abolished by the 

 Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1869. Lastly, the 

 celibacy statute was repealed absolutely the year preceding Salmon's 

 election to Fellowship, and, although dispensations permitting the 

 marriage of certain Fellows used occasionally to be procured, this 

 repeal of the statute must have tended to increase the stagnation. 



In 1866 Salmon became Eegius Professor of Divinity in succession 

 to Dr. Butcher, who had been consecrated Bishop of Meath. From 

 this time he ceased to work at mathematics save at the Theory of 

 Numbers, and the later editions of his mathematical works were 

 brought out under the supervision of Mr. Cathcart, Fellow and Tutor 

 of Trinity College. It is given to few men to attain to the first rank 

 of investigators in two distinct provinces ; but, great as was Salmon's 

 reputation as a mathematician, it was probably equalled in later years 

 by his fame as a theologian. His masterly " Introduction to the New 

 Testament " is probably the most powerful polemic in the English 

 language against the Tubingen school of critics. For the " Dictionary 

 of Christian Biography " he wrote many of the most important articles, 

 chiefly on the Christian writers of the second century, a period of 

 which he made himself complete master. As lately as 1897 he pub- 

 lished a powerful essay on the criticism of the text of the New 

 Testament. Although he was never offered a Bishopric, no man has 

 commanded such influence in the Church of Ireland since Disestablish- 

 ment as did Dr. Salmon. In politics he was a strong Conservative. 



The Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, the reconstruction 

 of its finances, and the revision of its formularies brought new demands 

 upon Dr. Salmon. The Bishop of Derry said in the memorial sermon 

 preached in the Chapel of Trinity College " In our synods he was a 

 most formidable debater, a most persuasive advocate. If the true 

 function of eloquence be to win an audience, he was among the greatest 

 speakers I ever heard ; nor do I for a moment believe that his artless 

 methods were unconscious, or wanting in the highest art." And again 

 " In the Councils of the Disestablished Church with what confidence 

 they followed him. When old age had reduced his voice almost to a 

 whisper, how the whole Synod hushed itself, and settled down to catch 

 every word he murmured. There was a homage more exquisite than 

 applause could give; admiration was in it, and desire for that low- 



