Merrick.] 230 [Nov< 7j 



although, happily, he escaped without permanent injury to his sight. 

 This was not the result of any special animosity against him, but the deal- 

 ing of a blow to the Faculty as a body, against whom the resentment of 

 the attacked students was aimed. The result of this untoward event was 

 an abandonment of the old, undignified method of quelling disturbances, 

 as well as a widespread sympathy for the sufferer, and indignation against 

 the offender. 



His connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he after- 

 wards became so distinguished a member, began during this period of his 

 life. He was confirmed in 1842, at Gardiner, Me. ; and this circumstance, 

 coupled with his prominent position in the college at Brunswick, was 

 probably one of the considerations which induced Bishop Henshaw, at 

 that time acting Bishop of Maine, to send there, in 1843, a missionary to 

 establish a church. Mr. Goodwin at once took up the duty assigned him 

 of aiding this missionary in forming a nucleus for a parish ; although, in 

 go doing, he placed himself in apparent antagonism to other religious in- 

 fluences then prominent in the college, and ran counter to the traditions 

 of the place, as well as to correspondingly strong convictions of at least 

 some of his colleagues. They feared the effect upon the college, of intro- 

 ducing the services of a communion, which was at that time the object of 

 considerable prejudice in the State, and, indeed, in New England. Mr. 

 Goodwin's character and influence, however, made his advocacy of the 

 new enterprise a tower of strength ; for he was universally loved and 

 respected by Faculty and students. No event of his life displays more 

 clearly the fortitude, the calm and steady principle with which he gave 

 himself to the support of an unpopular movement, and of what seemed at 

 the time a forlorn hope ; and these characteristics are visible throughout 

 his life. In 1847, he was ordained Deacon, and in the following year a 

 Priest of the Church. 



At length his career at Bowdoin closed, when, in 1853, he was called 

 to become President of Trinity College, at Hartiord ; acting, also, as one 

 of the Professors, at first, that of Modern Languages, and, subsequently, 

 of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy. 



His presidency occurred during a difficult crisis in the affairs of the col- 

 lege, the history of which will, perhaps, be hereafter produced. It may, 

 however, be said, that his influence was successfully exerted to raise the 

 standard of its requirements and of its discipline, and to promote clear 

 and honest work among its students. 



One who was under him in those days (Bishop Nil^s), referring to the 

 singular majesty of his character and his power of interesting his pupils, 

 says that "he has known bright but indolent men look forward with 

 eagerness to the President's recitation hour, in Butler's Analogy and 

 Whately's Logic ; from which far more was learned than by the study of 

 formal logic under any other man." There wao, however, as we are told 

 by the same authority, another side of his character, not less strongly 

 marked, which gave a brilliant lustre to his memory ; that " mirthful ness 



