Merrick.] 232 [Nov> 7> 



In 1862, Doctor Goodwin became Professor of Apologetics in the 

 Philadelphia Divinity School, which was organized that year. The title of 

 this chair was changed to Systematic Divinity, in 1865, aacl so remained, 

 he holding the office till his death. In 1868, upon leaving the University 

 of Pennsylvania, he was made Dean of the Divinity School and retained 

 that position till 1883, when advancing, years and somewhat impaired 

 health, coupled with the removal of the Institution to a distance from his 

 home, compelled his withdrawal. For these duties he was preeminently 

 fitted. 



A record of the events of his life would be most incomplete, without 

 particular mention of his labors in the Church of his love, rendered es- 

 pecially in her councils, both Diocesan and General. Except in one in- 

 stance, St. Gabriel's, Windsor, Ct., where he remained some three or four 

 years, he never assumed a permanent Rectorship, but was, at intervals, 

 temporarily (sometimes for months together) in charge of parishes. This 

 fact, and his long connection with educational interests, together with his 

 great ecclesiastical learning and power as a debater, were undoubtedly 

 prime factors in making him, for so long a period, a leader in the govern- 

 ing bodies of the Church. As early as 1853, he was sent by the Diocese of 

 Maine to the Triennial General Convention meeting that year. From 

 Pennsylvania he was sent in 1862, to the first Convention held after his 

 removal to that Diocese, and continuously thereafter until that of 1889, 

 the last one previous to his decease ; thus being a member of that august 

 assembly for ten successive sessions. At the same time he was a member 

 of every Annual Diocesan Convention for thirty years. He promptly 

 attained and kept throughout this period in both, a conrfmanding position 

 and leadership in that school of Churchmanship to which his sympathies 

 tended (the Low Church or Evangelical party). And apart from this, his 

 manifest qualifications for the post, caused his election or appointment in 

 both bodies on the "Committee on Canons," and for many years past, to 

 the chairmanship thereof. As this Committee shapes all legislation, and 

 suppresses a multitude of proposals for revision or change, its chairman- 

 ship demands not only great learning and clearness of conception, with 

 aptitude in debate, but also great conservatism. All these qualifications 

 found their realization in Dr. Goodwin. Independently of the duties 

 arising out of these positions, it is probable that few, if any, important 

 measures brought forward in either House, failed to receive his close 

 attention and criticism. Indeed, he suffered no resolution presented to 

 the House to pass, without a close analysis of its phraseology and of its 

 possible results. His support or opposition was always of weight, and in 

 the Convention of the Diocese it was apt to be decisive. 



His influence in the Diocese was further conspicuously shown by his 

 long service as Chairman of the Standing Committee, a body which acts 

 as constitutional advisor of the Bishop, and, in his absence, as a substitute, 

 so far as concerns his administrative powers. 



To attempt an analysis of the character of so remarkable a man, is a 



