PROCEEDINGS OF REGENTS. 33 



ington, in April, and through tliat association to the civilized and 

 scientific worlds; I refer to his sentiment "that moral excellence 

 is the highest dignity of man." The loftiest talents and highest 

 attainments without this are deficient in that, which, in the judg- 

 ment of wise men and of Infinite Wisdom, is of greatest worth. 

 Was there ever a man from whom the sentiment could come with 

 better grace? 



The opinion has been expressed, and I do not regard it extrava- 

 gant, that the letter addressed by Professor Henry to his friend 

 Joseph Patterson, emanating from such a mind, such a man, at 

 the close of a protracted life of singular distinction, was worth a 

 man's lifetime to produce. It has probably been read by millions, 

 in various languages, and will be by future generations. 



Professor Henry was not only a man of science, a discoverer pf 

 nature's laws and forces, but a sincere believer in God their Author 

 and in his atoning Son. To quote his language : "We are conscious 

 of having evil thoughts and tendencies that we cannot associate 

 ourselves with a Divine Being, who is the Director and Governor 

 of all, or even call upon him for mercy, without the intercession of 

 One who may affiliate himself with us." 



Let me quote from the prayer offered at his obsequies, and to 

 which we repeat our sincere Amen; the lips that uttered it, in less 

 than one short month were silent in death, and the two remarkable 

 men. Professors Joseph Henry and Charles Hodge, closely 

 united in life were not long divided by death : "We thank Thee, 

 O God, that Joseph Henry was born; that Thou didst endow 

 him with such rare gifts, intellectual, moral, and spiritual; that 

 Thou didst spare him to a good old age, and enable him to accom- 

 plish so much for the increase of human knowledge and for the 

 good of his fellow-men; and above all that Thou didst hold him 

 up before this whole nation as such a conspicuous illustration of 

 the truth that moral excellence is the highest dignity of man." 



