Horrocks

Sacchi, who survived him two years. After some
avocational service as associate editor, he was in
1901 chosen editor of the Watchman, the leading"
New England Baptist weekly. The words which
President Lowell of Harvard used in conferring
an honorary degree, though specifically asserted
of his influence in education for the Christian
ministry, are peculiarly applicable to his work
for the Christian cause through a denominational
paper,—"broad in outlook, rich in sympathy, a
wise leader."

From his first association with Newton Theo-
logical Institution, Horr was actively interested
in its development. He became a member of its
board of trustees in 1892; professor of church
history in 1904; president, by unanimous choice,
in 1908. In this position he did most valuable
constructive work. In addition to securing a
considerable increase in the endowment, he made
a larger and more direct use of the educational
environment and brought the seminary into more
vital contact with the changing requirements of
the churches. He served on many boards and
committees and possessed a business acumen
which was a recognized asset in his counsel,
constantly sought in a broadening range of re-
ligious and educational affairs. He became a
fellow of Brown University in 1896 and a trus-
tee of Wellesley College in 1904. He wrote im-
portant portions of Dr. Thomas Armitage's His-
tory of the Baptists (1887); among the more im-
portant of his other writings are The Christian
Faith and Human Relations (1922), and The
Baptist Heritage (1923). In 1910 he delivered a
Dudleian lecture at Harvard on "Sacerdotal-
ism/* published in the Harvard Theological Re-
•view, July 1910; and in 1923, the Ingersoll lec-
ture, The Christian Faith and Eternal Life
(1923), He retired from active service imme-
dicately after the centenary of Newton in June
1925, remaining as president emeritus until his
death.

[H. ^B. Grose, George Edwin Horr—A Biographical
Memoir (1928), published for private circulation, con-
tains a bibliography of his printed works (exclusive
of most of his editorial contributions) and of many
of his unprinted MSS,; see also Who's Who in Amer-
ica, 1926-27; Watchman Examiner, Feb. 3, 1927; Bos-
ton Transcript, Jan. 22, 1927.] W.H.A.

HORROCKS, JAMES (c. i;34-Mar. 20,
I772)> president of the College of William and
Mary, commissary of the Bishop of London,
and member of the Council of Virginia, was the
son of James Horrocks of Wakefield, Yorkshire,
England. He graduated from Trinity College,
Cambridge, in 1755 with the degree of B A., and
received that of MA, in 1758. He became usher
in the Wakefield School in 1757, In 1761 he was

Horrocks

licensed to preach in Virginia, and the next
year he became master of the grammar school
connected with the College of William and Alary.

His career in Virginia reflected the turbulent
spirit of the period. When he was chosen presi-
dent of the college in 1764, much bitterness was
engendered because the visitors ignored Mr.
Graham, who had taught there twenty years, on
account of his activities against the two-penny
act. Furthermore, it appears, Horrocks had
stooped to win. The visitors of the college had
previously inaugurated rules which greatly cur-
tailed the rights of the president and professors
and which provided that they might be removed
from office at the will of the visitors. The mem-
bers of the faculty, including Horrocks, had vig-
orously protested; but Horrocks swore obedience
to the objectionable statutes as the price of elec-
tion, and afterwards apologized to the faculty for
doing so. "Thus," wrote Commissary Robinson,
"Mr. Horrocks has obtained a profitable and
honorable Post by favour granted to compli-
ance" (Perry, post, p. 518). Nevertheless his
administration was reasonably successful. The
scholar and Revolutionary patriot, Richard Bland
[g.z>.], wrote in 1771 that Horrocks had been a
"tolerable Pedagogue in the Grammar School of
Our College ... but unfortunately for his repu-
tation, as well as for the College, he was re-
moved from the only place he had abilities to fill
to be President of the College. This laid the
Foundation for his other exaltations, and by a
Sycophantic Behavior he has accumulated unto
himself" the offices of rector of Bruton Parish,
commissary of the Bishop of London, and mem-
ber of the Council of the Colony (William and
Mary Quarterly, post, January 1897, p. 154).

In 1771 he raised a storm in the colony by ad-
vocating the establishment of an American epis-
copate, an institution not wanted by Virginians
because it would curtail some of their cher-
ished rights. Horrocks summoned the clergymen
(about one hundred) to consider the scheme.
Only eleven complied; and four of these opposed
the plan. A war on paper ensued. Finally, in
July 1771, the House of Burgesses declared
unanimously against an American episcopate.
Bland and others believed that Horrocks was
simply scheming to become "First Right Rever-
end Father of the American Church" (Ibid.).
Not long afterwards, driven by ill health, he left
with his wife for England. He died on the way
at Oporto, Portugal. His obituary in the Vir-
ginia Gazette of July 23, 1772, describes him as
"a gentleman well versed in the several branches
of sound learning, particularly mathematics, and
eminently possessed of those virtues which in-

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