Ferris, Isaac, Dd, Lld

Ferris, Isaac, D.D., LL.D.

an eminent Reformed (Dutch) minister, was born in New York city, October 3, 1799. He graduated from Columbia College in 1816, and from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1820; was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick in the same year, and became pastor there in 1821; at Albany in 1824; Market Street, New York city, in 1836; and was then chosen chancellor of New York University, and professor of moral philosophy and evidences of revealed religion in 1852. After laboring seventeen and a half years, he was made emeritus, with the college debt paid and four professorships endowed. In 1870 he retired from active labors, and remained thus till his death, June 16, 1873. As a preacher, Dr. Ferris was clear, discriminating earnest, and practical; and as an administrator he has seldom been equalled. He was very successful as a pastor, possessing personal magnetism which gained for him friends; and made him a centre of influence. He had a noble, well-balanced, fully- disciplined, and broad mind. His nature was kind, and his benevolence large, vet he could be stern and positive when necessary. He was deeply pious, and this trait shone forth on all occasions. Many of his sermons and addresses have been published, and some of them delivered before various religious societies are of permanent historical interest. See Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Church in America, 3d ed. page 258.