Thomas Kerchever Arnold
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kerchever Arnold was an English theologian and voluminous writer of education
al works
Arnold was born in 1800. His father, Thomas George Arnold, was a doctor of Stamford. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
, was seventh junior optime in the mathematical tripos of 1821, and was elected fellow of his college shortly afterwards. He took his degree of B.A. in the same year, and that of M.A. in 1824. In 1830 he was presented to the living of Lyndon
, in Rutland
shire, where his parishioners only numbered one hundred. He at first devoted his ample leisure to theology
, and showed himself an obstinate opponent of the views advanced by the leaders of the Oxford movement
. From 1838 until his death he applied himself mainly to the preparation of school books, which procured him a very wide reputation. He died at Lyndon Rectory
of bronchitis
after a few days' illness on 9 March 1853. A writer in the 'Guardian' at the time of his death describes him as 'remarkable for an almost feminine gentleness of manner, and for the unaffected simplicity of his life.'
in the higher classes of the chief schools of England. Its leading merit consisted in its author's judicious use of the system and researches of recent German scholars — 'in applying the method of Ollendorff to the syntax of Buttmann.' In 1839 Arnold issued a 'Latin Prose Composition' on a similar plan, and it met with a welcome little less warm than that accorded to its forerunner, and in the succeeding years he prepared a whole library of classical school-books, which included translations and adaptations of many German and American works. In association with the Rev. J. E. Riddle he published in 1847 an 'English-Latin Lexicon,' based on a German work by Dr. C. E. Georges, which cost him, he wrote in the preface, 'many years of labour.' Between 1848 and 1853 he edited, in twenty-five volumes, portions of all the chief Latin and Greek authors, and published handbooks of classical antiquities, an 'Anticleptic Gradus,' and similar works. Nor did he confine himself to the classics. He superintended the publication of English, French, German, Italian, and Hebrew grammars, and aided in the preparation of a 'Handbook of Hebrew Antiquities' and a 'Boy's Arithmetic.' Almost all his educational writings bear the distinct impress of German influence. In his classical work he depended largely on Madvig, Krtiger, Zumpt, and other less known scholars; his treatment of modern languages was also based on German models, and Arnold was generally ready to acknowledge his obligations to foreign writers.
As a theological writer Arnold was almost equally voluminous. His earliest published work was a sermon
on the 'Faith of Abel,' which appeared in the third volume of a collection of 'Family Sermons' in 1833, and four years later he projected and edited a periodical under the title of the 'Churchman's Quarterly Magazine,' which soon perished. Subsequently he made two similar attempts to further the interests of the church of England
by means of periodical literature. In January 1844 he published the first number of the 'Churchman's Monthly Companion,' which succumbed to popular indifference eight months later, and in 1851 he started another monthly magazine, entitled the 'Theological Critic,' which lived on until his death in 1853. Arnold's contributions to theological literature also included five pamphlets on ecclesiastical questions raised by the Oxford movement; an abridgment of an American version of Hengstenberg's 'Christology;' two volumes of sermons, one published in 1845, and the other posthumously in 1858; and 'Short Helps to Daily Devotion' (1847). He likewise issued controversial treatises criticising well-known theological works like Taylor's 'Interpretations of the Fathers,' Elliott's 'Horæ Apocalypticæ,' and Dean Close's sermons, in all of which, according to a sympathetic critic in the 'Guardian' of 1853, 'his critical eye discerned unsoundness . . . which, if not exposed, was likely to do extensive mischief.'
In an article in Fraser's Magazine
for February 1853, afterwards published in pamphlet
form and attributed to John William Donaldson
, an attempt was made to discredit Arnold's classical schoolbooks. In a temperate reply, written a few weeks before his death, Arnold rebutted some of the more sinister imputations on his character in the article. The popularity of a few of the books that Donaldson specially denounced survived his attack.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al works
Arnold was born in 1800. His father, Thomas George Arnold, was a doctor of Stamford. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, was seventh junior optime in the mathematical tripos of 1821, and was elected fellow of his college shortly afterwards. He took his degree of B.A. in the same year, and that of M.A. in 1824. In 1830 he was presented to the living of Lyndon
Lyndon, Rutland
Lyndon is a small village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.Thomas Barker of Lyndon Hall kept a detailed weather record from 1736 to 1798. William Whiston , best known for his translation of Josephus, died at the Hall, the home of his son-in-law, Samuel Barker on 22 August...
, in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
shire, where his parishioners only numbered one hundred. He at first devoted his ample leisure to theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and showed himself an obstinate opponent of the views advanced by the leaders of the Oxford movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
. From 1838 until his death he applied himself mainly to the preparation of school books, which procured him a very wide reputation. He died at Lyndon Rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
of bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
after a few days' illness on 9 March 1853. A writer in the 'Guardian' at the time of his death describes him as 'remarkable for an almost feminine gentleness of manner, and for the unaffected simplicity of his life.'
Works
Arnold began his career as an educational writer with the publication of the Essentials of Greek Accidence in 1838, and this work was followed almost immediately by his 'Practical Introduction to Greek Prose Composition,' which had an unprecedented success, and was 'the keystone of his literary fortunes,' The book reached a fourth edition in 1841, and a seventh in 1849, when its sale had exceeded 20,000 copies. It was at once adopted as a textbookTextbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
in the higher classes of the chief schools of England. Its leading merit consisted in its author's judicious use of the system and researches of recent German scholars — 'in applying the method of Ollendorff to the syntax of Buttmann.' In 1839 Arnold issued a 'Latin Prose Composition' on a similar plan, and it met with a welcome little less warm than that accorded to its forerunner, and in the succeeding years he prepared a whole library of classical school-books, which included translations and adaptations of many German and American works. In association with the Rev. J. E. Riddle he published in 1847 an 'English-Latin Lexicon,' based on a German work by Dr. C. E. Georges, which cost him, he wrote in the preface, 'many years of labour.' Between 1848 and 1853 he edited, in twenty-five volumes, portions of all the chief Latin and Greek authors, and published handbooks of classical antiquities, an 'Anticleptic Gradus,' and similar works. Nor did he confine himself to the classics. He superintended the publication of English, French, German, Italian, and Hebrew grammars, and aided in the preparation of a 'Handbook of Hebrew Antiquities' and a 'Boy's Arithmetic.' Almost all his educational writings bear the distinct impress of German influence. In his classical work he depended largely on Madvig, Krtiger, Zumpt, and other less known scholars; his treatment of modern languages was also based on German models, and Arnold was generally ready to acknowledge his obligations to foreign writers.
As a theological writer Arnold was almost equally voluminous. His earliest published work was a sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
on the 'Faith of Abel,' which appeared in the third volume of a collection of 'Family Sermons' in 1833, and four years later he projected and edited a periodical under the title of the 'Churchman's Quarterly Magazine,' which soon perished. Subsequently he made two similar attempts to further the interests of the church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
by means of periodical literature. In January 1844 he published the first number of the 'Churchman's Monthly Companion,' which succumbed to popular indifference eight months later, and in 1851 he started another monthly magazine, entitled the 'Theological Critic,' which lived on until his death in 1853. Arnold's contributions to theological literature also included five pamphlets on ecclesiastical questions raised by the Oxford movement; an abridgment of an American version of Hengstenberg's 'Christology;' two volumes of sermons, one published in 1845, and the other posthumously in 1858; and 'Short Helps to Daily Devotion' (1847). He likewise issued controversial treatises criticising well-known theological works like Taylor's 'Interpretations of the Fathers,' Elliott's 'Horæ Apocalypticæ,' and Dean Close's sermons, in all of which, according to a sympathetic critic in the 'Guardian' of 1853, 'his critical eye discerned unsoundness . . . which, if not exposed, was likely to do extensive mischief.'
In an article in Fraser's Magazine
Fraser's Magazine
Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country was a general and literary journal published in London from 1830 to 1882, which initially took a strong Tory line in politics. It was founded by Hugh Fraser and William Maginn in 1830 and loosely directed by Maginn under the name Oliver Yorke until about 1840...
for February 1853, afterwards published in pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
form and attributed to John William Donaldson
John William Donaldson
John William Donaldson was an English philologist and biblical critic.He was born in London, and was educated at University College, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he subsequently became a fellow...
, an attempt was made to discredit Arnold's classical schoolbooks. In a temperate reply, written a few weeks before his death, Arnold rebutted some of the more sinister imputations on his character in the article. The popularity of a few of the books that Donaldson specially denounced survived his attack.