and afterwards applied himself to the study of theology, but never became a regularly settled minister. He was made tutor in Bowdoin College in 1809; afterwards (1811) tutor and (1813) librarian in Harvard Univer- sity ; and was later appointed Dexter professor of sacred literature in the same institution (181!>). He held this oftice until failing health obliged him to retire in 1830, and he spent the rest of his days at Cambridge in liter- ary retirement, varied by cordial and generous hospi- tality. He died at Newport, K. I., Se])t. 18, 1853. Dr. Norton was, after Dr. Channing, the most distinguished American exponent of Unitarian theology. He was a clear and perspicuous lecturer, an able and conservative critic, and a voluminous writer. Kejecting the doctrine of the Trinity, and protesting against Calvinism, he also opposed the school of Theodore Parker and the naturalistic theology. Besides his contributions to the General Repository and Review, the North A merican Re- view, and Christian Examiner, his most important pub- lications are. The Evidences of the Genuineness of the Gosjjels (2d ed. Cambridge, Mass., 1846, 3 vols. 8vo ; Lond. 1847, 2 vols. 8vo). The author's arrangement of the work is as follows: Part I. Proof that the Gospels remain essentially as they were originally composed. Part II. Historical evidence that the Gospels have been ascribed to their true authors. Part III. On the evi- dences for the genuineness of the Gospels afforded by the early heretics. It is a contributi(}n to American Biblical literature of the very highest order. No per- son can peruse it without confessing the acuteness and strength of its reasoning, and the precision and purity of its diction. Professor Peabody, in a review of it in the North American Review (xlv, 206-222), says: "Norton has placed beyond dispute the authorship of our canonical Gospels ; and this point being established, little is left for the defender of the Christian faith; for if our Gospels were written by the men whose names they bear, the authenticity of their records and the divine mission of their great Teacher hardly need the show of argument." (See Dr. Davidson's Lectures on Biblical Criticism, p. 369 sq. ; Eclec. Rev. 4th ser. xxiii, 423; Lond. Christ. Reformer ; Lond. Prospective Review ; A me?: Bihl. Repos. xi, 265 [by Moses Stuart] ; Boston Christian Review, iii, 53; and the articles [by A. Lam- son] in Christ. Exam, xii, 321 ; xxxvi, 145 ; xliii, 148). Norton wrote also A Statement of Reasons for not Be- lieving the Docti'ine of Trinitarians concerning the Nat- ure of God and the Person of Christ (Cambridge, 1833, 12mo; new ed. with a Memoir of the Author by Dr. Newell [Bost. 1856, 12mo]) :—0n the latest Form of Infidelity (1839 ; see Princet. Rev. xii. 31), a work which was answered by a champion of Transcendentalism, to whom Norton replied : — Tracts concerning Christian- ity (Bost. 1852, 1 vol. 8vo) : — Internal Evidences of the Genuineness of the Gospels. Pai-t I. Remarks on Chris- tianity and the Gospels, with particular Reference to Strauss's " Life of Jesus." Part II. Portions of an un- fnished Work (ibid. 1855, 8vo) : — A Translation of the Gospels, with Notes (ibid. 1855, 2 vols. 8vo); a task which, in the judgment of some, did not prove creditable to Prof. Norton. See Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. ii, 2215; Men of the Times, s. v. ; Trlibner, Guide to Amer. Liter- ature, s. v. ; and especially AUibone, Diet, of Brit, and A mer. A uth. s. v. (J. H. W.)
Norton, Asahel Strong, D.D., a Congregational minister, was born at Farraington, Conn., Sept. 20, 1765, and was educated at Yale College, class of 1790 ; then entered upon the studies of the ministry, and was or- dained at Clinton, N. Y., in 1793; holding successively several important pastorates in Western New York, and exerting in that section of country an important influ- ence. Dr. Norton died May 10, 1833. at Clinton. He was one of the founders of Hamilton College, situated at that place.
Norton, Herman, an American Presbyterian min- ister of some note, was born in New Hartford, N. Y.,
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July 2, 1799. When about seventeen years old he was conVerted at Auburn, N. Y., and being poor, he was pro- vided for by friends of the Presbyterian Church which he had joined, and sent to Hamilton College, and after- wards to Auburn Theological Seminary, to lit himself for the ministry. As soon as he had entered the min- istry he commenced preaching the Gospel, at first as an evangelist, in which capacity his labors were very suc- cessful in many places in the State of New York. For several years he was pastor of a Presbyterian Church at the corner of Prince and Crosby Streets, in the city of New York, where God gave him many seals of his min- istry. His health failing, he was compelled to seek fields of usefulness in the country. He labored in Tren- ton, New Jersey, and in other places, with much success. Subsequently he preached at Cincinnati and elsewhere. Wherever he went, his labors were eminently useful to the conversion of sinners, and to the aiding of believers in their spiritual life. In the year 1843 Mr. Norton was chosen corresponding secretary of the American Prot- estant Society, and thenceforward made New York the home of his family and the centre of his labors. His zeal and success in the work of evangelizing the papal population of our country, in connection with that so- ciety as its chief officer, are well known. He was at once corresponding secretary, editor of the magazine, and general agent for the collection of funds. When the American Protestant Society, the Foreign Evan- gelical Society, and the Christian Alliance were united, and became the American and Foreign Christian Union, Mr. Norton was chosen one of the corresponding secre- taries. In the discharge of the duties of that office he labored as faithfully as his health permitted, till his death. December, 1851. In the sufferings of the exiles from Madeira he took a very deep interest. It was greatly owing to him that so man\' of them came to this country. His efforts in tlieir behalf were incessant, from the time of their landing in New York till the last company left for Illinois, in the month of November, 1850. The excellent volume from his pen, entitled Itecord of Facts concernimj the Persecutions at Madeira, in which the history of that suffering people is faith- fully given, has been extensively read, and is an endur- ing monument of his heartfelt interest in their behalf. His remains rest in the same tomb where lie those of two of those excellent people, one of whom was the de- voted and greatly beloved Da Silva. Norton also pub- lished, Sigtis of Damjer and of Promise : — Startling Facts for American Protestants : — The Christian and Deist, an excellent work: — and several Tracts relating to lioraanism, published by the society of which he was secretary. See Christian Union, Januarj-, 1851.