Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/130

 110 ADAMS AD ANA one there was a remarkable contrast between Samuel and John Adams. Both, true to their New England origin, were theologians; but John Adams, while to a certain extent a con- servative in politics, was quite a neologist in religion. The Arminian heresies of his youth- ful days had prevented him from studying di- vinity, and in the correspondence of his ex- treme old age he appears almost as much a free- thinker as Jefferson himself. Samuel Adams, on the other hand, though to his last days a progressive in politics, was always a decided conservative in religion, adhering with sincere persuasion and firm tenacity to the five points of Calvinism. Nor did this strictness limit itself to doctrine. "At a time," says Edward Everett, " when the new order of things was inducing laxity of manners and a departure from the ancient strictness, Samuel Adams clung with greater tenacity to the whole- some discipline of the fathers." But Mr. Everett scarcely does justice to Mr. Adams's spirit of sociality when he adds, "His only relaxation from business and the cares of life was in the indulgence of a taste for sa- cred music, for which he was qualified by the possession of a most angelic voice and a soul solemnly impressed with religious sentiment." He was, on the other hand, fond of conversa- tion, and possessed himself a large fund of anecdote. Besides the state papers of which Adams was either wholly or mainly the author, and his numerous political contributions to the newspapers, of which, however, but few have been identified, there have appeared in print a number of his letters. An oration on Ameri- can independence, purporting to have been de- livered, by him in Philadelphia Aug. 1, 1776, and printed in London, is probably spurious, though it is a very favorable imitation of his style, neat, forcible, and pointed, without the least inflation or appearance of effort. In this oration the writer gives the English the title of a "nation of shopkeepers," and it is not impossible that it was hence that Bonaparte borrowed this appellation, which was a favor- ite one with him, since it is known that the oration was translated into French and pub- lished at Paris. Adams's life has been writ- ten by W. V. Wells (" Life add Public Ser- vices of Samuel Adams," 3 vols. 8vo, Bos- ton, 1865). He left only female descendants, and the name of Adams is no longer borne by any of his blood. , ADAMS, William, D. D., an American cler- gyman, born in Colchester, Conn., Jan. 25, 1807. He received his early education from his father (see ADAMS, JOHN, LL. D.), when principal of Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and graduated at Yale college in 1827. He studied theology at Andover, and in February, 1831, was ordained as a Congregational minister and pastor at Brighton, Mass. In 1834 he was called to the charge of the Central Presbyterian church, New York city. He has since that time been identified with the Presbyterian church, and has been (1872) for 38 years the pastor of the same congregation, which since 1853 has been known as the " Madison Square Presbyterian Church." He early attained rep- utation as a pulpit orator, and has been very prominent in the national benevolent societies. He was moderator of the New School general assembly of 1852, and was active in promoting the reunion between the Old and New School churches in 1870-'71. Besides occasional ser- mons, addresses, orations, and articles in the reviews, he has published "The Three Gar- dens : Eden, Gethsemane, and Paradise " (1859) ; an edition of Isaac Taylor's "Spirit of Hebrew Poetry," with a biographical introduc- tion (1861) ; "Thanksgiving: Memories of the Day, and Helps to the Habit" (1865); and " Conversations of Jesus Christ with Represen- tative Men" (1868). In 1871 Dr. Adams was elected professor of sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology in the Union theological seminary, New York, but declined the appointment. ADAMS, William T. (pseudonyme, OLIVER OP- TIC), an American writer of juvenile books, born in Medway, Mass., July 30, 1822. He was for many years a public school teacher in Bos- ton, and now edits "Oliver Optic's Magazine for Boys and Girls." His principal works are "The Boat Club," "Woodville," "Army and Navy," "Young America Abroad," "Starry Flag," and "Lake Shore" series of stories, the " Riverdale Story Books," and "In Doors and Out," a volume of domestic tales. ADAM'S PEAK, or Ilamazel, a conical mountain in S. Ceylon, 45 m. S. S. E. of Colombo, 7,420 ft. high, and, with the exception of Pedrotalla- galla (which exceeds it by 860 ft.), the highest in the island. The ascent is made by. means of a chain fixed to its summit. It is considered sacred by both Buddhists and Mohammedans, who make frequent pilgrimages there during the dry season (January, February, and March). On the summit, which is surrounded by a wall 5 ft. high, with two openings for the admission of pilgrims, there is the impression of a gigantic foot in the rock, said by the natives to be that of Buddha when he stepped from this peak to the adjacent kingdom of Siam ; but ascribed by the Mohammedans to Adam after his expulsion from paradise (placed in the vicinity of Cey- lon), whence the peak derives its name. Al)AA, a town of Turkey, in S. E. Asia Minor, capital of a sanjak, on the river Sihun (anc. Sarus), 25 m. N. E. of Tarsus and 60 m. N. W. of Alexandretta ; pop. about 30,000. It commands the Cilician passes of the Taurus chain, is well built, and contains interesting ancient remains. The bridge across the Sihun at this point is reported tohave been con- structed by Justinian, and the castle is alscr notable. Wool, cotton, corn, wine, and fruit are the staples of its commerce. Pompey colonized the town with conquered Cilician pirates. From 1833 to 1839, in consequence of Ibrahim Pasha's victory at Konieh, the san- jak was in the hands of the Egyptians.