A Letter from John H. Finley

I fully expected to be a guest at your great feast tonight with those who wish to show you gratitude and honor. … I wished to add my personal word of appreciation and praise (and my past-perfect official word) to what others might say. I wished also (and this is properly denied me) to turn a little of the credit for your distinguished career to my own account. However, I deserve no credit for doing what I thought was for the good of the College, which we both love. I am bound to say that I had some hesitation when you, who had been a tutor or instructor in mathematics, were proposed for a position in philosophy. But I remember to this day the letters about you from William James and Josiah Royce [sic] and others and that after seeing them I had no question as to your fitness in philosophy (or anything else). I wish that these letters might be recovered (as I have in vain tried to do today) and put of record in the minutes of this meeting. I have often said that I have never read higher commendation of any student from such high authority. You have fulfilled the promise of these great prophets. What more can I say except that you have put yourself by your merit in the class with the man of your own race, Mordecai, whom King Ahasuerus delighted to honor? As the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad over his recognition, so this city, whose son you are, is proud of you and glad of this recognition of your worth and your service.

Letter from John H. Finley (CCNY President 1903-1913) to Professor Morris Cohen, October 15, 1927. This letter was read to more than a thousand alumni and friends gathered on that date at the Hotel Astor to commemorate Cohen’s twenty-five years of service to the departments of mathematics and philosophy.

(A Tribute to Professor Morris Raphael Cohen: Teacher & Philosopher. New York: Grossman, 1928, pp. 21-23.)