Stuart Robinson Declines a D.D.

The Kentucky Tribune, Danville, Sep. 2, 1853, p. 2, provides a news snippet about Presbyterian of the past Stuart Robinson. “Rev. Stuart Robinson, formerly of Frankfort and now of Baltimore, has declined the honorary degree of D.D. lately conferred on him by Centre College.” Unfortunately, the reason he turned down the degree is not given. The Doctor of Divinity is commonly given by educational institutions to honor ministers and professors of note, so knowing the reasoning behind his decision would be interesting. Before earned doctorates became commonly used to confirm the knowledge and ability of a recipient, the D.D. provided the assessment of knowledgeable peers that a recipient had achieved exceptional standing. The D.D. is still given to honor and acknowledge the achievements of individuals, but its use is not as frequent. There must have been a significant issue because his action surely offended some members of the Centre community while making others plain angry. Within a few years he would be teaching at Danville Seminary and the abandoned D.D. might have proved useful since the seminary was a neighbor of Centre College. To read about Robinson see the article, “Stuart Robinson, 1814-1881”.