Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-08
OBITUARY.

Pcfhsvillc, Ohio, Mt the residence of
B. T. Hamblcton, August 18th, JAMES HAMILTON,
NJ. D..
The departure of this just, upright man, and
pure philanthropist, must strike sorrow to the
hearts of all who knew him but to his near and
intimate friends it is so full of sad suggestion, Of
disappointed hope, that we hardly dare look at all
the consequences, and just now the cloud which
ehcompasscd that dark Valley through which he
50 lately passed, rests upon our spirits, and shuts
out that future into which the world is struggling.
and Of which he was one Of our few bright and
rising stars.
Simple and unpretcnding he always was and
his spirit so true in everything to its sense of right
and fitness, seems to whisper n gentle admonition,
to speak of the beloved dead in any but the cant
words Of mere praise-to make my words few,
and sacred to the sole object for which he lived
and died-the good and consolation of others; for
never did l know any one who more earnestly fol-
lowed, and more entirely embodied the life of Him
who was at once Savior and CONSIDER of our
race.
Nooe were more prompt than he to speak tho
words which a stern sense of justice and duty SO
often demands from true men, and which sound
| NlOlclb ullu hulNl SOlllCllillC III NV Cblo Va DOli
satisfied ignorance and perverse error; yet these
words were always accompanied, and sanctifed,s so
to speak, by such earnest love and selfdenial, such
true-hearted frankness and kindness, that they
won for him ~unfaling tolerance and respect. As
an illustration Of his character, l cannot forbear
giving an instance of his gentle faithfulness TO
his convictions, which made a beautiful and
abiding impression on me, as it did on others, |
trust, and which will present a truer view of the
whole tenor of his life, than any testimony of mine
can do.
lie was at one time assistant in one Of our best
and most popular "W~ater-Curcs," the patient,
unwearied nurse, the sympathetic friend and care
taker of some twenty or thirty invalids, dearly be-
loved by them all, and greatly, eminently respect
ed throughout the establishment, for his perfect
integrity, everywhere O. ought and liked for his
genuine intelligence, his s~unshiny and affection
ate temper.
The Institution was intensely orthodox in mat
ters of religion, in its whole tone and influence.
James had his own views-free, liberal and large
hearted, of these things. He looked upon their
views as being hostile to advancement, and to that
generous, healthy tone of body and spirit which he
lived and labored with all his soul to promote ;
therefore, in spite of the motives to silence, that
a meaner, a more selfish and dishonest soul would
have found in abundance, he set himself to work
earnestly, to effect a change and in spite OF the
prayers and tears of some Of his dearest friends,
he proposed and he Id q discussion in the public
hall Of the Institution, with an established clergy
man of some reputation, and two or three others
who were only in embryo, of the question, "Is it
in the Providence of God that we should DO af-
Hicted with disease and premature death ?" lie
seemed inspired there was such calm and simple
faith in the truths upon which his soul rested, far
out of the storm of blind passion and prejudice,
one thought of a gentle bird perched on a high,
sunlit rock, looking serenely down upon the
storm.
At the close, however, he looked pale, exhausted
and bathed in perspiration. at is nothing" he
answered to our inquiries, " but was so afraid Of
saying more or less than my duty demanded =
how can | show people a God Of love, mercy and
wisdom, unless | embody in some degree his attri
butes? Unless l believe on him myself, and fash,
ion my life to that belief, how can | induce other;
to do so 2"
fifty opposers, came around him to pray there
would be no arrangement,
A friend said to him, i" How can you non resist
i ants manage fifty or sixty naughty children ii
! school without whipping them?" 81 found NJ
difficulty in controlling them" he answered
+" when / Learned to control myself" A sentimen
she nor / will ever forget.
e The great beauty of these high views was, tina
e they did not spring from the momentary excite
ment of an enthusiast, but were the settled con
9 victions of a practical and laborious worker.
g His subsequent career accorded perfectly witt
them.
i In preparing, as he said, to "assume the dutie
: of his profession, I" he graduated in one of the old
: est and best Medical Colleges of New England
after passing with every distinction, n mere fOrr
Of an examination, at the Hydropathic School, no
for the sake of the title, which he rarely or neye
n assumed, but in order to enrich and raise on a fri
basis his darling system of Hydropathy. IL
thought. in order to become what no desired,
!, physical savior of his race. he should have tho aC
I, vantage of all the knowledge the other school
could give him, and this aim he pursued like a
re others, with a steady conscience and a ferver
faith.
I'd With no ostentation, no ~clap-trap, no wealth
" influence" few have 60 rapidly risen to eminenC
in any profession, or SO firmly planted themsclyi
upon the confidence and affections of so large
circle of friends. lie died just at the time whe
the highest honors of the profession were cluste
ing thickly about him, and all the dearest hop
of his heart were in the way of complete falG
ment.
~ II would almost seem that there are some sou
I'd SO pure and precious that God is jealous
u, his own, and will not suffer temptation to approa'
them. lie gives them noble aims, and SUITE
them for a season to work and strive nightly {
in the attainment Of them, and when the hour
mo triumph and ~frpition comes, he gathers to hims'
u the faithful soul, that it may not learn the niue
n travelled road from success to falscness.
nd have hardly thought it necessary to say Ii