Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-07-20

whole lake to the bottom more than
a pebble falls. And when such a man
falls, we are all afflicted, we lose some
thing we can hardly spare.
1t is now about four years since |
met Mr.. English as a teacher in the
public schools. The changes made
left him to drift out Of sight, but not
ont Of mind after winning success
elsewhere and gaining other friends,
we find him at the head Of our schools,
and at the head Of his profession.-
He is here because some knew him
well enough to know we could not be
without such man yet he is here in
the face Of some opposition, which
predicted failure to him, and disaster
to the school.
The new teacher set before himself
then and there an upright course and
was therefore sure of success.
He was very determined to be sue
ccsstnl, and adhered to it with an en-
ergy which has not tagged n single
day.
He was honest, and kept to it with
an integrity which has made very few
mistakes. lie labored with a devo
ton which no martyr could outdo,
and faithful to his work was n success
full man.
In that quiet way which made no
show Of force, but which in the end
gave him so much power, he organized,
managed, persevered, succeeded. He
possessed Il wonderful power, it seem
cd to be in him, it was in him, sure to
come out because he was upright.
He seemed TO have great power
Of discrimination in seeing the success
and the want of it, in some Of his sub
ordinate teachers which u year has
proved correct.
He was true scholar, retaining
what he gained correcting mistakes
using his knowledge to do better his
work.
The best teacher is one who can tell
enough, all that is necessary to clear
exposition Of the subject to be taught,
and leave on the mind Of the pupil the
impression, all is not told, there is yet
a full division OF fresh soldiers ready
for all emergency or any surprise
Measured by this rule Mr.. Hiram
English was a successful teacher. He
was never brought to bay. He was
never exhausted. His class always
felt that he could do more.
Making choice Of his work, he en-
tered it with an earnest purpose, fol-
lowed it with an honest endeavor, was
faithful to every trust, was true to ev-
cry confidence.
Such man cannot well be spared
for he was truly upright and sure.
| believe he set before himself an up
right course, and determined to succeed
without display, trickery or cheat.
What is the secret of this upright
ness, reaching such success?
He had u strong will. He was ear
nest. He was full of integrity. He
was honest and faithful. All these
characteristics helped to make him up.
right-but there was something more,
which gave beauty and symetry to the
man. He was CHRISTIAN. He was
amoral man, nobody can question that,
for his was high toned morality a re-
gard for right, but the key to his up
Brightness is-he was q CHRISTIAN.
His belief in the fundamental doc
trines Of religion, the authenticity and
credibility Of the Bible, and the good
Of the Church was vital and operative,
thus personal duty to the Church came
to be regarded, and he took his place
as q member of the Church, consecrat-
ING himself to service ofChrist in the
Church on earth. 1t was conviction
Of duty, and in regarding this convic-
ton, he proved that the ground OF his
morality, the secret of uprghtness was
in obedience to Christ's commands, and
a manifest willingness to follow his
Master
The public profession of faith in
Christ, had not long to develope itself,
but it had time enough to compel a
recognition as honest, and to gain re-
spect that his religion was genuine.
Men of the world may declare that
they have but little confidence in
religious professors, but here was one
life, short but true, which honored
such q profession"
Moral men may claim much for in
tegrity, truth, morality, here was q life
all that can be demanded from all
those elements, made upright by faith
in Christ, made sure by obedience in
following a divine voice, in the days
of his work, this strengthened when
suffering, it comlorted when dying-it
saved him. Such man it is hard to
lose.
We are all mourners to-day. The
school, the community, the Church,
each individual-we all mourn an up
right man.
You who knew him in the sacred
relations of home, mourn with grief
too sacred for us to approach, but we
must weep, for our sorrow is for the
loss of a friend, an upright man, one
safe to follow. We mourn to day be-
cause we can follow him no more on
earth, something has been taken away
we know not how to loose.
Father, Wife, you take from us to-
day, one respected, loved by alone
L j / j =.