The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-27


his farewell was spoken to the members
of Unity Church, and pertained princi-
pally to the relations between the Minis
ter and his people, there is hardly man
or woman in Chicago who will not in
some sense accept it as personal good
by, and Join with those to whom it was
spoken in regret that the kindly and
well-known face will no longer be a
familiar sight in our homes and thorough
fares.
The sermon was what might have been
expected from such man. 1t was dig
nifed, but none the less simple, modest,
and unpretentious farewell, more full of
heart than of head, abounding in tender
recollections of the past, in earnest sug-
gestions of present duties, and in stead
fast faith that the future had been or
dered for the best. There are one or two
passages so thoroughly characteristic of
the man, and which sketch 50 faithful a
portrait of him, that we quote them. In
speaking of the causes of his departure,
lie said:
81 should go forth with the least and
poorest half of heart had not this feel
ing gradually grown on me, that it is not
wholly of my own impulse go
forth, but the impulse also of the
high powers that deal with
us to their own purpose, and which, for
some space back, would not let me rest.
There was no clear vision for me, there is
none now, only the half of that which
moved me TO leave my motherland, the
word to 60, and the route. | did not
know what would befall me then
in the quiet deep where faith and knowl-
edge meet. | do not know what would
belall me now, and can only hope for the
best and try and keep steady face TO-
ward the worst, if it comes, and SO make
tnat the best at last through bearing
when doing is not for me to CHOOSE. But,
whatever may be my lot, l nurse the
ever-growing conviction that it is not all
left to one 50 hel piess to choose his own
way IN these great matters, but some
touch of that inspiration OF the Almighty
wnich giveth understanding is within
this we 50 poorly understand"
And again, in describing his relations
to his cAurcn;
"You have never held me as one set
apart. and above you, who could not
laugh on occasion, or touch the springs
Of laughter, or love old ballads that have
poured from the living heart of the
people, Or be touched by noble music, or
witness at wholesome play, or could stay
TO the upper but go out before the
dance, or could eat only crosses and
leQtils like the old anchorites, or could
not tell stories to the children that have
nothing at all to do with Moses and the
prophets, or be interested beyond meas
ure when young men and maidens God
had made for each other caught the secret
he had kept for the true moment. In all
these things it has been my pride and joy
to be one with you, to the peril, | sup
pose, OF what some men call ministerial
dignity. But have always believed that
the nearer minister could come to his
people in every wholesome human way.
the more surely he could help them and
they could help him, and the record this
Church has made through all these years,
| say it with proud humility, thank
ing God, has justified our faith in such
wholesome human ways"
The kindness and tenderness of the
man come out in many passages of the
sermon, but in none more strongly thar
in the following:
'Be as good and generous to the new
man as you have been to the old, and he
will thank God the longest day he lives
for directing his steps to this pulpit.
know | have vexed you many time, ano
hurt you, and you have held your own,
hope, and made the account square. Bur
it was all manfully done, and may hell
TO prove that our friendship and fellow
ship were not devoid of a right austerity
and that we have rot taken the fatal drif
toward a society of mutual admiration
1t has been sweet and kindly relation
on this human side as ever man had il
the world and, for aught else, am for
getting that already and speak to you
and shall not need the kindly touch O
time and distance to rob me of what Ut
man wants to keep"