New-York tribune., 1880-04-07

the tender and eloquent young preacher OF Fed
eral Street.
From the first, setting aside his doctrina
views. Claiming was mOralist of the frs
order Because he did not think meanly OF the
human soul, and saw in it the possibility of in
finite progression, he never kept any terms with
wrong which might crush or with vice which
would degrade 1t. He was pastor of a singu-
laIly conservative church. He was attached
both by birth and assoc alton to that class OF
society the tendency of which was to avoid
eager discussion and not to disturb that which
was apparently settled. Charming had no fear
of change. He advocated more than one un-
popular reform with indOmitable courage. At
the same time he did so with gentle amiabillty
which paItisans could not understand and were
ant TO misrepresent One of his most celebrated
essays, that upon the character of Napoleon,
| early announced his detestaiOn of wars waged
for conquest and for glory. There was no be-
nevOent enterprise set afOOt which did not at
once challenge his attention. This noble
thinker and writer, almost always in ill-health,
living in seclusion and with O native refinement
which made all exaggeration distasteful to him,
never feared to speak n word Of encouragement
to those whose whole souls were filled with
righteous raSo at wrong and outrage-to those
who sought to persuade men pOlemically rather
than lovingly to lead wiser and more profitable
lives He never isolated his pulpit from poll
tics He at once identified himself with the
temperance movement. One of the most inter-
esting events of his career was his publication
of his little book on Slavery in 1895. 1t does
not seem a bold step now, for Slavery is gone
and with it that intense and uncompromising
hatred with which the opponents of the institu
ton were regarded by the timid, the prejudiced
and the self-soeking. The book, though it was
quietly and cautiously written, was rare
triumph for the dcsp'scd, prescribed and i'll
treated Abolitionists. 1t was read with tears OF
Joy by many q firesdc, and hailed as an ad
mirable demonstration of the absuIdity rs well
as the cruelty of human bondage. 1t made inn
pregnabIe the premises of Garrison and his
little band of devoted associates. 1t swept
away all the chaff with Which men, and even
reverend men, had sought to obscure the real
issue. It's logical conclusion WAS immediate
abolition, though its author may not then have
thought so. Having taken tins step, DR.. Chan
ming steadily adhered to his anti-slavery opin-
ions, and his last public address was delivered
at LenOx Mass, August l, 1912, two months
before his decease, in cOmmemOratiOn of Eman-
cipatiOn in the West Indics. IL has been GUS
tomary to consider the course thus pursued by
Dr. Claiming "A exhibiting remarkable degree
of moral courage. But great man, of intui-
tiOns nOblcr than the common, and with that
lust estimate bf censure and of praise which
lofty soul will always entertain, acts with an
instructive facility. He is not governed by the
motives and Influences which seem so important
to the self. seeking and the timid Slavery was
an aifrOnt to DR.. Channinss most deeply cher
ished ideas of the dignity Of human nature. If
it was right, il was practical lefutation OF his
whole system of the truths which he had
reached through long and patient and anxious
thought of the morality which it had been the
business of his life to elaborate.
Considered merely as n writer DR.. Claiming
has always been regarded rs holding a foremost
place among the literary men of the age.
There are those to whom his siyle-Quict, uni
form ard entirely free from the ordinary re-
sources of the rhetOrician-sccms somewhat
tame and mOnOtonOus. Perhaps the atmO
sphere in which he moves is too pure and ele-
waited for ordinary minds. Perhaps the readers
own lack of spiritual elevation may unfit him
for due appreciation of writings which are
full OF it. Claiming puts everything into the
alembic of his own moral idcaliSm. He dis |
cusses religion, government and literature, but |
never from worldly points of view. His whole !
plane is higher than the ordinary. He regards |
men Us angels, fallen it is true, but still capable |
of regeneration which shall change the |
earthly to the heavenly, and transform every
mean desire into q priceless aspiration He
would dignity as well as purify those lives
which might still tend upward, instead of creep
ing and crawling In the quagmires and quick
sands of low desires and animal purposes
1t ia of good import that so long after he has
ceased from his worldly labors, character
who discussed human affairs and human destiny
in Il religious and philosophical spirit should
be so well remembered and so affectiOnatcly
hOnOrcd of men. Permanent fame is often
matter of chance The monuments and the
memories of the world are most frequently be-
slowed upon ignOblc characters, upon material
workers and dazzling charlatans whom it would
be better to forget altogether if we could.
While great teacher still keeps his hold upon
the minds and hearts of men, we need not de-
5pair. Such q recurrence to those who have
passed away is Indicative of progress. Such
love aud respect for those who have made the
world better proves that we are not wholly re-
gardless of what alone is lovely and immortal.