Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-07
Death Of Dr., stuart RObInsO .,


Although the dissolution, and per-
haps the speedy dissolution, Of the
Rev. Stuart Robinson, was considered
by his family, and by the public gen.
orally, as inevitable to the state of
ill-health which has afflicted him the
last year or two. no one was prepared
for the termination Of his life yester
day morning, and the community was
greatly shocked when his death, which
occurred fifteen minutes before seven
o'clock, was announced to it. No
citizen Of Louisville possessed a more
commanding personality. lie was not
merely an eminent divine, holding his
tenure Of influence by those chords
which stretch from the church to the
freside and spring out of home affec-
tions. He was of great moral force in
secular affairs, and welded power
altogether Characteristic and original.
His disappearance from the midst Of
US, therefore, creates a gap not alone
in the great family circle he had built
up by his religious ministrations, but
will be realized and regretted in every
walk of life where there is intellectual
or spiritual activity.
DIR. Robinson was a man of the
largest proportions. He had the look
of great man, and could be seen
nowhere without attracting attention.
Like the late President Garfield, he
rose from the ranks to make himself a
scholar and logician; though here the
resemblance ceases, for the divine was
man of uncompromising opinions
and aggressive temperament, who,
despite a never-failing urbanity and
kind heartedness, regarded every de-
hection from abstract right as a wrong.
During forty years of heated contrO
versy, often during periods of passion
ate excitement, he maintained his in
tellentual convictions with a power
which, whilst making itself perpetually
felt, did not descend from the heights
on which it was his nature to plant
himself to the lower levels of sectarian
or partisan abuse. 1t WAS his ideas
that wero unsparing. His individual
ty was simple, decorous and genial,
and bynone was he more esteemed than
by those who, differing from bin, still
retained the honor and pleasure of his
society.
There were many who thought, and
it used to be quite common to hear
it said, that DR.. Robinson had missed
his calling when be allowed the Church
to rob the State Of brain so great and
such an aptitude for affairs. This is
only partly true. Undoubtedly he
would have risen to eminence either
at the bar or in the Senate. Although
SO direct in his methods and positive
in his teachings, he was many sided in
his capacity, at home in the business
and the ethics of life; a clear headed
and practical fnancier, sound Judge
Of law and a painstaking and tireless
devotee to detail of every description.
These rare qualities he epplied to the
sacred office which he had chosen for
himself, and, though they shone more
in the preparation and delivery OF his
public utterances, hey we're not want
ing to the council board, the Sunday
school, the hospital and the sick room,
where-no longer the lion OF debate
and the leader of hosts-he appeared
in the simple tenderness Of the pastor
and gentleman, who knew how to be
gracious TO the weak, the humble and
the young.
The late DR.. Breckenridge once said
humorously that there would never
be peace in the Presbyterian church
until the good Lord takes me 10
heaven and sends DR.. Robinson back
to Ireland. The good Lord. alasl
has done better by them both, for He
has taken them to Himself. But,
long ago, the presence of DR.. Robin
son on earth ceased to be the cause of
disturbing, and was OF late years a
bond Of hope among conservative
churchmen. His death will be de-
plored by Presbyteriaus everywhere.
Among the Christian people Of the
United States no one, llyman or
divine, stood higher or will be more
sincerely and respectfully lamented.
In Louisville, where he has lived aud
labored so long, and where remain SO
many trophies and memories OF his
charities and kindnesses, his demise
is the occasion of unfeigned and uni
versal sorrow. All feel that good
man, an eminent preacher and great
citizen has passed from among us,
leaving a place that cannot be filed.