The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-19

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sympathy took hold of human life at
every point and identified him with all
the great movements for the amelioration
OF society at large. 1t overlooked into
thousand tender fellowships, which knit
him to the hearts of his fellow-men. but
especially In the sanctuary of his home the
deep atectlonateness of his nature soft
ened the asperities of life to those who
were the nearest to him and made that
home as much paradise as can be found
In this sorrowful world. With instincts
SO pure and so broad, he moved upon a.
plane far too elevated to indulge a mean
thought, and spent life of sacrifice and
toll for the benefit of mankind.
God also gave to him a massive intel
lect. Beneath that ample brow lay
capacious brain which did much and
mighty thinking through an active and
laborious life. His was mind compre-
henslve In its grasp of ultimate princi-
pies which he could coordinate and ar
range into a great system of science,
philosophy, and religion. 1t swept freely
through the whole gamut of human
knowledge, touching every note from the
highest to the lowest, and harmonizing
them all in one complete system of knowl-
edge and Of faith. He was man pre-
eminent for his loyalty to the truth, and
was one of those who had the courage of
his convictions. What he believed was
wrought into the very texture of his be-
ing, and became part of the blood and
bone and muscle and sinew of his entire
intellectual and moral nature. The most
sacred thing on earth, next to God him
self, is the truth which springs from the
infinite mind, and bequeathed to man as
the furniture of the soul for time and
eternity, and the grandest spirit that
lives is the spirit that can feel the truth
through every fibre of its own being, and
stand to Its defense against all ADVERSE
ries, whether they be many or few. Hence
1t was this man, with heart as tender
and gentle and loving as a woman's, was
ever found in the thickest of the fight,
brave and sturdy as a lion, contending
tor the faith once delivered to the saints.
Yet this mind, comprehensive and grand
In Its sweep, was not absorbed in the alb
stract and secluded speculations of the
student; it was as practical as it was pro-
found, and could descend into all the de-
tails of the economy of life. The intense
practlcalness which enabled him to apply
abstract principles to the regulation of
human conduct rendered him a wise coun-
selor In all the business relations of men.
and constituted him the strong pillar
upon which the interests lean in every
community in which he lived. Added
to all this was an indomitable will tits
easy to point to men in whom the power
OF will stands even for intellect itself, but
when united with rare benevolence and
the highest grade of practical wisdom, it
makes man safe and mighty leader.
The men who make history are always
the men who do the things that can't be
done. By the power of a strong faith
they project themselves into the future
while it is yet distant; or rather draw
that future up to themselves until they
are fairly abreast of it, and plant their
lame with the generations that are to
come. Such will was his, forcible and
persistent, which drove Itself like wedge
through all complications and achieved
the impossible With this was united
marvellous power of physical endurance
which rendered labors which would be
oppressive to other men lie like feathers
"SiShO VI pun LIS uSICuledu arm. OIJen
through days full of distraction and care
which would have dissipated the energies
Of feeble men, that poor crippled arm
would, through the weary hours of night
trace those rich contributions which he
made to the press and literature of the
time. Labors, alas, which too severely
reacted upon his physical strength and
laid, perhaps, the foundation of what we
mournfully regard this day as prema-
ture old age.
Passing around the circle of his intel
lectual and moral powers, there was not
one In which he was not singly great,
but his glory lay chiefly in the wonder
full combination of them all his peculiar
strength lay in the harmony and pro
portion of his powers, which enabled
him to range over the breadth of zone
1 have given you the elements which en-
tered into the composition Of the man, and
you may add up the figures of the column
and estimate the greatness of our loss
What station did he ever fill that he did
not adorn? In what path did he not
achieve success? And now that he is
gone we sink under our sense of loss.
What loss to this church, which under
his leadership has been built up into its
present strength and influence. The
sound of his voice will no more be heard