The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-07-04
Bishop Simpson.

the life and work of Bishop simpson, WIFI
the nronise that something more would fol-
low.
It is utterly impossible to draw pen
nicture. or write sketch, that will IN any
sense do Justice to so great and good man
as Bishop Simpson. He was great IN many
respects, with no perceptible points OF weak
ness. He was many sided; indeed, he was
the most symmetrical character that we ever
knew. AS man he was completely rounded
nm He was familiar with almost every ques-
tion that touched the welfare of the world
and the prosperity of the christian church.
His broad mind grappled with all the great
questions of the age, SO that political leaders,
philanthropists and reformers, as well as
christian ministers, sought his counsel.
His mind and heart were too broad In cath
olicity of christian doctrine to be blgot or
even lean toward sectarianism. lie loved the
whole church of God, and in turn the evan
eelical churches of the world loved him.
The greatness of Bishop Simpson was like
the greatness of nature for while the crea-
tons of human genius dazzle and astonlsh by
display, nature in her unobtruslve glory
grows upon thought and imagination until
heart and mind become impressed with a
divine nearness, and the soul glows with
! Gods glory, as the face of Moses shone when
he beheld the mystic grandeur of his divine
Lord
In studying Bishop Simpson our first i'm
pressions led us to ask, Wherein is the great
ness of this man? That he was great we
felt in our soul but the real character OF his
greatness we could not understand until after
long years of intimate acquaintance we real
lied more and more fully the grandeur of a
character that stood out and above all other
characters we have ever known in peerless
beauty. AS Carlyle says, "Some truths IN
their grandeur tower above all others, as
some mountain peaks rise above others until
thew stand alone in glory that belongs to
them only" So our assembled bishop IN his
christian manhood lowered above all other
men by whom he was surrounded. BISHOP
James said to the writer on one occasion,
after listening to one of the matchless SER
mons of Bishop Simpson, =" Such men con-
stitute the moral wealth and glory of the
church"
The sunlight of eternity alone can print
with Photographic accuracy the life work OF
Bishop Simpson. Many, many sheaves have
gone before, but many more are to follow
The loving and sanity life of Bishop Simp-
son has led an unnumbered host of children,
as we'll as grown people, to the Savior, and
eternity alone can tell how many crushed
hearts have taken a more hopeful view of life
and it's great work after listening to his ten
der and beautiful descriptions of Gods graz
cious and providential dealings with the chll-
dren of men. There are many ministers now
living who are better men and better preach
els because they were permitted to listen to
the counsels of this good man. The writer
owes more to Bishop Simpson than to any
other man in the world, not simply because
of the counsels given, but because OF a life
that to him was constant benediction and
standing memorial of the power of Christ to
mould ana IaSQlOu IuG utdItS VI iliCA.
1t was impossible to spend an hour with
this sanity man without feeling strong de-
sire to be more holy and devoted to God.
His very presence was an inspiration to great
er effort and zeal in works of faith and love.
Many men possess great personal power In
persuading sinners to seek the Lord and yet
possess little or no power in inspiring preach
ers and other workers with an earnest pur-
pose to do more for God. But Bishop Simp-
son possessed to a wonderful degree the pow
er to move leaders in thought and action, and
therefore while others have been moving
thousands he has moved tens of thousands.
The greatness of Bishop Simpson was also
seen in his modest and humble spirit. After
receiving greater and more numerous honors
than any man of our day, no one could see
the least indication of awakened vanity in act
or word.
No man was ever honored as the last Gen.
eral Conference honored Bishop Simpson and
the expression of love given him whenever
he appeared in the General Conference was
simply the outgushing of warm and loving
hearts The conference honored him be-
cause it loved him. One of the delegates
said, "We give vent to our feelings because
we can't help itn And everyone who knew