San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-05-14
NO. o..

IIoshour toached society at great many
points. No man has touched society moro
effectually. moro usefully. He left bis i'm
press upon tho youth Of our State as no
other man has. He camo 10 the State at an
opportune time, when everything was In q
formative state. / have been thinking of
the persons upon whom he left this impress.
Many OF them are hero to-day. He
laid his hand Of wisdom and intellectual
strength, purity and integrity, sweetly but
powerfully on young men. II IL no small
blessing for state to have single man Of
that character. I learned from his own lips
that ho had In his youth little opportunity
for education. Il was when young man
that the fascinations Of learning came upon
him, and he entered upon the pursuit OF
knowledge with an ardor that was indomita-
ble He was man Of the amplest intellec-
tual resources, gathering knowledge from
every point. No man ever stood as q
stronger defender Of our public school say-
tenn, or had deeper or more abiding sym
pathy for that work. He impressed tho
sweetness, the power Of rich spiritual ma
ture upon young mon and young women In
very remarkable degree. He stands to-day In
our thought and memory as force in the
community for great qualities, all that is
good in our citizenship, in our social, politi-
cal and religious life.
BY special request Of Mr.. Pritchett, we
append tho following poem, which has al
ready appeared in our columns Il was
written by the editor Of tho Fnxn PREss
during Mr.. Hoshour's residence at Centre
vile, Indiana, and first appeared in one Of
the local papers in March, 1874. II will
indicate tho impression made on the youth
full mind by the life and labors Of this good
man, at comparatively early period in his
career Its authorship he mover knew, as IL
was published anonymously
TO A FAITHFUL MINISTER OF THE
GOSPEL.
"rhat he has faults. II may be bold TO Doubt.
Yet certain tie We ns'er have found them out"
Amid IN age Of vain aud Goddess men,
When Calumuy attends on Virtues path,
And Penury and Grief provide her welcome;
When Levity controls the common mass,
And gaudy Pride scarce screens Hypocrisy
", tlb u Dl4bbcu hIlu tuluB
To SEQ the earnest advocate Of Truth,
In Christian fortitudo and humble hope,
Striving with evil. Like the unchanging
star,
Whose welcome light directs the laundering
bark
Shining through clouds and darkness.
o, man of worth, and holy constancy,
To thee I owe this we'll deserved praise.
Not with mere empty words I greet thee
hero,
But with heartfelt love and reverence
scorn deceit, nor hope to fntter thee.
I've listened to thy words, and marked thy
life,
And Justice, Gratitude, prompt Duty on
To pay tho tribute of an honest henrt
To unambitious worth. Fitted to guido
Thy country's councils, or to hold with all
The pride of earth successful rivalry,
I've seen thee turning from tho paths of
Fame,
And Fashions tinsel show, and from tho
shrine
Where men do daily barter all earth's Joys,
And all heavens hopes Of bliss, all, all-for
And in the quiet vale Of humble life,
I've marked thee pause to soothe Misfor-
tunes lot
To wal,en hope and Joy and life In those
Who, "dead in trespasses and sins" knew not
The boundless grace Of God to contrito
hearts,
IT'S here the dignity Of man shines forth
Hero Virtue holds, supreme, her empire,
And points to earthly pride, and pomp and
power,
As vain and worthless In tho scale Of Truth.
On the broad base of self-denying Love
The nobleDt Sons of earth have ever met
The hoary sage, the patriot firm and true,
Tho pure philanthropist and the inspired,
bard,
Have known no final aim but others sgood
For this they toiled IN woe and penury
For this they died unhonored and unknown;
And tardy Justice told not Of their worth,
Till they were dust and ashes
There have been,
Upon this transient little scene, proud kings,
And pompous conquerors misoreants, who,
hell on earth, have ioosed
Discord and desolstion among mon,
And scattered them abroad on all the winds;
And these have been quito famous In their
day.
Fools, grave and gaudy fools, have gaped
and stared
In awe and wonder at these mighty worms.
But times are somewhat changed. We
Judge mon now
BY their intrinsic worth and usefulness.
For thus the eternal word Of Him, "who
spoke
As never man spake," teaches ''Ye shall
know
Them by their fruits {; Do men gather
grapes
OF thorns, or figs of thistlesi" How these
words
or simple artless beauty touch mans thought
With deep sense Of their heart-searching
truth
How few Of all the names and deeds ofpride,
Whose fame has been re-echoed over earth,
Will stand this test divine How many
iowly hearts
And charities unnoted, viii como forth
by il when good shall be rewarded
Just man, 10 whom dedicate this lay,
and unworthy Of thy fame,
Thy actions are the witness Of thy faith.
And have approved IL noblyi fools may
say
Thy name is humble, prido contemn thy
calling;
But there's majesty which such as thou
Would dim the lustre Of q kingly crown
The majesty Of Truth-thAt power divine
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