The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-23

say at this time of him whose memory
we have met to honor must, Of necessity,
fail to do him justice; for his was life
which to properly portray commands
the exercise OF the most profound and
cultured mind. His was character
based upon fixed principles. To do right
under all circu instances was his highest
aim, and the Judgment he possessed to
determine the right was Of high order.
And with such foundation he has builded
q spiritual and ideal life, from which he
looked through nature, up to natures
God. So in the changing # the seasons
the storm and sun shine alike, each had
its lesson from which he gained wisdom
and strength to understand more perfect
ly the divine perfection. 1t was the
Office of his life to gather the Sweets"
rather than the "oittsrs." So when called
upon to comfort those in aft elton, he
drew from full storehouse words of
consolation. And they who have listened
to the prayers he offered, or to the invo-
cation of Divine blessing around the FAM
lily altar, will su stain me in the statement
that in such devotional service he was
seldom equsled; and we're to judge of
his comparative merits with others, or to
speak of his own greatest gift, his abil-
ity to address his Maker in prayer I
should claim was his browning gift, and
in which he was surpassed by none. In
this service he embraced in his loving
memory the friends present gpd those
who were absent; all were brought to-
gether in one unbroken circle, and with
that sublime trust in God, which every
expression of his life gave evidence, he
bore them before the Throne of Grace.
The friendship that had existed be-
tween US for near score of years was
OF continual growth, each year bringing
some new evidence OF his worth as a
friend; and the frsternal feeling existing
between us was of that brotherly kind in
which had the most implicit confidence
in his sincerity as true friend, and in
no place nor under. any circumstance did
I ever know of his being untaithful to
any person whatever. And it is because
of this that there is such universal sor-
row among those who once enjoyed bis
society and now cherish his memory,
And to me this sorrow is but the measure
of his appreciated worth. Not alone in
the little church at Lodi, where he closed
his earthly mission, nor at his own fire
side is the mourning heard and the trib-
utes of affection offered, but as widely
as he was known, is found the sorrow,
and the reference to his death awakens
the thought that true friend has gone
to the other shore, and the memory of
his loving and sympathizing heart, to-
gether with the evidence he gave us of
his faith in the life immortal, shall draw
us toward him and that spirit life in
which he trusted, with a reverence and
force which can only result from the in
huence of a life such as bis, both pure
and active in all good works.
shall not attempt to analyze his ability
as pulpit orator as compared with
others of our faith ) but this can truth
fully say, that in Lodi, none ever labo red
with us that from Sabbath to Sabbath
drew larger congregation than he. So,
without attempting to explain why this
was I shall claim his rank as among the
first in all the qualities that make the sue
cesstul pastor, Tor it was plainly eeen that,
as the years were passing, his influence
was steadily increasing in our commu-
nity,snd sadly indeed were the tidings re-
ceivsd upon the morning of March 20 of
the death on the previous evening of
Lodi's most esteemed citizen, and at my
own home the shock was received by one
that was lily prepared to bear it, and he
who fashions the human soul only knows
how much this had to do in shortening
the life that was the light and JOY OF that
home; and / stand before you to day
doubly stricken, bowlng in sorrowing SUBJ
mission to that Christening providence
that can do no wrong; and in contemplate
ing the desolation of the homes of those
who were bound to me by all the ties Of
nature, 1 am led to inquire, Why is all
this Christening? Is it not that we may
more clearly see the Importance of Guilt.
waiting these Christian graces of purity
and love that adorned these lives? Truly
"God moves in a mysterious way his Won
ders to perform" but in all the expert
ences of life we see the fact, that strange
impression is made upon the living
through the death OF a friend, at the
meridian OF life, when all the powers Of
the mind are active; and especially is
this true when that mind was cultured
in all that was noble, true and good in
humanity.
The radiance OF such lives stand out
like the mariners beacon light, to warn
us of danger and guide US to the haven
of JOY. So, as We appreciate their worth
in life, we should seek to understand
their value in death.
Truly it is a rich legacy that Br. Todd
has left the Universalist church. Prec-
ious are the memories of himl and bless
ed are we who know him best for his in
faence for good shall increase in power
rs the years in ,rease. Those cords of
love and sympathy, through which our
hearts were united here, shall draw us
with increasing power as we near the
GUNNER land" where we hope to meet