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

his countenance. He enjoyed spright-
ly joke occasionally, and he could take
one in good part, as we'll as to give.
And so he had most happy disposi-
tion, and wherever he went he carried
Joy and gladness to others.
4. Br. Todd loved his religion most
dearly. To him it was his life and his
joy. 1t satisfied his whole nature. 1t
was reasonable and philosophical, and
it touched the inner life, and flooded
the soul with light and love and
glory; and he was never happier than
when he was dwelling upon the beau
ties and blessedness Of his faith. 1t
warmed and gladdened his own soul,
and he believed, if others could accept
it, it would make them happy also.
And so he pressed it home to the
minds and hearts of others with all
the force and persuasiveness possible.
Br. Todd did not preach to make dis
play; it YVES not worldly ambition that
called him into the pulpit. He preach
ed because he loved the work, and
believed he could do more good here
than anywhere else; and what he
proclaimed he believed with his whole
heart. l don't believe that he ever
uttered from the pulpit, Or anywhere
else, an insincere word in all his life.
What he said came from the heart, and
those who heard him, if not convinced,
went away believing that he himself
accepted what he taught. And in the
pulpit he had the power of carrying
conviction. His language was choice,
his ideas were clean cut, his arguments
logical, his spirit candid and manly,
his manners dignifed, his voice mellow,
and his general bearing attractive.
And had he, in early life, received a
liberal education he would have stood
among our ablest preachers.
AS a preacher he was more per
suasive than argumentative, appealed
more to the heart, perhaps, than to the
intellect; and the earnest words that
fell from his lips will be remembered
with great satisfaction, and their inlu-
ence for good will be most lasting,
3. But the life that Br. Todd lived
will be most lasting in its good results.
His life was pure and noble, not a
breath of suspicion ever resting upon
it. He mingled much with the world.
He had business talents and he exer-
cised them. He belonged many years
to the Masonic, Odd Fellows, and other
fraternities. He met men at the an
nual gatherings of these societies.
He was somewhat interested in agri-
cultural pursuits, and mingled most
with the farmers. When the country
called for men to suppress rebellion, he
answered the call and went to the
South. lie was interested in the wei
fare of his town, and its schools, and all
that served to promote the best inter
ests of the people. He was an earnest
advocate of the temperance cause.
But in all these minglings with the
people, and in his home life, his life
remained most pure, untarnished by
sin CT wrong OF any kind. He loved
most dearly his home, and he never
left it to be gone few days without
feeling that he was making a great
sacrifice. Aud it was at his home that
he was at his best, and that friends
learned to love him most. The indu-
ence of his home and private life will
last when the words he uttered will be
forgotten. But the power for good of
his pulpit utterances, of the gentle
words spoken in private, of his kind
acts aud loving deeds, of his tender,
loving spirit, and the purity of his
daily life, will live to gladden. many
hearts, and live when all who knew
him have passed away.
From letter written me just week
previous to his death, | copy these
words: "Yes, brother, great have been
the changes since we first met thirty
years ago. Then we were young and
flushed with hope; now we are old and
our labors almost done. If we have not
done all we then hoped, we have done
something. Some lives we have made
purer, perhaps, some hearts comfOrted;
and if, when we are called, the world
at large will not mourn as it does over
the death of DR.. Ryder, perhaps there
will be some to shed tears of true
sorrow, and thank God for the ministry
of Brs. Rogers and Todd No min
lister of our church in Wisconsin.
probably, so worked his way into the
affections of the people he labored
among as did Br, Todd, and many
tears of true sorrow have been shed
over his death. He has gone from
among us, and his genial face we shall
see no more upon earth. But the in
huence of his noble, cOnsecrated life
remains. Thai k the good Father that
such a man ever lived among us, and
spoke words of truth and righteous
ness, and comfort, and joy. And
thank God for that bles Sed religion
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