St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-07-25
Gbe CALIFORNIAN.
A TRIBUTE TO REV. T. A. HOPKINS.

tate KEY. = a. hopkins WHO Is so
pleasantly remembered in ST. Johns
bury His article appeared in the
Free Press of June 16. from which we
publish copious extracts.
The openness of his character made
it not difficult character for SYM
pathetic mind at once to read. 1t is
rare indeed to find one whose nature
Law so accessible to observation, who
had so much the transparent simpli-
city of a child. This artless unreserve
of his was a great attraction to
MANY both new and old friends, and
gave him a marked individuality.
That Mr.. Hopkins was, in other
ways, a man of marked individuali-
ty, there can be no question. Such
individuality was his by inheritance,
and the circumstances of his early
life were such as to develop it. When
financial disaster fell upon his father
in connection with his efforts in be-
half of Christian education, and the
bishop Withdrew with his family to
the then wild tract of land at Rock
Point, Mr. Hopkins was but a boy,
and vet there were at once thrown
upon him the labors and cares of a
man. The severe discipline he under
went in bringing the rough region
into the beautiful farm it afterward
became, and in various ways aiding
in the family support, while at the
same time preparing himself for col
lege, and the struggles that he had to
make later through his college and
seminary course to keep up with his
class and do enough outside work to
meet his expenses, helped greatly to
foster and bring out his specially
characteristic qualities. This disci-
pline not only made him more ener-
getic, more self-reliant, but in connec-
tiOn with his comparatively isolated
life it encouraged him to let his indi-
vidual tendencies to have free course,
and to lead him to look at things out
of his own eyes. His early trials
naturally promoted a strong wish
for pecuniary independence. He had
bitterly felt for himself and for those
dear to him the deprivations and re-
straints that go with poverty, and
as time went on he was determined,
if he could do so by legitimate means,
to emancipate himself from them
When after several years of parish
duty he was called to the work of a
teacher, he resolved, if possible, to
make this work both an educational
and a business success. He did so.
The large number of those once under
his care now occupying important
positions in almost all departments
of life attest how well he attained his
end as q teacher; the handsome COM
potency with which he retired after
more than 20 years of service attests
how well he attained his business
purpose But it would be q mistake
to suppose, because special circum-
stances had made him very much
hope to make his work Il financial
success, that he allowed this hope to
interfere with the higher aims of his
profession as teacher; or to cause
him to become Il money hoarder He
had his own views as to his rights,
and as to the way in which what he
earned should be used. But he was
an exceptionally liberal man.
should question whether among all
the generous men of our city, of SINH
lar means, there were one who gave
away so large a proportion of his in
come. His private charities were
very large in all directions, and few
were the public objects. ecclesiastical
or secular, of reasonable obligation
that appealed to him in vain. To ST.
PauI's parish, to the various institu-
tiOns of the diocese of Vermont, to
the missions of his church at home
and abroad, to the various benevO-
lent associations of this city, he was
for years generous benefactOr.
More than this, he gave not only
what he had but what he was He
gave himself unstintedly to those in
need His svmpathies were quick for
any form of suffering, physical or
moral, and he was eager in some
way personally to afford relief Many
grateful hearts since he has been ia
ken from us have recalled some spe-
cial act of compassion or kindness in
a time of trouble performed by him
in a direct personal way. The ser
vice Mr.. Hopkins gave i'll the minis
try after he became principal of the
Vermont Episcopal Institute, though
in a measure fragmentary, was by
no means valueless The conscious
ness that he was no longer occupied
in the parish duties of clergyman
seemed to make him more SOlicitOuS
to avail himself of all opportunities
to supply their place by other modes
of service. 1t has often happened that
the call for aid came when it required
much effort and self-sacrifice on his
part to meet it, when scant time was
given him to prepare for the duty
asked of him, but the case was rare
indeed when he turned a deaf ear to
to the request. Many parishes and
missions in the diocese thankfully rec
ognize the healthful impulse he gave
them by his occasional service. ST.
Andrews church in st. JOhnsbury is
far from being the only church in the
diocese to which he was of most i'm
poTtant benefit. His original way of
looking at things, his unconvention-
al and graphic language, the fulness
of detail with which he presented the
subject he was treating, and, above
all, his intense earnestness, stirred
and moved to the action he desired,
some of his congregations in quite a
wonderful way.
1t is not strange, with this hearty
Willingness to lend a hand" in anv
form of ministration to others, with
his cordiality of manner and broad
sympat hies, and the unusual degree
in which he blended vehement energy
with a tender and 'Iong-suffering"
spirit, that when people were told of
his death the general spontaneous
expression which sprang to the lips
should be. ''he is a man that will be
greatly missed"