Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31

has been known as philanthropist. benlnd
generosity proceeded from sense of his re-
| sponsibility. He felt that he was steward OF
God. His charity was personal. he sought TO
know those to whom he gave charity. he saw
everywhere opportunity for good, in religion.
science, morals and education. for the church
and for the world, at home and abroad, Tor
those who were known and for the many VINO
His was character truly loveable. Through
out this land there are thousands VINO are
thanking God for his character and influence:
1t is worth while to live If we can live thus. it
is not worth while to live merely for this WORLDS
gains and applause, but by our lives to win the
love Of our fellow men makes lie worth
living
Prof. Matthew Riddle. of the Western
Theological Seminary, said that 1t was his
privilege to speak of the personal, private
character of Mr.. Thaw. He said:
About so years ago number of little boys
were taken out of the infant class of the old
Third church, and put INTO the class of which
Mr.. Thaw, then young business man, had Just
become the teacher. was one OF those little
boys. His place in my life and In the lives OF
many others, not because of what he did but
because of what he was, can never be filled.
There is money enough in the pockets Of the
what he did, but to many of us there never can
be another friend such as he was
HE WAS A GREAT MAN.
Do not think that he awas man who made
his wealth easily. and gave it way to avoid per-
plexity. intellectually William Thaw was one
of the greatest men ever knew, and think
have met some of the great men of this world.
His was a great mind II he had died penni-
less his death would have taken away my
greatest intellectual stimulus. Had he turned
his attention to other things, he would still
have been recognized as great. His life is
testimony to the fact that it is not necessary
that a man who accumulates wealth should for
get to: cultivate himself With his keen in
tellectual perception, his excellent Judgment
his rare facility and felicity in speech, he
might have achieved great success in the scien-
tiic world and even greater in the literary
world. When free from cares it was great
pivilege to hear him talk. His letters are
worthy of preservation as literary productions.
His taste for scientific, historical and theologi-
cal themes new was obiterated by cares of
business. Once he said to me: They talk
of men being owned by their millions. but
mine have never owned me- AT times he was
as sentimental as school girl. His heart re-
manned to the last as tender and true as in
childhood.
The first pastor of this church, in his old
days. said, mo mans life can be failure If be
has had the privilege, as pastor, OF training
the character of William Thaw."
The first pastor to whom Prof. Riddle re-
ferred was his own father.
Rev. DR.. Cowan delivered the last dis
course. He said:
We have suffered a common loss. and are
made to bear, each with the other, a common
burden. The life of this good man has touched
and Influenced each of our lives, and in touch
ing our lives has drawn us toward him and
bound us to him, so that when we see him fall
away we find our hearts bleeding and torn, be-
cause these ties are sundered and these cords
snapped. All the places whera he has been
seen these many years. home, the Office and the
church, shall see him no more We feel surely
that something has gone out of our lives, and
that neither the family nor the church nor the
community will ever be just the same. To
dwell on his virtues is only to magnify our own
loss.
l think can say that, outside of his nearest
relatives. there could be no more sincere
mourner than the one who is speaking. He
loved the church over which God has placed
me as pastor. found him to he almost an in
comparable power for good. He was always in
his place. il his health permitted and he was in
the CITY, He was always more than ready to \
bear his share, sometimes thought more than
his share, of the burdens. He was always all
that any pastor could wish man to be;
Let us not lose sight of the valuable men, |
ories of his life. Let not our tears blind US to |
the infinite mercy of God. We shoul thank |
God for the very life of this man. The world |
has been made brighter by his smile. Misery |
and sorrow have been lessened by his minis |
tratiOns and benefactions. No human being |
knows to what extent-only God knows: but we |
do know that there is |
LESS SORROW IN THIS WORLD
for his having lived. The world has been made |
better by his example. The only thing that we |
should thank God that there was such life |
He has reared for himself a monument more |
enduring than brass. We should also be thank
full that he was permitted to live the allotted
age of man.
His going to foreign land was not the result
Of illness. 1t was the carrying out of long
desire, The illness rather retarded his going
After he had gone he wrote back several times
that he had not felt so well for years. The last
four weeks of his earthly life were filled with
Interest, were free from pain and were one
source of Joy and pleasure.
If were specializing on immortality, without
the light of inspiration, 1 would say that if any
man ever reached up and grasped immortality
Il. With the word of God to guide us, we know
that he has gone to his heavenly home.
In one of his last letters home he said that he
had, on Sunday attended the American Epis-
,opal Church in Paris, and it being the day of
communion, he said, II remained for the COM
nunion and experienced great profit to my
SOUL" May this last message from our friend |
be to us a source Of great good.
IN THE ALLEGHENY CEMETERY.
Rev. DR.. Cowan uttered few words of
prayer, the choir sang "Rock of Ages" and
Rev. DIR. Purves pronounced the benedic-
ion. The audience was dismissed, while the
members of the family and the pallbearers
'emained in their pews. After the house
vas emptied the coffin was borne to the
learse, and it took its way, followed by
bout dozen carriages, to Allegheny Gene
cry. There prayer was offered by Rev DR..
Purves, and the coffin was lowered into the
,rave.
Yesterday afternoon Joseph r. Hunter
'eceived the following letter from Francis
Murphy:
WABASH, IND, August 29
MY DEAR BROTHER HUNTER-I have Just
earned tnat our dear friend William Thaw
las fallen asleep in the loving mercy of our
Father. He was the friend of the
'oor and needy. Indeed. we can truly say he
vas the friend of the friendless. He never
urned any away; all he inquired about was
heir need. If they were naked he clothed
hem. If they we're hungry he fed them.
even in prison he visited them. We shall
Mss him. When we desired to hold a series of
'ospel temperance meetings he was interested
o make them successful. Most generously
10 ne contribute to our cause. |
May God bless the memory of his generous.
owing kindness to us, and fpay the Father of
dercies and the God of all comfort abide with
lis dear wife and children in this unspeakable
orrow. God be with you.
Yours in heart