New-York tribune., 1890-06-01

was narrow and the teaching proDaDly hohe vi 'ic
best How could il bc otherwise wren uhcIe
were no funds to pay salaries on an adequate scic
The poor president himself had but lew huhuleu
dollars a year, and must have been nara puo 10 10
to make both ends meet. But those were uhies
when money though no donpt giea.is uoSnou io'
what il would do, was subordihateo I'd ou'S Poi-
haps oftener than at the present daS.
DIR. Simpson fully justified the wisdom Of his
soloct6T Ue raised the nascent college into
healthy and vigorous life. lie made hosts OF
friends for it. He drew largely upon the sur
rounding country for his students. lie found
tine IN Iool, closely after the lads, and to dis
tincnisb the honest workers and help them They
learned in turn TO esteem and love him. lie
know how 70 be stern. but he was always just
and inclined to the side of mercy. The tesk he
had undertaken was thus accomplished but nj
creat cost TO the president, VINO almost collapsed
under the weight of a burden which was TOO
heavy for any one but giant When his sue
cess in Indiana induced college after college to
seek his services in the same capacity, II IS no
wonder tha, he refused. lie saw by this time
that he must rest or fall. and he rested by ne
coming Editor of The Christian Advocate, thc
organ of the Methodist Church. On entering
this new field he laid out for himself pretty
programme. There was to he no controversy
and above all no personalities were to ne ad-
mitted But the times were unpropitious to such
an arrangement. The great slavery issue WIS
tearing the churches osunGcr and threatening TO
rend the Union apart and how could man oi
st-onr convictions hold his tongue or fail To
meet error and malice in the field? At all events
this was bcyond DR. Simpsons power, and ne
threw himself into the contest with charac'"r-
istic vigor and carnesincss. lie ana cNcelieh'
work on THE Advocate. especially IN MS out
snol,cn articles addressed TO the Washington
politicians, who thought they could sigh' scai
and deliver, on behalf of the country. in that
momentous crisis, without inquirng what the
will of the people was.
DR. Crooks has an interesting chapter on the
General Conferences of 1si4. lsis and 1852. to
all of which President Simpson was delegate, and
in the last two of which he played n prominent
mart In May 1852, he was elected Bishop. me
scbisn in the Church had then taken place, there
were serious internal diSscnsOns, North as well
as South the general prospects were gloomy. the
cloud OF dsunion hung threatening over the
country. and the antielavery issue was bccomlng
sharper every day. As editor of The Western
Christian Advocate" DR.. Simpson took strong
ground against slavery. rs he also did in the later
General Conferences. The gradual evolution OF
the National conscience on this question l. very
clearly shown from the attitude OF the conferences
prior to the rupture. For long time II was 80
dull that even slave-holding by ministers OF 'h'
GOSPEL passed unrebuked, and before the Scparn-
ton OF the Northern and Southern Churches North
crn ministers Were found TO Justify the 1eculiar
institution" Bishop Simpson hod been a ha'eF
Of slavery all his life, and when he spoke or
wrote upon the subject il was with no ambiguity
of expression Elected Bishop, he began that
course of extensive and almost inccssant travel
which was maintained 70 the end Of his life visit
ing California and Oregon in the early days OF
thos. States, enduring many pcrls and discom-
forts, narrowly escaping shipwrcck on his way
from Panama to San Francisco. suffering from
fcvcrs and other illnesses, hut never stopping
always pushing on with indomtabc energy,
preaching at every opportunity. and wherever he
preached maxim. great impression. The notes
of his journeys 70 the West and 10 Europe will
be found full of incident and interest. and though
fragmentary, they testify throughout 20 the depth
and fervency Of his religious enthusiasm and the
exalted sense OF duty which informed all his
sections.
All his life was bcnefcent, but there can be no
doubt that the period of the Rebellion was that
in which he was enabled 10 perform the greatest
material services 10 his country. As ono melted
and stimulated OF patriotism hc was Invaluable,
and passing continually UP and down in the land,
communicating with all sorts and conditions of
people lie was one Of the best informed judges Of
public opinion. Lincoln gaugcd him at once, and
recognized in him congenial spirit. They be-
came warm friends. and both the President and
Stanton fell into the habit OF relying much upon
him for information 10 tie general trend Of
popular ideas. Naturally The Bishop was for
emancipation at early stage Of the war, bat
Lincoln could not 20 faster than the people, anu
while full Of anxiety awaited what lie considered
the proper moment for launching the proclamation.
IN the great work Of the Sanitary Commission the
BISHOP laboTed with all his energies. and wherever
he went delivered addresses lectures. sermons.
which braced and strengthened the hearers and con
trbuted to sustain the war spirit against the de-
pressing influences Of defects and diNappontments
and the widening cost and loss Of the conflict
When the end came, and the Thanksgiving Of the
North was 50 suddenly changed 10 mourning hy
the assassination Of the leader who had guided the
Government and people throughout. one Of The
noblest tributes 10 the dead President was offered
by Bishop Simpson al his funeral
In the succeeding years, during which his ac-
tivity remained unobated, the most important
Church issue was that Of lay delegations. This
new departure was advocated by the Bishop
long before it had acquired impetus enough 10
carry it, ard when such advocacy almost con-
dcmned those who adopted 1t TO ostracism in the
Church. Bishop Simpson cared nothing for such
considerations, however. Once convinced that a
coA.se was right, ne made it his own and the In
huehce of his character was tower Of strength 10
any cause. He fulfilled all his onerous and mani
fold duties faithfully and zealcusly TO the end
diving at last almost in harness and when by no
means old in years. We suppose there can be lit
tic doubt that he wore himself out IN thc ser
vice of the Church, for, though never robust. he
possessed one Of those constitutions which If qivcn
lair play usually last a long time DR.. Crooks
has written very good life Of this reliant
preacher bishop and servant Of God, aud has skill
fully brought out all those fine trait In his char
octer which made him beloved and reYered in
life. and must cause his memory 70 be a source
petnity. Such an example as he gave is precious
for all time and all the more because both his
character and career are essentially and peculiarly
American.