Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
MEMORY OF PRESIDENT PATTON.
Services Held This Afternoon at How
ard University.

Memorial services we're held in the chapel Of
Howard university this afternoon ct which the
life and character Of the late ex-President
Patton were eulogized by q number Of those
who were intimately associated with him.
The devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev. A. w. Pitzer, ID. Naturally the most
notable address was that Of the newly elected
president Of the university, Rev. J. E. Rankin,
ID.
PRESIDENT RAyKlN's ADDRESS.
DR.. Rankin's remarks were a. follows:
1T fell to my lot when, in 1877, the trustees
Of the university we're seeking q president to
present to them the name of DR.. VIM. w. Pat
ton OF Chicago. his pastor, Rev. DR.. Z. p.
Goodwin, having written to me respecting his
fitness for the place. OF course he had been
long known to me In other spheres. When
and gave him and his family q social reception.
And he repeatedly came to me as Q former
trustee for conference respecting our common
interests and work. For seven years was his
pastor in this city, and when i've years ago
resigned my charge he wrote the resolutions
which the church unanimously adopted. /
spoke memorial words from the pulpit when
he was Unexpectedly bereaved Of his noble
wife, and made the installing prayer and
gave the pastoral church when his son
I knew him intimately and WELL He was
always ready to be serviceable rs q parishoner,
preached with ability, was liberal giver and
had trained up his children to be helpful in all
Christian work. as they always were.
president Patton's duties to the university
did not prevent him from writing many articles
for newspapers and reviews. His mind was al
ways on the alert, his pen was ready, his
industry and perseverance were indefatigable.
He was q natural controversialist Himself an
Ah., - l.
cool-headed and ingenious in argument, he was
formidable man to meet in debate. And il
he did not always convince his opponents of
the correctness Of his views they were CON-
PEELED to recognize both his earnestness and
his ability. His religious convictions we're in
tellectual rather than emotional Indeed,
the GOODNESS and strength Of his intellect may
have sometimes led him to underrate in others
convictions equally correct with his own simply
because they were SO largely emotional He
seemed to combine in himself two qualities, not
always united. As to the investigation Of the
truth he was radical; while as to its practical
applications he was q conservative; perhaps,
more than most men, fulfilling the apostolic
INDUCTION: Prove all things, hold fast that
which is good
PRESIDENT PATToN's ADMINISTRATION
Of the affairs Of this university has given con-
sistency and stability to the institution. The
foundations have settled, so that there will be
no cracks In the walls. Indeed, in a certain
sense, and that not disqualifying to the dis
tinguished men who have preceded him-Gen.
y. y. Howard, Hon. John NJ. Langston, A. L.
Barber, esq, Hon. Commissioner Smith-he is
the first actual president the university ever
had. His predecessors were largely engaged
with other responsibilities. Coming to the
place In the maturity OF his experience and his
power, with board Of trustees always ready to
second his aims and with q faculty in each de-
inn in
and methods, the last twelve years have been
years OF real progress and he felt q genuine
satisfaction on leaving that its autonomy was
20 complete and its future so we'll assured
president Patton had no premonition that
his earthly work was 30 nearly DONE He did
not resign for any such reason. He seemed
younger at sixty-eight than many men at fifty.
In the conversation last October in which he
gave to Lis successor the unanimous decision
OF the nominating committees conversation
which had kind OF paternal tenderness about
this own perfect health WAS a matter Of re-
mark. He expected many future years. His
heart yearnsd to spend the rest Of his life with
his children. Especially was he interested in
the work OF his son who had chosen the minis
terial profession and at whose house he expired.
Humanity speaking, nothing was more proba-
BILE than that he would pass the mile stone Of
four score years, with an old age serene and
kindly, rounding out uncompleted plans of
study and work. But God saw that his real
work was already done. For as II to make it
more complete, the last few weeks he had de-
voted to writing history of the university,
putting on record his own impressions as to
the events out of which il sprung and the pur-
pose for which it was founded. 1t was a kind
privilege granted him to be thus his own his
torian-to pass in review the years he had
spent here; before turning his back on them
forever. to gather up the fragments of events
that nothing should be lost.
1t is pagan saying that no man should be
counted happy till the day of his death But,
like many other such sayings, it has q Christian
prophecy in it. The death of a good man is
like the last stroke Of the artists chisel when
he completes statue and draws back to pro-
nounce it very good, God did when He fin
ished creation. Death disarms all criticism:
death glorifes all gifts and graces; death
weaves only laurels in the GROWING wreath.
Indeed, since the death Of our elder brother
whose death is apotheoslzed-death is no
longer death. but an angel Of light sent from
the house OF our Father to give US intimation
that we have finished the work He had given
us to do. That such has been its meaning to
President Patton none who knew him can for
one moment doubt. He rests from his labors
and his works do follow him."
Other addresses were made by Profs Cook,
Cummings, Warder, Craighead, Leighton and
Hood, deans OF the several departments.
TO ATTEND A WHOLE DAY.
High School Pupils Take Possession of