The Portland daily press., 1891-12-07


goes without saying.
The reading of scripture and praver wara
by Rev. DR.. Merrill of the Second Parish
Congregational church. DR.. Merrill said
that when he had considered what to read
the thought had come to him that there
was but one passage that he could read
the chapter read so often by the departed
friend whose memory they were there m
honor. But before beginning the reading
he would quote one of DR.. Hilps latest mo-
ems-one particularly applicable to the
occasion. Or. Merrill then read the few
The reading Of the poem finished. DIR.
Merrill turned to the scriptures and read
one of DR.. Hill's favorite chapters. the
magnificent 10Th chapter of the first epistle
to the Corinthians.
DR.. Merrills prayer, which followed his
laDors, his teachings, his c0unsels, and his
comforting and tender words. and be
sought that the blessings of his influence
might continue with the church. and con-
tinue with his successor.
Rev. Mr.. Perkins next gave out the very
appropriate hymn, No. 465, In the old
church hymn book, the first two verses of
which are as follows:
Bow blest the righteous when he diesl
How mildly beam the closing ewes.
HOW gently neaves the expiring breastl
So fades a summer cloud away,
So sinks gale when storms are DER,
so gently shuts the eye of day,
SO dies wave along the shore.
After the singing of the hymn, Mr.. Per
kins spoke briefly of DR.. Hill. He said it
was fitting that at such time those who
had known the beloved, departed pastor
should speak Of his character and works
Mr.. Perkins had first seen DR.. Hill
while student In college. where he
had come to lecture upon philosophical
subjects. Those lectures were revelation
fuller, clearer. more luminous than apy
text book. Mr.. Perkins had next seen DR..
Hill year ago, when he was q guest at
his house In this city. The speaker, after
paying an eloquent tribute to DR.. Hilrs
attainments as scholar, touched more
fully upon his character as a pastor and
preacher. An interesting illustration of
his readiness to be of service was recalled
Not long ago Dr. Hill was called upon to
assist In service at Kings Chapel, In
Boston. He was sick at the time; but was
able to be carried to the Chapel in chair,
and by that means was present and spoke.
SO In his departure for Meadville, Pa, to
deliver his usual course of lectures, he sac
rihced himself for others. He was unable
to go; but did so.
DR.. Hill had but two pastorates, at
Waltham and In Portland. In his work at
Waltham he took the position he always
held in regard to creed. He was conser.
vative Unitarian of the old type. This
took him out of sympathy with some of the
leaders OF his denomination; but drew him
nearer to other denominations. Mr.. Per-
kins referred to the presence in the au-
dience OF Congregationalists and members
of other churches as evidence of the har-
mony existing during DIR. HIPS lifetime.
and expressed the hope that this would
continue.
Rev. John A. Bellows, formerly pastor
of the Park street Unitarian church, and
student in Antioch College during DR.
HIPS presidency. followed Mr. PERKINS.
MIR. Bellows said that there was rare un-
worldliness In the character OF the wise and
good man whose life speaks to us. His
faith was so large and and his character so
exalted that be could disregard many of
the rules and bounds by which people of
smaller minds hedge themselves in. Thus
he had no time for making money, and no
disposition to make distinctions In matters
of fashion, or between men OF different
classes or occupations. 1t made no differ
ence to him, for instance, whether he was
lecturing before BODY of savants in Mas
sachusetts or before country audience in
barn like hall in a Maine town. He was
equally at home. equally enthusiastic in
his subject. and equally interested in his
audience.
Mr.. Bellows lived in DIR. Ellis family
when the latter was president OF Antioch
co. College. an institution at that time
rich in hope and expectations but poor In
the perplexities of management must have
pressed hard upon the president, DR.. Hill
always bore himself with the same sweet
patience and dignity that distinguished
him afterwards when president OF the first
university of America,
1t was high trust in God that gave him
this serene calmness. He went TO every
task with the same child-like confidence OF
heart. He had, moreover, the chlld's
readiness to talk artlessly with Anyone
whom he might meetab0ut what he was
doing-the study of flower, Greek text
or aproblem In geometry. There was some
thing pathetic in the way be would seize
sometimes upon one who could understand
nothing of the subject, and pour forth
flood OF information. A walk with him
In the woods was for him to give the names
of all the flowers, lichens, shrubs, and the
birds overhead. He was never SO much at
home as when in natures aloneness. OF
ten he would steal away from conference
to fiud early flowers, and to bring flowers,
roots or insects home In mis- handkerchief.
DIR. Hill never fell into that state reached
sometimes by men Of high scientific attain
ments, when they can take no pleasure In
anything else but sclence,-that state into
fessed that n thing but scientific research
gave him pleasure, and that art and poetry
gave him nausea. DIR. Hill never lost his
love of the beautiful In poetry, art or
music. He would spend a whole day over
the piano practicing on favorite piece OF
music. He would also paint for days at
time, not particularly skillfuily, but with
an earnest desire to master the mysteries
OF c0lOrs. His verses sin the Woods and
Elsewhere" show him to have been true
poet, although he sometimes fell into the
error of Words w0rthiln not detectlng the
prose nature of certain lines.
Mr. Bellows noted as something remark
able that while some of Dr. Hilrs inven-
tiOns were of great scientific use, Otners OF
them were games for children, on wnlcn
be would work with great earnestness ana
enthusiasm. - 49,, .
To the influence of DR.. Hills life Mr..
Bellows paid fitting tribute, saying tnat
all over the land there are today hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of men ana women,
who are better for the life and influence OF
Thomas Hill.
He had one characteristic much re-
sembling a habit of Socrates. 1t is said
that Socrates stood all one day and night
and a cold night too-meditating on a
philosophical subject, unmindful OF the
ieers of the passers. DR.. Hill would some
times be lost In thought, after similar
way but not under such conditions.
In times of trouble he could be comfort
ing and tender although he did not pc
lieve in saying much about the dead. But
by his presence, and his goodness he never
failed to soothe the sorrowing heart:
He dearly loved his friends; and In his
later years, as the lights began one Dy one
70 go out. there came sadness III MS eyes,
though his natural reticence was sucn tnat
he said little.
Like the great philosopher Kant. he
loved children and was beloved by them.
Mr.. Bellows said that he would bear testl-
m0Dy also that there was much OF fuh ana
humOr In his disposition. He delighted In
the quotation Of the arch sayings OF chill
dren. He would also make up whole pages
of strange words to amuse them.
In all his attachments he was not TWO
men, but one simple. wise, chiid-hearted
man.
Very early he gave up the attainment of
the highest hOnors in mathematics. he
put them aside tn do good and lead
Christ-like life. Mr.. Bellows sala ne
knew that the question OF attaining 1ame
as scientist came to him early In lie ana
was settled once for all. This should oe
recorded for his heavenly. IL not Ior MS
earthly praise.
1t seemed we'll that he should be laid to
rest In the town where he had begun lie
with the enthusiasm of hope, where the
talented and accomplished wife lies buried
ana where yet linser few of the old
friends OF his youth.
Rev. y Q. Cummings followed Mr. Bel
lows. He spoke particularly of DIR. Hills
Iondness for young people mentioning the
regret he had often expressed that he
could not be as intimately acquainted with
them as he could with older parsons UHa