The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-23
with the closest interest BY the vast audience
He spoke a. follows.

VIII the Closest interest Dy the N6eB d1uicuces
He spoke a. follows.
more than ordinary interest. The temporary
eundering of ties that make hearts TO ache and
create vacancy at the fireslde, Is an everyday
occurrence, but hope and faith erect the but
bridge across which our weary feet may pass to
renewed intercourse and restored companion
ship with those OF our home circles who have
gone before, until the whole human family,
tending, like the sun, always in one direction,
shalI meet again upon the eternal shore. The
shatfering of sn idol set up BY easily duped,
perverted public sentiment, 10, fortunately, too
frequent 10 provoke more than q hacknsyed ~
Every day develops rise or fall in stocks,
whereby those who cross the threshold of our
trade mar.s change relations, and they who en-
ter rich and proud depart in poverty and sor-
row, while those who enter poor and almost
hopeless, repass the portal with plethoric purse
and many vain conceits, not esteeming the true
value OF riches, nor regarding the wings Dy
which they fed from one boarding place 70 an
other, only to mock the unwise posssssor, and
make their very misuse an agent of retributlon
Communities, like individuals, are OF slow
growth and manifold interests. Character1sties
are not acquired in day-to be put on and on
rs the pr0ciivities of some transient guest, TO
whom we fain would extend ciyility and oner
the freedom OF olir demesne might seem 10 sug-
gest-but true estimate of the varied attriD-
utes which make the sum of life as an appraIse-
ment Of assets which authorizes confidence or
impels dislrust.
How forclbly come these truths home to us
when the sunset hour OF toiisome lie APP
proaches, and a SADIE curtain lowers about the
faculties that, keeniy, and for so long time
alert, placidly await an entrance into rest
Childhood has its toys, of which IL tires even
before adolescence is fully accomplished
Youth has its visions, that. dream-like, vanish
with each awakening year. Manhood has am
billion, enterprise, to which IL deyotes its best
endeavor-its sturdiest urpose,consserated
evil, of the one thus devoted is left upon the
world, aud public conscience, whether with vocal
courage OF in silent concession expressed, afiixes
just closed life.
And so it is with no misgivings of the verdict
that we take up the burden OF our theme. We
pay the tribute of q sincere respect for the herit
age bequeathed to us In q grand CHARACTER; its
impress shall be for the exaltation of Our chill
dren and the betterment of our country, when
the dust we today 80 reyerently inhume shall
have lost Its identity among the eyer-changing
particles OF natures untiring chemistry. In
heriting q good name, strong common sense,
robust constitution aud abundant energy,
William Renton was born in Nova Scotia in the
year 1918, and after the meager schooling which
the times and locality afforded entered the
arena, climbing, by sheer pluck and determine
ton so TO work that his services would be in
demand, and until his presence could not be
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with by his EMPLOYERS.
Like SO many OF the boys on that rugged East
ern shore, be chose the sea as means of nyeli-
hood, boarding IA ship at the knight heads, or
bow; deeming no honest and useful labor un-
dignified or disreputable. through storm and
calm pursued his purpose, until he was en-
trusted with the command OF q stout
in many chimes. Economizing and wisely in.
yesting his wages, he in due time walked
the quarter deck OF his own vessel
IL was while still a young man, in 1S47, carry
ing a cargo of corn from the United States to re-
lieve the famine in Ireland, that he joined the
Masonic fraternity, receiving his diploma as q
Master Mason from an Irish lodge, thus giving
n m nntf fha old Me- 10,
the state OF Washington. His keen apprecia-
ton OF the principles of the order, where faith
fully applied to the life of its membership, in
dueed him to become patron of the local lodge
and large and ever ready contributor to meet
the frequent demands upon its treasury. He
built and furnished the hall in which IL met as
gratuity, and later delved among the more Sc
clustered penetraiia until be ranked Mas
ter of the Royal Secret in the Scottish Rite
We may not follow the detail of his venture
some experiences Many times and often has
his life been jeopardized by field, and food, and
fire; and were it not that others still survive 20
tell the tale some oil the most remarkable of his
experiences and sutferings had never found an
avenue to the public ear At Havana October
10 and ii, 1916, when in memorable hurricane
nlnety-two vessels sank, some were blown and
carried on the crest OF waves so far inland as to
render their launching again improbable,
while 1,275 houses were destroyed and more
than 1000 persons injured, his description OF
the scene was modestly graphic, and only in
tended for the ear of those he thought could
ehce, the terror aud sublimty of the situation
The scenes OF his earlier enterprises on Puget
sound commencing with mill on Alki point in
lS5S-as have il from one OF the pioneers who
Is with US today-later at Port Orchard, where,
upon one occasion a boiler exploded, doing con-
siderable damage, hurting the subject of our
thought quite distance and rendering him in
sensible; when tender hands lifted the uncon-
scious form II was found to have fallen upon
red hot material that roasted the flesh with
which IL came in contact, and caused intense
suffering for many weary month, but elected
no complaint
The present site of business which has
grown to such vast proportions in the last twenty
years as TO demand the service OF the largest and
most complete lumber mill in the United states,
with the history OF its destruction and rebuild
ing, is too familiar 10 all to need our dwelling
thereupon. No such business success can ever
be achieved without the presence of n master
intellect TO guide aad a moral quality to sus-
tain an unvarying pressure in the fulhllment of
Its eyer-increaslng obligations Aud when we
consider that since the occupation of that site
In Port Blakeley the vision of the resident pro-
prietor and manager has been mental rather
than physical during the past fifteen or more
years, We are lost in admiration of character
aud capacity that by cultivation for double duty
OF other faculties could compete with an enter
prise and Intelligence second TO none in the
same avenues OF industry.
The mightiest forces in nature are so quiet
and unobtrusiye IN their most effective opera
tions, that the superficial observer may deem
some pnrltng, gurgling, frolicsome rivuet the
more important factor. The tiny stream, with
it's refreshing splendor may soon evaporate be-
meath the very orb whose rays are loaned tina,
they may dance in shimmerfEg flakes of bright
ness upon the bosom of the purling brook, and
the volume OF the river in which it was wont 70
lose itself to human perception, be none the less
because of its absence; but, hidden deep in the
lightless crypts of Gods vast laboratory lies the
true motive power, that directed upon some
wisely modelled mechanism, will ditfuse itself
from an initial point OF action-some ponderous,
wheel-bouud shaft-until every connecting belt
and pulley becomes inspired, and its complete
cessation would mean stsgnation. and suffering,
and death.
There comes to my mind no other form of
expression so nit TO describe the massive capacity
OF Brother Renton, as | have for so many years
with admiration and respect, watched his mar
veious control of the forces aud his know ledge
OF the material TO reduce which the expenditure
OF force was necessary. The "reminiscences with
which our daily papers have abounded since his
demise would seem to render their iteration
here unnecessary; we will be content to dwell a
moment upon his kindly regard for the needs
ana suffering of others, and the high ground he SO
nodestly aud unosteutaiiously occupied in pro-
yldtng Tor the persons and families of those
injured in his employ. No one ever applied 10
MN lor ala without receiving II, IL there were
any reasonable claim upon common humanity.
one OF our oldest citizens. upon whose earth
lie the last OF elghty-oue years suns has risen.
ssin OF nm we other gay I'll were compelled
No suffering in his power TO alleviate found
occasion 10 lament his want OF sympathy II
the grateful prayers and tears of needy reeipi-
ents OF his unstinted bounty are elements OF
power in the realm OF spiritual dynamics his
sout has been impelled to within hearing of that
blessed voice which said "lnasmuch as va did
II unto one OF the least of these my brethren
We did II unto me. Scarce q church cdifice on
the shores of Puget sound but has. with many q
needy school aud private house within the lines
oi tts sFehltecturai proportions, evidence of his
nnsunted hbera!ity. Beloved by the children,
Tor whose welfare he was ever solioitous, there
are many who mourn his removal hence as they
would father. counselor Tor the advantage
oil progress aud improvement. he has identified
ms wisdom and hls helping hand in building
tof the sea all Glasses of craft. from the frail
canoe oil the friendly and grateful native to the
stately steamship OF statelier corporation n. and