The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-20
IN MEMORIAM.


In the closing hours of Sept. 22d. 1892, our
venerable and beloved colleague, WILLIAM
ScHENcK BoGART. ended his blameless life and
now rests from his labors."
The death of such a man Is public loss,
while to many hearts it comes with a sense of
personal bereavement.
1t had been his envable lot as an educator of
the young, to win the confidence, respect and
love Of successive generations in this city, and
this great possession he never lost again; those
who loved him once loved him always
His pure lfe his gentle nature, his sweet
courtesy, his cultivated mind, his pious soul
ever attuned to lofty thoughts of spiritual
things; all these combined to throw about his
character a charm that was irresistible. From
the beginning Of life until its mellow close old
| and young alike were drawn to him, and all
who knew him were his friends.
Who can estimate the influence for good
| that this career has had upon mis- fellow men,
! or who can say where that influence shall endY
| To the omniscient God alone are these things
| known; ,Ce are lett to conjecture only, but when
| it is remembered that each soul is center
| from which go out impulses for good or evil
to other souls that In their turn affect countless
others. when we think of this and then recall
that upon all the fresh young natures placed in
this mans keeping for many decades he LETT no
impress that was not pure and righteous, surely
it is not the language of exaggeration or Of wild
imaginngs to declare that he was poteer for
good and that his life throughout has been a
| blessing to his fellows.
No estimate Of Mr.. BoGARr' character would
be complete that failed to do ample justice to
! hia fha al
that moved ali the rest and made him what he
was. His faith in God was not profession Of
the lips alone, it was a part of the very warp
and wool of his being. To him the truths of
Revelation lwere not abstract truths but guides
to personal thoughts and conduct; by them he
shaped his walk and conversation.
so trusting and so believing he passed in
safety through all the trials of life's journey,
| through the lingering days of serene old age,
through sickness and sorrow and at last, went
to his reward and entered the heavenly rest.
! Mr. BoGART's connection with the Georgia
Historical Society was long and close. He was
elected member on Jan. II, 1858, and from
that date until the time of his death it is doubt
full whether there was upon the roll of the
society any member who more zealously cared
for its welfare or who held its interests nearer
to his heart
Especially was this manifested in the trying
years Immediately following the war between
the states when the very foundations of southern
society seemed broken up and when the simple
problem of existence absorbed the faculties of
almost every man.
Looking back upon that dark period we won
der now thar such organization as the Geor
ga Historical Society should have continued to
be-.ndeed, but for the labors of Mr.. BoeARr
and of few kindred spirits it would have
ceased TO exist.
One and all they did their duty; despair found
no Judgment in their hearts; they animated the
faint hearted; they batued with discourage
ment in every form; they reawakened public
interest and pride in the society and brought us
finally to the haven Of prosperity.
We owe debt of gratitude to each Of these
noble men, but it is no injustice to say that to no
one IS it more due than to the gentle friend who
has Just gone from us.
Elected the Treasurer of the society on july
IA. 1862, he held that Office continuously until
1897, when failing health induced him to decline
q reelection. In all those years ne was faith
full and true. dischargng every duty imposed
upon him boCh as Treasurer and a m 5mber
of the Board of Managers with unfailing zeal
and sound discretion.
The best that was in him he always gave
And now we shall see him no more memory
alone may bring back the features that we
loved, but his work lives after him. his influence
| remains and will be potent for good long after
we too shall have mingled our dust with the
clOds of the valley"
In view of the spensation of Providence that
has called our friend away from earth, be it
| ResotUed That in the death of WILLIAM S.
| BoGART the Georgia historical Society mourns
the loss of one whose exalted character and
true life demand-as trey have received-the
admiration. esteem and affection of ali who
hold in honor the higher qualities Of human
nature.
ResoIUed That we point the young Of this
community to the record of this stainless life as
worthy of their closest emulation and that We
ourselves shall endeavor, with Gods help, TO
profit by it's consideration.
Resolved That our tenderest sympathy is ex-
tended to the family of our departed friend in
their heavy affection. May God bring healing
and comfort to their hearts
ResotUed, That this tribute of respect be
spread upon the minutes of the society; that it
be- published in the SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS
and the Savannah Press, and that copy be
seat to Mrs. Bogart.
CHAs. H. OLMsTEAD,
Chairman.
A. OEMLER,
w. II. BAKER,
WILLIAM HARDEN,
JOHN SCREvEE,
Committee.
true extract from the minutes Georgia HIS
torical Society. T. D. ROCKWELL,