The morning call., 1893-01-24
THE DEAD DIVINE.
A Brief Sketch OF the Career of
Phillips Brooks.

'.Never be afraid to bring the sublimest
!. ideal to the most Insignificant act" said
Bishop Phillips Brooks in one of those un-
studied yet matchless sermons that have
thrilled the hearts of thousands. This sem
tence may be accepted as the keynote TO the
character of the great clergyman whose
death is announ ced by telegraph. His
active life, now rounded to a close, fulfills
the ideal established by the Man of Naza-
Ieth. He loved mankind for the good there
Is in human nature and toward its develop
ment devoted ali the energies OF master
mind. He touched all hearts by the potency
of his elCquence, yet never sacrificed the
living truth for the sake of rhetorical effect.
He preached the gospel OF love, and his
noblest monument Is the good that he has
done.
Born in Boston ON December 13, 1885,
Phillips Brooks early evnced a studious and
religious habit He was graduated from
Harvard, studied theology at the Aexan-
dria (Va.) Seminary. was ordained in 1859
and soon afterward became rector of the
Church of the Advent at Philadelphia. In
1862 he took charge of the Church of the
Holy Trinity in that city, and ia 1869 became
rector OF Trinity Church, Boston.
On October r. 1891, his successful pastor
ate Of twenty-five years duration was
merged into larger ministry by the conse-
Grafton of the rector as Bishop Of the diocese
Of Massachusetts. On this memorable
occasion Bishop Potter Of New York. his
classmate at school and dearest friend,
preached the sermon, which will not soon
be forgotten by those on whom the feryid
divine impressed the lesson that to love and
to understand comprehends all there is of
life.
There was opposition to the elevation of
DR.. Brooks because OF what the high church
people called his liberal ideas. But this
did not prevail. The gospel of hope he
taught did not ignore rules Of rtualism, but
could not be bound by fetters Of creed.
In 1881 Trinity Church began building a
rectory expressly designed for DR.. Brooks.
Never was a residence so we'll designed for
an individual. AS it grew toward compile
ton. however, the cost exceeded by $4,000
the estimate. but two wealthy men Of the
parish personally made up the deficiency.
On DIR. Brooks elevation to the eplscopate
the house became problem to the church
problem solved by its being made over to
DIR. Brooks as a personal gift. for his res
dence for life. 1t was built for clergyman
and not designed for married man. There
is a small ce2tion-room. large and
beautiful library and dning-room on the
first floor with study and sleeping-rooms
above. but no drawing-rooms, nothing to
make the house. without much alteration,
house for family with lady presiding.
1t is essentially priests house..
The work OF Phillips Brooks as rector of
Trinity was not bounded by the limits of
the parish. Nor can the ministry of this
remarkable man be exclusively claimed
even by the Episcopal church. His work
touched the deeper regions of life and
thought, where divergent opinions find
common center. The catholcity of the
rector Of Trinity was positive moral force
which has impressed itself ON the age In
which he lived.
In his work as Bishop DR. Brooks was
faithful, earnest and thorough, though not
mechanically methodical. He never broke
an appointment. however. and always said
exactly what he meant. He preferred to
write In the morning, for then his ideas
seemed to flow the freest. At the conven-
tion OF st. Andrews Brotherhood at Boston
last fall the Bishop sat through the meetings
with that rapt. absorbed attention which
characterized him. ''steeped himself" as
he said, lin the spirit of the assembly," and
after three days of this wrote, at the last
moment. his sermon, which was made the
closing feature Of the convention, and has
seldom been equaled for depth Of thought
and beauty Of expression.
Before entering on the duties Of the
episcopate," writes lady who was re-
cent visitor at his house. "Bishop Brooks
attended personally to his large correspond
ence. Every letter. note or request, no
matter how ill-timed 1t might be. received
Its adequate reply in his clear. concise
chirography In a manner OF the most