Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-11-30
TRIBUTE TO GEN, RUSK
his CHARACTER AND CAREER THE SUB
JECT OF REV. CLIFToN's SERMON.


JECT OF REV. CLIFToN's SERMON.
'Gen. Rusk. His Character and Ca.
reer," was the title of a sermon deliv-
cred by the Rev. Theodore Clifton at
the Hanover Street Congregational
church Sunday night The Rev. Mr.
Clifton took his text from the second
Samuel: "knOw We not that there is a
prince and great man fallen this day
in Israeli He Said This is David 5
announcement 10 his servants of the
ieath of Abner. Ny purpose in select
| ing it as text is not TO trace any anal
| ogy between the subject Of this even
ing's sermon aud the ancient prince,
but because 1t is so applicable to tue
death of Gen. Rusk A great man,
prince among men, has fallen in our
| Wisconsin Israel | wish to speak
tonight OF the character, career and
death of Gen. RuSk. | do this with q
feeling of personal interest as he was
the colonel of the regiment in which two
of my brothers fought for the Union.
The nation has expressed its sorrow for
his death through the press and the
numerous kilograms from numbers of
public men in all parts of the country
sent TO the bereayed family. Here
the Rev. Mr.. Clifton reviewed the his
! tory of Gen. Rusk from his boyhood TO
his death, including a graphic descrip-
ton of his devotion to his country in
the army and in the civil offices which
he filled with honor and ability. Con-
tinuing he said; 1.-The news papers
have spoken rightly in calling Gen.
Rusk the most unique aud picturesque
character in public life since the death
of Abraham Lincoln. He was great
personality, patriot, a kind hearted
| friend and neighbor. He was a true
man, true to his convictions, true to
his friends, true to his highest and pest
self. He had keen sense of honor and
right. and with all he was an humble
man. lie was product of our pecul-
lar American institutions. Such q
career as his under snch difficulties as
| he had TO contend with in bis lack Of
| early advantages of education and
! training would be well nigh impossible
in any other country on the globe. He
climbed from the bottom of the ladder
to the top, from a seat on stage coach
to seat in the cabinet of the nation.
But he could not have succeeded as he
did had there been a faint Of dlsbonor
in his blood. He might have attained
to momentary popularity, but he
never could have won as he has during
fame. We learn from his character
and career the lesson so often and so
impressiycly taught US in the expert
ences of men, that it always pays to do
right and that it never pays to do
wrong
"Hls quiet, happy home life. during
the months Just preceding his death,
was beautiful as has been represented
in the daily press | knew nothing of
his religious convictions or church r9la-
tions, but he was evidently at least in
his last days a man of prayer. How
touching the incident of his repeating
over and over again many times during
the last few days of his illness, the uni
versal prayer taught US by Jesus Christ.
Gen. Rusk's soul was an honest soul;
be was man of prayer and God will
never withdraw himself or desert an
honest man who prays.
"What an example our deceased fell
INV CltidDu anu uOttVLOO AAlOhh utt9 sou
us all in the integrity and usefulness of
his life-an example to business men,
to politicians, to statesmen, and to the
employers of men. None worked un-
der him but to honor and love him.
We're all employers like him there
would be fewer strikes and lockouts
than there are. We feel grieved at his
sudden and comparatively early taking
off. What he might have achieved DUR
ing the next decade had his life been
spared, no man can tell So popular
was he with the people and so capable
and so worthy that it would be easy to
think of him as some day occupying
the executive chair of the Nation. But
God knows best and we can only bow
our heads and say Thy will be DONE"
But after all was his career cut short?
Does death end all? Our loves, our
hopes and the word of God tell us no.
Gen. Rusk lives, and his career of use
fulness goes on. Let us prepare for
death by living right life; let US emu
late the example Of this truly good and
truly great man, in all the excellencies
of his life that have indicated. loving
our country and serving our God "