The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-02-09

AT REST.
A Beautiful Tribute to the Memory
Of the late David Groves. ST..

David Groves, Senior, the man, the
the friend indeed, the warm
benefactor, whose whole life was
IN evangel, whose heart was ever ready,
whose hand was ever open to the
relief of suffering need, is with US no
Bnt he still lives, for "'Tis ever
wrong TO say a good man dies"
In this paper we attempt no fulsoms
for the subject does not demand
nor justify it. 10 fact, we have a secret
conviction OF our inability to measure up
to the requirements OF the occasion.
Bat Father Groves needs no eulogy from
any pen. His whole life is his euiogy,
craven on the heart and embalmed
in the memory OF those who knew him
well.
From An Intimate acquaintance with
Kim. ruaniag back into v childhood,
we feel justified in dropping a tribute
here and there to his real worth. And We
know whereof we speak when We say
that he wa q man among men; O man of
sterling worth a integrity of character,
with splendid natural equipments for a
GOOD and useful life.
As o busiaess man he wns a success.
''Ths great secret of success - says Dis
raeii, sis for Q maa to be ready when the
opportunity comes" He was not only
rsady wheat the opportunity came, but he
made opportunities aud then closed in
With them with "a energy and will that
insured success. Aad while he was not
wealthy. yet he was q man of
large STAIRS. aud through dint Of untiring
industry succeeded in accommodating large
property.
He was sympathetic to a fault. He had
the happy faculty Of entering heartily
Into the sorrows of others. For others'
troubles waksnsd q responsive chord In
sympathetic touch. He beloved with the
poet that. 1.-THE drying up . single tear
has more of honest fame thaa shedding
ssas Of gore"
He Wal e1iaeatly humane rs we'll rs
scziptunal In weeping with them that
weep. He was In the truest sense o
"usighbsr to the man"-any msR who
stood II need Of him.
He oaee remarked to o friend that it
was his motto never to urn any one
away snpty from his door.
Tramp and traveller alike, needy or not
needy. found genuine hospitality under
his roof, and that, too, without aay CON-
pensation whatever.
..Blsst that abode where want and pain repair.
And every stranger finds a ready chair"
Nor wa his iiberality in giving any the
less pronounced. His aims were without
display. One worthy widow, yet living,
a testify to his unpretentious gem
erosity In his gifts to her Of the nsces-
saraes Of life regularly every winter for
many years. He always gave discreetly;
~ knew when and how to give. As La
Bruysrs he's we'll said: "Liberality con-
sists less In giving profusely han in
giving judiciOusly." But the qualities of
his miad were as pronounced as those OF
his heart. Had he not been a successful
farmer. he might have been a successful
politician, whstting his polemic blade
ready for the arena of political strife.
Those who knew him well will bear me
out In the assertion that he was conver-
can't with psrhaps every phase and shade
Ut our political faith. With him "rsadinE
made the full man, conference the ready
man." And 10 frequent were his dis
cu>ions OF political questions with his
children that they imbibed his spirit,
taxing on the hue OF their surroundings,
antil one, following In the wake Of an
older brother, now dead, has entered the
Geld OF journalism as the youngest editor
Of the secular press In the state.
Father Groves was a champion OF pure
and refined politics. He wanted good
mon and trus-not political mountebanks
aud wicked men-elsvatsd to positions o,
public trust. He believed with George
william Curtis that, 1.-THE foundations o.
eur public morality must be laid deep IL
the public Int liieence and virtue"
4 He va iadesd Q veritabls Gamsliel IL
political lets. and I know Of NO man q
whose feet I would rather have sat an
learned Of the iatricacies OF our nationa
political economy and polity. and tn
ventilation of the cunning craftiness o
designing men, than at his.
But nowhere did Father Groves char
actsr shine more UNANIMOUSLY than in hi
devotion to his religion aad his church
And while his bodily afiiction, whicI
was OF long standing. prevented hi
attendance On the services Of the sane
tusry, yet his faith never tagged and hi
devotion never died. This devotion, wit
HE prayers. lore abundant fruit In thei
influence upon his children, nearly all G
whom. now living. are following In theI
fathers footsteps, rslisiousiy, aud som
OF them sficially.
He was q steward, fer years, In ia
Methodist church, and was blessed wit
five worthy successors and o superin
tsndsut Of o Sunday school, all of whsr
are in the astivs discharge of their dutie,
His mantle fell ON them before he wa
ready to depart. But we must observe. 1
THE connection, that his intense person
aiity. blended with the maternal infiu
: snce. had also much to do in directing Ii
lives OF his children. Under tbs plastl
touch Of these godiy influences the
dsstiuies were shaped, and now each on
Of thsss, ~ those who know can testify,
the center of other influences in b
respective locality whose concentri
~circlsa are ever beating outward an
onward.
I Bat 1t was in the social circle whel
Father Groves appeared at his best. IL
natural urbanity. which was the subje,
, OF frequent comment. left little to /
> added by his daily contact with courtes
and rsnnsment. lie was "as gentle as
, woman, as manly as = man." With
, psrsonai history running through eighty
, MAE eventual years, to be In his cou,pan
ives o privilege and q benediction.
How eft have we sat with this high
favored and happy family. ranged
seni-circis around the cheerful log fir
, enjoying to its fall "The feast OF reaso
! aud the fioW OF SOUL" I know not Il
experience OF others who sat Ia the soci
/, circle with him, but ! found that the la
] war was not a very desirable topic
conversation with him in his later year
and We think we all know the reaso
: why. During that %eventfni period B
was intensely southern in his procli'
tiles, and, without arrogance, but quiet
and firmly, he maintained the courage
his convictions. Add while the fires
8 i%sternecioe strife were blazing at the
Highest he used no que stionable metho,
tor bis protection or for the advancement
OF the cause he had espoused. Ia fact, |