The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-28


that | should go down and sit with this
immediate company of mourners rather
than stand here and attempt to speak
Our acquaintance and friendship lasted
over thirty years. When I came to Chi
cago in 1859 to stay little while as the
pastor of the Second church on the West
Side, Bro. Swan, who then resided on the
West Side, and was member of the
Second church, was one of the first men
to meet me, take my hand and assure
me of his earnest sympathy and support.
And he fulfilled his promise. For seven
years we worked side by side in that
church. We were in close contact every
Sunday-almost every day in the week.
He was one of the central pillars in the
church, my counselor. my light. The
light of the sun was hardly more neces-
airy to me than the smile of his face
When the frost of dependency some
times fell upon my spirit his amiability
and kindness melted it away. His pres
ence was like the air of spring to me,
raising my standard of human nature. l
thought more of myself and of the world
when | had seen him. Somebody has
said that in reading of Horace's heroes
he felt like hero. In seeing him, hear
ing him, walking by his side and catch
ing his faith and spirit l was always
stronger and better. l saw him under
almost all circumstances, in JOY and sor-
row, prosperity and adversely. He was
the leader in my choir and superintend-
emit of the Sunday school. He enlisted
in the war and went away with the null
titude to battle, but home duties and his
health made it necessary for him to re
turn. He had a severe sickness. Then,
at last, he came back again into the
church.
And even after left the city for Min.
neapolis l met him frequently, spent
days and even weeks in the bosom Of his
family. We correspondent at brief in
tervals, and his letters were like himself,
full of light and cheer, faith and hoIe
and affection. The sun always shore
brighter when l had received one of his
letters. l met him everywhere in some
of the European cities. We crossed the
ocean together. saw him on land and sea
in his home and outside it, in the church
and elsewhere. and think | knew James
Swan as we'll as one man can know an
other. We do not see all that is in any
man. We cannot reveal ourselves to
even our best friends. Say what we
will, do what we will, there is always
something left unexpressed. Indeed, we
cannot express ourselves to ourselves.
But 80 far as I knew any man | knew
him, and l cannot forbear to say to you
that l never met man whom l admire d
and respected more; never man out
side of my family whom l love more. /
think he was one of the most remarkable
men have ever known. do not think
that as layman we have ever met his
equal. l have seen many noble laymen,
men whose fame had gone east and west
and who are worthy of their fame, who
have been grand, noble men, men whom
our church will always delight to re-
member, but l cannot honestly say that
l can think of no one-certainly l do not
know one-so remarkable. all things con
sidered, as he. | have seen men with
single powers that were greater, but
where have any of us seen a man who
had all the qualities and powers neces-
sary to make grand, useful manhood?
We preach in the pulpit, we write books
about what is necessary to make true
man, but we may point to James Swan
and say There is the man that fulfilled
all you have preached about, all you
have prayed for and all you have written
about. Here is the man. To say that
he was faultless, absolutely faultless,
would be to say thing unbelievable to
you or to myself We have had but one
perfect soul OF this earth, and that was
Jesus Christ, but have never known a
man more tremendously developed. ready
for any place, any emergency, in the
church or out of it; l have never known
a man who SO fulfilled the promise that
we wish and pray for. as did James
Swan.
Soon after his return from Europe Mr..
Swan wrote me letter. and in that let
ter he emphasized his health and cheer
full spirit. He said, in substance, II am
so thankful to put my feet once more on
my native land, to be once more with my
family in my home and with my friends,
and, oh, how much l have to be thank.
full for with such health and so many
warm friends" The very day he landed
he called on my son in New York at his
residence. He happened to be out. but
he saw my two grandchildren, and / am
glad of it. They were charmed with
him and will always remember his pleas.
ant conversation. And among the last
letters he wrote was one to member of
my family. congratulating her upon a
pleasant event that had come into her
life, and that letter will be preserved
and our memory will be cheered and
strengthened by it. Two weeks ago
little more than that-having occasion
to pass through your city called 1T
1Af 10 l.