St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-03
VOL. LVIIl---NO. 3O14.

Today we know all this; death is
revealer; the true view of this man is
the review. We now with unanimous
and grateful love see the conservation of
his love. Blessed by his service we
think of him not as a rich man or poor
man, not of his wide and honorable fame,
not OF the name which he, in close part
nership with Others Of the same blood,
has made synonymous with integrity,
purity and clean hands, not that the
state holds him in high esteem for pub
lie spirit, wise, humble and devoted, or
that the church of the fathers through
out the country trusts and honors him.
AS his steward he sought to give men,
not a transient happiness but the
thoughts and joys that give real power
and elevation to human life. He wished
to secure for men the best things, so to
use and bestow the treasure OF the earth
that they might have treasure in Heaven.
All his service was under the impulse of a
passion to improve men. His gifts were
many, but his purpose was one-to lead
men to see and choose the best things.
His eyes were lighted almost to rapture
when he learned of youth seeking a
knowledge of the beauty or power of
God in His nature, and they were shad-
owed with the sorrow of tears, when
men lost themselves in the interests or
pleasures that wasted life. Tell men,"
l. 4 r. I,... 1al~ G1I
his eyes to the visions of eternal reality,
"tell men, now they will excuse and un-
derstand me, that now know that the
best things, the things that make soul,
are the only things worth seeking tell
them that now as stand by the door of
DEATH and turn tor one moment to look
back before l pass through, that l see
that the things of the spirit are infinitely
more than the things of sense" Think
over what he has accomplished, into
what institutions he has builded his life,
the schools, the museum, the church,
think of what interested him and OF all
the interests he sought to awaken, re-
member how he invested himself in that
spiritual business whose dividends are
better lives, and you will see so clearly
ludI 1Oul llCllOly VIII DC d LhSSoeSN
from his living soul learn, live for, follow
the best things. He felt that the true
village improvement must be in the in
crease and power of its spiritual force, if
it grew it must grow upward as well as
outward. The museum of natural
science, that without and within, gives
beauty and significance to the meaning
of our village life, was builded with
purpose. This institution was his recrea-
ton, more, it was his conservation.
From the moment when the thought of
it budded into purpose, till the hour
when he went upward to study
other worlds and hear the singing birds
of paradise, he wished what he made to
be not our decoration or honor, but the
signs and means of our elevation Again
and again has he asked, what can do
to make it useful to the men and women
here, who need better Joys, how can so
place in the hearts of children the lessons
of truth and beauty that shall make the
next generation purer and wiser than the
present. The costly treasures in this
costly treasure house are the signs of the
holy devotions of his stewardship. On
the day before he died, when his mind
was luminous and under perfect self con-
troll, he said; MY work is finished, can
do no more. OF my future need not
think, Ny spirit is ready to go to God.
My preparation for death is complete.
But wish to say something that shall
aid those whom love here. wish the
museum to be the peoples school, then
with an intense longing in his eyes as he
looked to the one who held his hand he
said, do all you can to make it useful,
to teach to this village the meaning of
nature, the real science, and, " he added
with slow utterance, as if he already felt
that he was living in the two worlds of
the one Lord, "and of religion" He
wished and prayed that his joys in the
world as God madeit might be continued
and multiplied in your hearts. Use this
museum" he would say, 'that you may
come nearer Natures heart, which is
Gods heart" The joys of letters and of
science improve life. "The two brothers."
as you will now often say,-who were
partners in one business purpose, have
placed the institution of books and the
institution OF nature, where each may
serve you. They are here, not to
perpetuate a name, but to conserve and
increase the knowledge and love of the
best things. l wish that somewhere
about the Museum might be placed the
last words to you concerning it, 81 have
done what could, hope that the peo-
pie will now take hold and work along
these lines" AS we and our children
look at or look into this structure of
strength and beauty, we shall, am sure,
remember, thus did one ofGod's stewards
seek to serve his God by serving man.
He was a steward for those who
served him in his business. He felt for
them and for all of them human sym
pathy He honored those who could do
good work with their hands The arti-
san stood as high in his thought as the
artist. He never in the business necessi-
ties of the new days outgrew his affection
for the shops. He often wished he could
again go back to the old atmosphere of
nearness and friendliness, know the men
and theirl lives not as employer but as fel-
low workman. He followed the brother
and uncle and father in his desire to
make the name Fairbanks mean to all
"the men" integrity and sympathy. 81
wish, he said when he had only strength
for whisper, "that could now have
the men come to me, one by one, that |
could take each by the hand and bid him
goodbye" Your men love YOU" |
said to him when he was half sunken in
sleep, This at once reached his sub
conscious life, he opened his eyes
and said 81 love the men. love them
and respect them because they respect