The Portland daily press., 1895-06-12
Honor to Whom Honor is Due,
tie Editor of the PRESS:

To the Editor of the PRESS:
Will you permit me to trespass on your
courtesy while say few words concern
ing our lamented land beloved brother,
Rev. Benjamin Luscomb, whose death
you have already noted, printing the let
ter from his stricken wife?
1t has seemed to me that something
more should be said in the memory of
one to whom Portland owes SO uncon-
other pen. Since it has not written l
bring my little olive leaf and no one has
better right if our obligations measure
our privileges. To some of us the frag-
rance of the life he lived daily among us
will be an ever present inspiration, his
every remembrance fresh incentive to
love, and honor, and live most wholly
for his Christ.
Heaven is nearer
And Christ is dearer,"
since he has gone to both.
He was a large man in his mental and
spiritual make up, strong and therefore
at times severe Preeminently an evange-
list, hardened men trembled before his
keen eye and forceful words. True to
the whole truth he spared no sin or sin
ner. He had but one Master and un-
fiinchingly obeyed Him. The knife was
no strange instrument in his hands. He
used it as carefully, yet as unhesitatingly
as a skilled surgeon when life demanded
its use.
Yet he had the tenderness of mother
in dealing with the sinner personally
He was gentleness itself with the infirm
and weak, patiently searching with them
into the cause of failure, lovingly, pity
ingly uncoyering that cause where he
must. He had large hope for everybody,
cheerful trust, his very face shone with
the foregleams of the Better Land while
he was yet with us. 1t is not strange to
us that he should be in Heaven, but that
our need should no longer find him. He
was so kind, so true, so sympathetic and
brave a friend.
Outspoken as he was his courtesy and
charity never failed. He spoke ill of nc
man, neither would he listen to evil con-
cerning others. Terrible as his pulpit
denunciations sometimes were those who
walked closest to him never knew him to
slander anybody. Indeed he was chary OF
telling facts when those facts seemed to
detract from a brother.
1t was great sorrow to those who
loved him that he was so little known to
the pastors of the city, that this noble
servant of our King was allowed to feel
the isolation of his position in our midst.
But there was a rare dignity about him
He sued no mans S favor for his own sake
Human as he was, fond of his fellows
and royalty fitted to love and inspire
them, yet he could walk alone with God
For he had a consciousness of his high
calling and the seal of the Almighty was
on his ministry.
And his was no insignificant work
however many may have SO apprehended
it. 1t is probable that the humble labors
of this earnest man, more than any other
one thing, made possible the meetings
held in our city this spring under the
magnificent leadership of Rev. B. Fay
Mills. For he touched every man with
the finger of God, and he touched more
men and women who make up the fibre
and tissue of our churches than anyone
not acquainted with the facts would sup
pose. The large number of persons he
ledito Christ and baptised represented but
a-small proportion OF those he benefited.
Few of our churches but what were
strengthened by those sent back to them,
after contact with his ministry lifted to
a larger life with purpose for higher en-
deavors
And this is not panegyric, this is sim
pie truth concerning the hidden, quiet
work of one of the most consecrated,
patient ministers of Christ who ever
blessed our ity with his presence.
He is dead. He for whom we hoped
there were still so many years of labor,
he whom the world seemed to need SO
much. He was ready, none more So
Perhaps the next lesson God had to teach
him could only be learned in that higher
atmosphere
That African grave! Some of us would
count it privilege to moisten it with our
tears Some of us who, under God, owe
to this mans labors regenerated families
though we were not members of his
church.
Five weeks only in the Dark Land No
time for preaching, for converts. No time
for anything but the sowing of his own
precious body towards its redemption. He
has given his life for the world, who but
Christ could do more? Except "a corn
of wheat fall into the ground and die it
abideth alone. His will not be a lone
resurrection. Myriads Of dusky Africans
must rise to meet hiln-the fruits Of that
sowing; "for one soweth and another
reapeth. "
To say of the sorrowing woman at that
inland station in Africa that she was
worthy to be the wife of such a man is tc