The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-28
TRIBUTE BY MRS. VOORHEES,.

We sometimes meet upon this earth,
human beings, who, at the first interview
scatter all distrust and win from us
something like the reliance of long and
tried friendship. Such was my expert
ence when first met the dear old man
whose mortal remains are to be this day
consigned to the grave. 1t is in compli-
ance with his request that am here to
pay tribute to his memory and to give
utterance to the affection and respect
which the rare excellence of his char
acter demands.
In the present imperfect condition of
human nature, when strange and mourn
full Inconsistencies 80 often mix with and
shade the virtues of good men; when
truth, that stern nitor,-almost con-
tinually forbids US to give free scope to
admiration, and compels us to dispense
our praise with measured liberality,-
it is delightful to meet such an example
of true and upright manhood undebased
by the mixture of unworthy habits and
feelings; to meet one whose blameless
| life spares us the pain of making deduc.
| tions from his virtues. To such we pay
our tribute with higher motive than
the simple utterance of affection and
respect which we are confident finds
sympathy and response. in every heart
here assembled. We pay our tribute
with deep conviction that society in
Sturgis cannot be served with better
effect than by spreading through this
community purer morality and deep
or sense of responsibility than are now
enforced by public opinion. We know
not how early in years the greatest work
of this good mans life began, and the
only voice which can disclose to us the
processes by which Grandpa Scott at
tanned the excellence of character that
made him the dear sainted old man that
he was is now silent in death.
What time for meditation! Here in
the presence of all that is left of his NOR
tai remains, we may call up the history
of the association of five years of init
mate friendship. years in which not an
acrimonious speech was ever heard to
pass his lips; nor was his voice even
known by me to be used as the convey
ance Of unkindness to any one; and
while he earnestly and devotedly labored
to establish the principles of truth and
righteousness among us,-to infuse a
moral and religious spirit into all with
whom he mingled.
l have never known him to sully the
reputation of another or to withhold
ready testimony to another's worth. He
lived as one whose daily life anticipates
"the life to come, and in whose thought
and word the spiritual world preponder.
ates." A life. simple, transparent, just.
tender, magnanimous and true. He
was bound to mankind by strong, living
tie of brotherhood; and he was ever
ready to defend the oppressed and the
wronged with Christian heroism that
gave to his character its true glory.
When a moral issue was at stake, his
brave soul would stand up as one among
thousand. remembering that one with
Gods spirit to aid him would in time
win the victory over those who had it
not.
The chief fact of his life was his re-
| ligion. He was a Universalist; a Uni
versalist in practice as we'll as in faith
for the poor and distressed could always
find in him sympathizing friend as
we'll as one ever ready to assist them in
time of need. MANY creeds there are
in the world; perhaps there is need Of
them all, to meet the various wants of
the multitudes of hungry souls who
sometimes do not themselves know what
they most need" Grandpa Scott be-
lieved that his precious faith of Univer-
salism had in it "all the good of all
creeds" and his life testifies to its worth
He died as he had lived, a gentle, fear
less, trusting Christian. His departure
leaves place untitled in our community
| 1t is loss irreparable to Sturgis. and
one extremely painful to his friends. The
tears we shed are not for him, for our
selves. He has gone to higher and a
better life. There the seed of immortal
ity, which was but sown upon the earth,
is to expand through all eternity.
Though We can see him no more among
us we shall delight to remember
that he has been with us. 1t remains
for us to complete the work which was
to be the GROWING work of his life. a
work in which he never for moment
faltered, even when his feeble footsteps
told of declining health which was to
result in final dissolution; this work. the
building of church in the city of his
home, to be dedicated to his faith.
Complete this work and let it be
Scott Memorial, dedicated to his faith,
to the divine work of Christ, and to our