New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-29
IN DIR. HOUGHTON'S MEMORY
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE FROM BISHOP
POTTER.
HIS SERMON PREACHED IN THE CHURCH %
THE Observation-Disclosures AMERICAN
CHURCH." SAID THE SPEAKER. HAS
HAD NO MORE FAITHFUL
PATTERN OF FIDEI-
ITY TO DUTY


Bishop Potter preached a sermon on the life Of the
Rev. Dr. George II. Houghton at the Church OF the
TRANSPORTATION yesterday at the morning service
The Bishop took his text from Acts x q, e. "a. ana
Acts XIV, %. 49,
Then tidIngs of these things came unto the ears
OF the church which was In Jerusalem: and they
sent forth Barnabas. that he should go as hr a.
Who. when he came and had seen the grace Of
God was glad. and exhorted them an tnaf with
For he - was good man. and full Of the Holy
Ghost and Of faith and much people was added
II seemed good unto u.s. being assembled with one
accord. to send chosen men unto you with our De-
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name
OF our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Introductory part OF his sermon Bishop
Potter discussed at considerable length the meaning
Of "a good man and full OF the Holy Ghost" He
spoke OF the significance OF the choosing OF Bar
nabas for this mission TO the church at Antioch o.
cause he had had these two qualities Thus grad
uay the Bishop led up the subject OF his sermon.
the life OF DR.. Hough;on BY showing that the latter
also had these two desirable qualities
Il am here to-day" he said. TO speak OF the Ire
and works OF the Rev. DR.. Houghton. the former
rector OF this parish. He was man good ana fui'
OF the Holy Ghost. His great power lay IN MS re-
markable personality. When We consider ana taik
Of his personality. we must remember that three
things made him what he was. Each one hau an
influence on his life.
First his ancestry must be considered. He waa
-
born in New England, and there obtained In his
early life a certain shrewdness which remained with
him throughout his life. He was not gushing
man. but was calm and cool. He had an acute
judgmen, that came to him from his New-Ehg'a"o
ancestry
Second his having begun his work in the min
istry as the assistant. OF the Rev. DR.. Muhenbers
at the Church OF the Holy Communion. TINS hao
an immense influence his future LIES work. Dr.
Muhlenberg can claim the honor Of founding the
first church hospital and the first church nome
and his preceps closely followed by his FORMER
assistant in mis- work when he took charge Of this
parish
THE third influence in his character was his con-
nection with the General Theological Seminary as .
teacher OF Hebrew. language OF few WORDS Out
''Thc astounding thing to me about pr H sSn
that although he had TO hear OF al sorts =,
with the sad side OF life yet he never lost his faith
the bsss nd n" az his Sas
the secret of his power ne dad mo m9t s aaonaini
snce was ' vide and every person found welcome
from him when they next met him al MS nome OF
Il shall never forget circumstance that hap;
pened just after l was consecrated IN my presens
f the recessonal hymn as leaving the chan:
GEL from my position IN the rear saw s nr IN
t5e CONGREGATION. l. OF course very much sur
prsed at this and told him when after the s ser
He then tod me why he had done this and the rea-
whom he had sa SaGn
Of sight under such circumstances as surrounded
! his case and Dr. Houghtons singular wisdom was
quick to realize that. while 1t was not aceorang 70
! the prescribed forms OF the church yet IL was nis
dmty 70 unbend and show his friendship for the one
| he had greeted. ..., 49, p,s,or
| ~ This diocese was performed at DR.. Houghtons
! reomest He came TO on that same DAY ana
! took me with him TO institution wnere ne nsa
heen visiting and had me confirm some OF those VINO
had accepted his advice and counsel Men trustee
| him and opened their hearts 10 him. his was an
| inexhaustible supply OF hopefulness. lie won tne
people by the power Of his grace and sweetness;
| tie was an absolutely fearless man. ana Mnen NAV
! race war which arose during the Civil war was
bitter here he gave those OF tnar bome
THE American Church has had no mors 1ai'n ~
ave, once closed his ears the suffering or DINERS
His nephew who now your rector YIN YIN take Nav
&c, make This church forever the centre or such
| ministry as DR. Houghton has given IT, ana may y
| nin,ays no a monument to his good and sweet Ire