The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-03

his season of suffering: to speak with
him of the consecrated son, DR.. George
Worth, whom he surrendered to
Christ's call for the heather, and again
of the time-honored university, his
alma mater, which was so much a part
of his life. That SAM nobl simplicity,
serene truth, unaffected ChristIikeness.
shone undimmed in the hour of dark
ness and toll. What a blessing this
ideal SO nearly realiZed! In haste.
Cordially yours,
TROS. HUME.
Mr. President:
1t was not my privilege to have that
close intimacy with Mr.. Worth which
would warrant a personal tribute, even
though / do most heartily indorse-so
far as my slight acquaintance will just
ify an expression-every word Of eulogy
that has been spoken concerning him.
But while I bring no wreath for the
good man gone, l feel that as a citizen,
it is my right to gather from his life,
as I see it, some lessons which may per-
haps be a good seed in the minds and
hearts Of our u men, yes, and OF
those of Us maturer years; lessons,
which rightly considered, shall inspire
and energize, and enable us to triumph
in the great life struggle. One fact in
the life OF our friend stands forth in
rugged strength and great beauty. His
was an honest and a successful life.
The world today needs to study that
truth. There is in the minds Of our
young men as they begin to look out
over the field, and plans for active par
ticipation in the strifes of the business
world are being formed, a rend toward
the unwise and hurtful conclusion that
to succeed in meeting competition, to
make one self secure financially, GER
tainly to hope for the amassing Of any
thing like a fortune-one must learn
tricks in trade, take advantage of
nigh cuts, smother conscience, and
know no rights of other men. They
look about them to find, alas! that too
many have builded on seeming success
upon a foundation of deceit and treach-
cry, and the motto of the hour is dinned
into their earS-'get all you can, as you
can"
What an excellent thing it is for our
community that we car point to the life
of this worthy man and to those who
lave been associated with him in bus
mess as an example Of unusual success
attained by honest methods. Honesty
means more than simply meeting IMAM
cial obligations-it embraces right
dealing towards fellow man in all di-
rectiOns, and it is in this sense that T
would characterize the life just closed
as honest. 1 remember when a bare
foot boy 1 played by the banks of our
river how my farmer father loved to
ship his produce to Worth & Worth;
and the neighbors all did likewise.
They felt that in those days Of eager
seeking for hasty wealth-when men
rushed into this venture and that to re-
store the prosperity which var rough
hand had crushed, and he tool risk
who trusted in his friend-their every
interest was safe in the keeping of the
honest men who directed the affairs
Of this firm. Their confidence vas not
misplaced. Fortune smiled upon the
ventures Of this honest man, and the
tidal waves Of disaster did not shake
the fabric he had so helped to build
because it a no u~nsoundness in it.
A little observation-disclosures yet pathetic
comes just now to my mind, illustra-
tive Of the confidence begotten in the
people of our state in this firm by rea-
son Of their integrity. Last spring
when the convention-the Southern
Baptist convention vas to meet in our
city, some Of US connected with 1t re-
ceived many letters. Among them
was n which I LAY kept as a curl
osity. It came from an old illiterate
preacher who lived up near the noun
tains and who, 1t seems had never
visited our city-and in 1t was written.
Il expect, providence permitting. to be
at the convention. Please consign me
to Worth and Worth" Now, there Is
a lesson for US in that. The poor old
man had no personal acquaintance in
Wilmington, but he had heard of the
strong house whose influence and repu-
tation are not local, and he had heard
things of the men who were back
of the business that he felt sure he
would be perfectly safe and well cared
for with them-and he would W.
been.
Another thing We may learn from the
life OF Mr.. Worth is that a man can
be a sincere Christian and at the same
time a man of affairs. This is often
denied, and many shrink from the open
avowal Of Christianity and an active
part in the work of the Church be-
cause they think that by committing
themselves wholly to a religious life
they will injure their business prospects
1t was not so in this case. His was
a mind that had to deal with the prob
of daily life-to grasp and master
the many things pertaining to a great
business. He vas a ma fully equipped
for the arena where giants struggle and
weaklings perish. The demands upon
his time, energy. thought. were many
n constant, yet there was ever time
for the duties of religion and for the
privileges Of a child Of God. In his
We see how the busy, care-crowded.
progressive man whose brain Is loaded
and heart burdened with temporal in
was still the humble, faithful
follower OF the Nazarene. Here Is an
answer to the spirit that seeks to frame
excuse for non-performance OF the
highest duty by pleading the pressure
or necessity Of lower duties. 1t seems
to me there is great need that We point
to this lesson again and again, until
our young men, whose ambitious hopes
and great desire for station and power
are misdirecting their energies. shall
realized the truth 1t teaches.
Again, in his life We see how devotion
to principle dwels in loving harmony
with true charity. He held certain
rules of conduct as alone true-he be-
lieved in specific and particular doc