The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-26

lance. But, on the contrary. the sun
Of his righteousness shown with In
creased brightness as knowledge OF the
man grew better.
He was a great man, and In what /
think is the truest and highest mean
ing of the term. Great in character.
While we deplors his loss, IL is well for
us to see what practical lessons can
be drawn from his life and apply them
to ourselves for our own betterment.
/ will indicate but two phases of his
character for II practical considera-
ton. His career e~xempliies the posi-
biiity of a man acquiring a large COM
potency by integrity and fair dealing
and puts to fight the modern idea
that wealth can only me amassed by
trickery and dubious methods. And.
again, that to acquire wealth., Is to
alter ones character.
/ have never heard it suggested that
the acquisition OF wealth by Mr.. Worth
in any degree altered and diminished
his character, or hat he was even sus-
| pected of having lost any moral stami-
ia by it; but, on the contrary, as hin
! means grew, the realization of his re-
sponsibilities increased. He recognized
them and discharged them.
And, again. he taught as the lessor
that a man may become wealthy with
out exciting the envy of others. That
a man may come in close competition
with his fellow merchants. and yet re-
tain their respect and confidence
throughout.
His means were acquired by such
fair and legitimate processes, that his
success meant the public good.
When we see a man who, in the
course of years. has amassed a large
fortune by legitimate business ~ransac-
tions, we may take it as ~evidencing a
high moral character. 1t cannot be
charged that Mr.. Worth's character
suffered in any degree by the posses
sion of wealth, or that he became les1
liberal of his means and broadminded
in his charity.
I think in these two respects we can
to ourselves.
Wealth can be acquired and used
without lowering the character, and
that wealth can be acquired and used
without exciting animosity."
Professor M. G.. s. Noble, superin-
tendent of schools. said:
II trust I may offer here a few words
as a testimonial of my love for a man
who was always to me a true and a
useful friend. You gentlemen nave
spoken Of him as you have known him
on the streets when you first saw him
as a boy, or as you ave met him in
your places of business. I can speak
to you of him as he met me when I
came to your city, a stranger, n as
an educator.
When I first came here. he was one
of the few business men who met me
with kindly look and a bright eye and
a cheerful word, and ever when he
would meet me on your streets. he
would ask me as he would look in my
eye, with that piercing glance of his,
How are you getting on in your
schools?' and when he asked me the
question, I felt like there was a man
looking at me, and who was looking
right into my heart. And I could lool:
back into his eye and see that he asked
the question because he felt a deep in
terest in our public schools. And,
again, last winter, when chill Novem-
ber's surly blast had laid field and for
est bare, we gathered at the University
of North Carolina, that he loved so
we'll, to inaugurate as it's president, a
native Of his town. While we were
gathered there from all over the coun-
try, and when they were reading the
kilograms of congratulatiOn, there was
one letter read from him way off in tho
hospital, battling for life with all the
q Ihdl AASoASdA oSAChSS save ~
him. He had paused in that terrible
conflict for life to write a liter Of SYM
pathy and of co~rgratulation, and I
shall never forget the impression that
it made on that occasion, showing that
even in sickness he remembered his
alma mater.
And, sir, as an educator, I must testi-
fly today that he loved the cause Of ed
ucation and that the educators appre-
ciated and loved him. He not only
loved the university, but he loved also
the lower schools where the little ones
were taught, and the older ones pre-
pared for the university.
Therefore, I presume to trespass on
you time and to testify that his work
for, n interest in popular education
is appreciated in North Carolina"
Iredell Meares, Esq, paid a beautiful
tribute to Mr.. Worth, but owing to its
length, we omit it for publication until
tomorrow.
DR.. Strange said:
Mr. President, at your request 1 am
here today. 1 thank you, Sir, for that
request, for asking me to be here sim
ply as a man among the men of my
town, gathered here to do honor to one
on whom GOd himself did set his seal
to give the world the assurance Of a
man. AS a citizen Of Wilmington, in
terested in all that makes for the ma
terial and moral welfare of my native
city, I thank you for the privilege Of
offering my tribute to one who stood
forth so long in our midst as a model
citizen-public spirited, philanthropic,
diligent, honest.
That which raises a country, that
which strengthens q country, that
which signifies q country-that which
spreads her power, creates her moral
influence, n makes her respected and
submitted to-the instrument Of obedi-
ence, the fountain of supremacy, the
true throne, crown and scepter Of q
nation-that is her aristocracy. Her
aristocracy Of blood? No. Her aristo-
cracy Of wealth? No. Her aristocracy
OF talent? No. It is her aristocracy
OF character. So wrote the great Lon
don Times some years ago These