The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-20

him, and who, all through the years
since, has been loving and sympa
thetic companion to him; nursing him
tenderly and assiduously through hi,
long period of helplessness, bearing
him almost like babe in her arms
during its later years.
1t is the same story of toll and con-
secration wherever have crossed his
pathway in Wisconsin, Illinois and
Iowa; only with the advantages that
improved conditions generally gave as
to travel, and material and religious
advancement. How many people l
have met in all these States who re-
memoered him and his self sacrific-
ing labors. He went everywhere do
ing his Masters work as true disci-
pie, and doing whatever he com
manded ungrudgingly, even joyfully.
Nothing so blessed to him as the
preaching of the kingdom and work
ing for its coming. He went pro-
claiming the truth, releasing men
from bondage, lighting up their
darkness, comforting their sorrows,
reviving their hopes.
HIS ZEAL AND INFLUENCE.
NJ ,,,on :, o,,r ,,o;o;e+ry hoe bod q
wider or more abiding infuencein the
West. Wherever | have gone l have
met people, now for the most part of
mature years, to whom he came as an
evangel. An illustrative case of many
such is an old lady OF IS years, feeble
and growing into second childhood,
and yet one of whose abiding men,
cries is that of Bro. Rogers; and as
often as Isee her, and it is very often,
almost her unfailing inquiry is con-
corning his condition; and her equally
unfailing exclamation is, ere she has
done talking of him, "He is such a
blessed good mani o, friends, might
we not rather choose to have such
cherishing us among their most prec-
ious memories of long life, and have
then thus bear testimony of us, than
to have wealth, though it be millions,
and worldly honors, though they be
of the highest and proudest?
l have heard a great many talk
about the zeal of Bro. Rogers, and
praise it and wonder at it. But l
have never thought of him so much
as jealous man. From no fault in
the word in itself, but some early ex-
periences of so called Jealous men in
religion, and from good deal of
reading concerning the times that
tried mems souls in the history of re-
ligious movements and controversy,
something little unsavory has come
to be associated in my mind with
that word zeal. Wfat. in Bro. Rogers,
his friends and admirers called by
this name, l thougF~of as love. Love
for the word and the work impelled
him. 1t was burning desire to see
the essentials of the kingdom pre-
vail,-spiritual life, light, love, purity
the beauty of holiness. To this end
he gave untiring energy, the forces
of his whole being, until the hand of
the Lord was laid upon him saying,
Enough, stand thou still and ee the
salvat on of the Lord"
IN THE WAR TINE.
With that ready ear FOR the call of
God which he always had, he heard
the trumpet of war in 81, and went
forth to his Masters work,-the same
work he had been doing all along
in new field. Always wdtchful for
the best opportunity, therefore, he
saw that the very best for the time
was to be among the soldiers, in the
field and hospital. He ever chose the
post where the most was to be done,
and the most would be required.
From the first his pulpit gave no I'M
certain sound on the issues involved.
December II, 1862, he was chosen
Chaplain of the Fifteenth Illinois
Volunteers. For three years thence
he gave himself wholly to the well
fare of the boys in blue. No, not
that in strict truth. His sympathies
in this case, as always, were with foe
as we'll as with friend. Saint or sim
ner, it made no difference to him, in
all his ministry; but he gave his help
wherever needed. He was ever the
good Samaritan. He would pick a
drunken man out of the gutter, when
every one else would pass him by
with loathing. He would go to the
prisoner and talk with him with hope
when others had abandoned him.
The boys in gray were the Lords
children to him, as were his own
comrades; and so, when occasion
called, he ministered to them also.
THE WORKING CHAPLAIN.
He went to his regiment literally
r.