The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-22
EILoGZES THE LATE SEM
TOR S. j. r.. MCMILLAN.
WAS ALWAYS CONSISTENT
CERE, AND GOVERNED ALL
HIS ACTS.
LET SURVIVORS PATTERN THE,
After the Example "f the Venerable
Jufist and Statesman. Who Re-
Gently Passed Away.

Gently Passed Away.
Rev. Maurice D. Edwards, of the
Dayton Avenue Presbyterian church,
delivered a memorial sermon yester-
day on the death of Samuel ]. r. Nc
MILAN. The text was from Prov X,
I; The memory of the just is blessed y
The discourse, which was listened to
by a, large audience, was as follows
Sacred biography is a frequent subject of
pulpit discourse. By sacred biography is
commonly meant the lives of those whose
names and history are recorded in the Scrip
lures. But high as many of these characters
may rank. saintiiness is not peculiar to Bible
times and history. There are in this nine
tenth century lives as heavenly in their
aspirations and as high in their moral
achievements as those described in Holy
Writ. Why then should we preach of saints
who. lived 1000 years ago and ignore saints
whom we ourselves have known. May we
not drink in as high inspiration from such
lives which we have seen as from those lives
We have not seen?
1t is for this reason only that we are justi-
fed in occupying the time of this service in
considering the life the services and the
character of our brother, Samuel J. X. Nc
MILAN. Our object is not to glorify man. but
to glcrify God There has been spent in this
community in public and private a rare life,
application of that word, but universally rec
ogniZed as Christian in a way and to a de-
gree too seldom found in this imperfect world
of ours. Senator Mcmillan, in faith, in con-
secration, in devotion TO all things high and
holy lived and moved and had his being on
spiritual plane so far above most Chris
tians that he has brought new revelation
to many of the possibilities of Christian at
tainment and has demonstrated to the world
that a man can live a thoroughly Chrstlike
life amid all the temptations OF public ca
reer as well as in the circle of the home
and. of the church. Such a life belongs as
truly to the church and the world as does
the life of David or Paul, and it is
right to use it for similar purpose. The les
sons it brings the announcement 1t lmpartS
the inspiration it affords are divine gifts and
methods for the blessing and enrichment of
other lives.
As. such and from such motives we dwell
this morning upon the life ana character
of our friend.
Judge Mcmillan came of good parentage.
He was of that sterling Scotch-Irish stock
than which the old world has contributed
nothing better to- the new. For several gen
I erations however his ancestors have lived
in this country His paternal grandfather,
Samuel Mcmillan served in the War of the
American Revolution. His parents belonged
to Western Pennsylvania, that stronghold OF
/ Presbyterianism. He himself was born at
Brownsville, in that state, Feb. y, 1926. When
Young child his family removed to Pitts
burg. and here the son grew up and received
his education. He graduated from Douglass
college in 1876. The subject of his com
mencement Grafton was the Natural Rights
of Man." and writer for the public press
of the time speaks of it as beautifully writ
ten and very well delivered. The law hay
/ ing been chosen. fer a profession, young Nc
MILAN entered the office OF Shaler d stanton,
the Junior member of this firm was after
ward the famous war secretary. In. 1919 MT.
Mcmillan was admitted to the bar and be
gan in Pittsburg the practice of the law. In
1850 he married Miss Harriet e. Butler,
daughter of Mai John B. Butler, of the reg
ular army. 49,,
In 1852 he came with his family to Still.
water in what was then the territory or
Minnesota Immediately on his arrival there
i MIR. and Mrs Mcmillan identified themselves
with the First Presbyterian church, whlcn
consisted at that time OF four MEMBERS AZ
once Mr. Mcmillan was chosen ruling elder.
In 1856 he removed to st. Paul to practice ms
profession, and joined, with his wife. the
| Central Presbyterian church. Too valuable 4
man in any church to remain long private
member only he was Immediately honored
with an election to the session. In 1897 a
state government having been formed, MT.
Mcmillan was chosen Judge OF the lhlfd JUDI
cial district. and on this account removed
back to Saltwater. This time he Joined the
Second or old school Presbyterian church,
| then a feeble enterprise, near which he re-
| sided and he was, as usual, soon MADE an
elder. In 1864 he was appointed one OF the
justices of the supreme court. This position
making residence at the capital city more
convenient he removed with his family
{ OSSeioiOli Nv
and his family identified themselves with the
| House of Hope church, then worshiping in a
frame. chapel on Walnut street. Again he
was made a ruling elder and served in the
| session of the church for a period OF nearly
| twenty years. In 1874 vancancy in the chief
justiceship having occurred he was appointed
to that high position. This appointment was
merited recognition of his abilities, his
character and his faithful service. AT the
| subsequent election his appointment was con-
frned by the suffrages of the people. From
1851 to 1875 a period of eighteen years, he
served without intermission on the bench.
| That his services were eminently satisfactory
| is evidenced by his elevation from time to
time to higher positions; by the unanimity,
with which he reelected again and
again by larger majorities and by the univer-
| sal testimony of his associates and of the en-
| tire bar The administration of justice as
| between man and man was to him most sa-
| cred trust, and he had ever before his mind
| the fear Of doing an injustice Realizing the
| danger of this he was not only careful and
| conscientious, but he felt the constant need
| of wisdom and guidance higher than his
| own Hence divine direction was daily sought
| in the discharge of his duties; and where in
| tricate questions or large interests were in
! volved it was his custom TO make such cases