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

, MARCH 4, 1879
things of life, and the deep things of
God, and not of his bodily ills.
EARLY LIFE.
On farm in summer when a boy
and youth, in the factory in winter.
He said they were the most pleasant
days of his life. Only little while
in the district school each year until
eighteen, then an academy for term,
then teaching. He was awkward, he
tells us, and bashful. The boys of an
academy which he visited in the line
of trade, when for a while he took
up peddling,-for special purpose,
mark,-the acts of his life were al
ways with purpose; this time 10
come in contact with the world, and
to rub off some of his angular points,
and get confidence in mself,-the
boys of this academy laughed at him,
but it gave him another purpose, con
cocted that night,-he would be prin-
cipal of that school. In seven years
he was. Working, studying persis-
tently did it. So on through all his
career.
The genuine and simple nature of
the man, so characteristic of his
whole life, betrayed itself in an early
experience. In New Jersey, where
he taught year at twenty-one, they
tried his honesty by leaving money
around where he might readily take
it; and by over-paying him purpose
ly. But with no thought of being
tempted, he always did the right, and
sometimes at cost to himself of much
trouble. And so always, his charac-
ter was as transparent as glass, his
motive as clear as MONDAY. He was
as honest and as simple with him
self, as with the world. You knew,
if there was occasion, what he
thought, what he believed, how he
felt; and thought, and faith and feel
ing were revealed as naturally as the
wind blows or the stream runs.
HIS CHRISTIAN COURAGE.
He had the courage too, that such
simplicity, and openness, and honesty
gives;-a courage, one might say,
that precludes the necessity of cour-
age,-which disarmed opposition and
warded off danger. 1t often interested
me to note how freely he would speak
his mind on any theme, and in any
presence, without arousing bitterness.
Never in the least intrusive, nor dis
agreeably assertive, nor dogmatic,
his profession, his faith or his posi-
ton concerning any question were
readily discovered. He would dis
cuss his faith with the most intense
opponent thereof, and the man would
| be his personal friend. He would
boldly preach loyalty to his country,
and condemn treason to the treason
able and the disloyal, and not drive
them from his presence or congrega-
ton, or arouse their ire.
And yet, friends, he was fighter
in his way, for all SO mildly man.
nered about it, and hard one, too.
But he did not fight men. He fought
difficulties and hindrances to life;
fought against principles and poll
cies which were the foes of true life
among men. He liked to tell how
when he was a young man in the
academy, the principal gave the class
hard problem in algebra, and two
days in which to solve it. They failed,
and begged another day. He re-
solved on victory or no sleep. About
midnight he won; and springing up
he.clapped his hands and shouted
aloud: 81 have it, l have i'll" No diff
ficulty deferred him;-nothing daunt-
ed him. If he set out to build
church or found a school, he usually
did it. Only one instance in eight
do know, in which he failed to build
a church when he proposed. Seven
times he succeeded and in the eighth
his part was done. Failure did not
discourage him, nor i'll success, nor
opposition sour him. When one