The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-22

continued prayer In the winter of 1875
Judge Mcmillan was chosen by the legislature
of this state to represent Minnesota in the
United States senate for the term of six years.
This position came unsought by him. Neither
at th.< time nor at any other did he en-
deavor by personal work to advance his. own
interests The schemes of the mere politicians
were distastefuf to him. He was incapable Of
resorting to such means. His whole nature
shrank from anything approaching self-seek-
ing. Therefore his elevation to the United
States senate was high tribute to his ability
and his character. In the political complica-
tons of the day, when it was found that
neither of the contending parties in the Re-
publican ranks could succeed in electing its
candidate many minds turned as by COM
mon impulse to the chief justice of the
state, who represented no faction and whose
spotless character and high attachments as
well as Judicial experience eminently fitted
him for such a position. For twelve years
he thus served the state, being elected for
second term in. 1881. He early the respect
OF his associates in the senate for able, faithful
discharge of his duties, and especially for
the exalted purity of his character. AS an
evidence of the esteem in which he was held
by his associates in the senate may be quoted
the words of Senator Voorhees,. a political
opponent, who, when certain claim was re-
ported by the committee, and the senate were
impatient OF discussion. rose in his place and
said: Any claim which the senator from
Minnesota reports here | am willing to vote
for, ana am disposed to assent to any prin-
ciple that the senator announces on claim. -
In the disputed presidential election of 1876
thouSh less. than two years in the senate,
Judge Mcmillan, on motion of Senator Sher-
man. was chosen by the Republican sena-
torlal caucus as one of the three senators
TO represent this body on the electoral COM
mission, but it being thought by some that
the senator's who assisted in framing the bill
should serve on the commission, the judge,
IL his modesty and utter unselfshness, vol
unfairly withdrew his name and another was
substituted in his place.
returning from the senate in 1887 after
twelve years of service he resumed the Drac-
tee OF law. The ten years which have in
terVensd were quietly spent in the pursuit Of
MS profession and in his usual faithful but
unostentatious performance of daily duty
Never seeking publicity but always in his
modesty preferring that others should lead
yet, when occasion required and great civic
interests were imperiled, or great principles
We're at stake he was found in the fore. An
instance of this character occurred i'll 1891
when it was proposed under the guise of an
athletic exhibition to introduce prize fight
ing into the city. The proposition stirred him
as few things could, and when aroused on
question of moral principle the judge, usual
ly so gentle, was an opponent to be feared
All that was Scotch and all that was Chris
tian in him impelled him to stand forth as
a champion of law and order and the prize
fight did not occur.
In the general conduct of the affairs of the
church with which he was connected and in
all moral and Christian movements designed
to advance the cause of Christ and to- uplift
human life and conditions, the Judge bore as
active a part as his other duties would per-
nit For over forty years a ruling elder in
Presbyterian churches, his voice was often
heard in the ecclesiastical courts, and he
had an important part in the foundations of
the church in this frontier state of Mime
sofa. In 1850 he served on the very impOr-
tant committee on the revision of the Con
fesson of Faith Probably no layman in
the church surpassed him in thorough un-
derstandiRS of the dOctrinal system and in
entire loyalty to its principles. The associa-
ton of the judge with Dayton Avenue church
dates from its organization in 1874. He was
active in the preliminary steps which led to
It's formation. His gifts to the work here
were constant, always generous, often lavish,
for his circumstances. Anything which af-
fected the church injuriously hurt him. any
thing which advanced the interests of the
church filled his heart with joy. What this
church owes to Elder Mcmillan none of us
can fully understand, highly We may APP
preciate his services
Judge McMillan's religion was strong where
so much of modern religious life is weak He
was strong in his convictions He believed
what he believed with his whole soul. The
church is in sad need of men who know what
they believe, and who believe it with every
fiber of their being; who not only possess
faith, but are possessed by faith. Judge Nc
MILAN was a Christian everywhere and in
everything. Religion was not to him some
thing of place and occasion merely; it was
a life. In the senate on the bench. in the
parlor or in his office, he was just as re-
ligious in the prayer meeting or in his
pew on the Sabbath 1t is not sufficient to
say of his life that it was religious, II was
religion. Another distinctive feature of his
religious life was his reverence for and strict
observance of the Sabbath. 1t Is not fashion
able in these times to pay much regard to
the day, but Brother Mcmillan esteemed it
as did our fathers. 1t was time set apart for
holy uses and emplOyments. He never al
lowed the week, with it's duties and cares to
obtrude into the Sabbath. No matter what
the pressure or eXigency of the laws, Satur-
day night must ring down the curtain, and
1 thn ord. n 10 and IIOrhf
in different channel AllusiOn has been
made to the fact that the senator never would
be present at a Sunday session of the sen
ate Had such a session been required by a
national peril, he would not have hesitated
to sit, for he was not fanatica this or
any other point but he was too conscientious
and too clear-sighted to call that necessary
which was only convenient or the result of
wasting time during the week. When he first
went to Washington he brought upon him
self not a little newspaper abuse because
he declined to be interviewed by a reporter
on the Sabbath. The newspaper men, how
ever, soon got to understand his position in
this matter and to respect him for it. so
that he was not often after this disturbed on
that day.
Many of the excursions of senatorial COM
mittees involved Sunday travel, and where
this was the case the judge invariably de-
clined to go. He would no more have thought
of violating the fourth commandment than of
violating any other In this he has set is
all an example which most of us very much
a judgment
pass upon the character or conduct of others.
Where acts were manifestly bad and must be
condemned he took the most charitable view
possible of the OffenSe and the offender We
have a stirring illustration of the sweet char
ty of his spirit in his attitude towards those
who in the strife and jealouSies of political
! life, or in any other way, may have injured
him been hostile to him. No action of this
kind could make him the enemy of any man.
He would not retaliate; he would not even
resent, but quietly and patiently bore in
silence what others might say or do, trusting
in God and events as well his con
scious rectitude for his Justification. Hurt
| he might be, and deeply greved, but he did
not suffer himself to entertain even an unknd
! feeling toward any human being and he
never talked against any. No man who had
! done him wrong was for that reason barred
! for an instant from his help and sympathy,
! if he could do him a kindness. His life is
! an illustration of how consistent Christian s
! walk and conversation can be maintained
| amid all the temptations and distractions Of
! a public career. He passed through that or
| deal without so much as the smell of fire
about his garments. 1t is a lesson which our
youth especially need to learn that fidelity
! to God can be maintained in any circum-
! stances. That high position in the state is
| not inconsistent with holy. unsefsh living.
| Nay more, That exalted Christian charac ter
/ is an aid to public preferment. 1t was that
| more than anything else Whic led TO the ad-
! vancement of our brother. He never probably
would have reached the supreme bench and
I the halls of congress without TINS quailnca-
! ton. He was man OF talent and profess
sional attachments, but the deepest impression
which he has made upon the world is that
of his Christian character. Whenever his
name is mentioned his pure. consistent Chris
tan life is spoken of. His work as public
man will long abide, but that spiritual inn
press is forever. For nearly half century
he was thus before this community living
epistle known and read by all men. The
afterglow of this life will linger longer. and
may we hope that it will be with us even
till the morning. The sincerest honor We can
show his memory is to endeavor to live as he
| Id cd e.