The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-19
IN MEMORY OF REV. ROB'T
McCUNE.

A paper read at Fairmont, Nav IL,
at the annual meeting of the Man
kato Conference of Congreg ganional
church. By --- Sutherland, of
Sherburn.
Tt is unfortunate that one has been
selected to present to this conference
a word picture of the we'll rounded.
we'll balanced and clearly luminous
mentality of our departed friend and
brother, Robert McCune; one 90 in
competent as I. I feel that [ was
chosen because he was my friend and
Bro. Dickerman felt that the friend
ship of such a man, would be an in
splration to me, while the honor
could have been conferred on one
far more competent it could not have
been bestowed on any one more will
ing to testify to the sturdy Christian
character, the loving sympathetic
disposition, the intense loyalty to
Congergationalism and the deep
grasp of spiritual things possessed
by our late brother. just as that
saint-like aunt in the Bonnie Brier
Bush, desiring her nephew to say
''gude word for Jesus Christ" so I
desire to say guide word for Robert
McCune. l am glad I spake a guide
word for him before he died. | say
| rejoice when | remember that |
once assured him that he had helped
my Christian life by his Christian ex-
ample. Friends, it your lives have
been made more noble, if your soul
has been stirred and your ambitions
quickened by some act, example or
precept of some friend, lose no time
IN telling him of it. He may die.
He may pass out of your small orbit,
and never know that his life has been
helpful to you. He may have had
your welfare at heart and have pray
ed over you, and if you hold your
peace, he may die amidst the chilling
mists of disappointed hopes. Bnt
you may not have been friends, your
paths have simply crossed; your
hands may have merely touched; but
you life has been made more noble
becaust of the momentary associa-
ton. Your way-faring friend however
passed on his way feeling that anoth-
er opportunity has been lost. If he
has done you good, tell him of it.
Drive away the clouds of failure and
disappointment and reveal the blessed
sun of encouragement to a disheart-
ened laborer in Gods vinyard.
I It would be inopportune for me to
do more than give you a few of the
impressions made upon me and upon
the community of Sherburn, by our
revered and departed brother, during
the short six months that he labored
with US. His very condecension in
coming to Sherburne, created the
first notable impression. Resigning
as he did: a pastorate which was
practically for life, if he so desired,
to accept less inviting one, at a
salary $1OO less than he was receiving
breaking old ties to form new ones
and this too at the advanced age o1
II years, he simply repeated what he
had so often before done, built up a
church and then turned it over tc
other hands, while he commenced to
build up another. The result was
natural. The church, the communi
ty. the man of the world recognized
in that act OF self sacrifice the un
deniable stamp of a noble Christ-lik
life, and as he continued to go ou
and in before US with genial face
CHEEKY voice and helpful suggestions
the quiet dignity of the man was only
equalled by the good common sens'
of his religious views as he presented
them from the pulpit or in conversa-
ton.
, His very presence in the communi
t ty, seemed to have renovating in
fiuence upon the religious life of tn
community. The various doctrine
and |'isms" with which our villag
had become impregnated and whicI
i. had 80 befuddled the youthful brail
: of our village, seemed to sink, o
+ slink-use which term you will-awa..
. into obscurity, and the true gospe
in all it's old time beauty and warmt
8 as he logically tersely and clearly ex
: pouned it to us from Sunday to Sun
= day. Religion which had almost be
! come laughing stock, began to one
more take on the mantle of beaut
:. and power. The gray hairs OF ou
pastor. his fine physique, the lire
il his eye, the physical power and vige
he yet possessed at the age Of u, a
these united to arrest the eyes {