The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-01

al smother evidence Of HE aiertpess Of
mind which was constantly before me-
his continued interest In the questions
Of theology, which are now In the hea.
OF discussion His interest In and study NJ
advancing thought never tagged Most
old men rest on their oars and do not en-
desvor 10 keep abreast with theological
discussion. But Or. Byers was not so.
What the advanced scholars were think
ing and teaching was always matter Of
Interest to him, and his familiar seousi int
snce with the details Of their thought as
tonlshed me over and over How he got
at It ! could not tell He had few OF the
newer books he could scarcely see TO read.
and vet he kept Acquaintance With wha.
was going on and he would discuss the
matters In controversy with wonderful
intelligence and sometimes with amazing
sympathy He would enter upon an ex-
animation of some rather advanced line ~
thought. trace its regular movement sc-
cording 10 the requirements OF logic. and
then az times say. There may be some
thing in that" He neither accepted nor
rejected an idea because 4 was new. nor
because n emansted from source Of which
he was generally doubtful. But II, after
examination. II approved itself TO him
he would unhesitatinely give in his al
herence 10 1t without fear
4 For he had an unfaltering and invinoibie
! trust in the truth, whatever II was re
! had a habit Of saying that truth was one
/ thing In an the WORLD that could afford
/ 10 be known. He had an intimate ne
4 quaintance with the history OF theological
I thought. knew many OF the changes
I through which some OF the most generally
/ accepted doEmas have passed. saw that
4 all that was vital had remained: and so he
never feared discussion. "lf we can get
I new light let us get IL. only let US be
Z sure 1t Is true light" he would say with
I conviction. He was never hysterical be-
/ cause those things which he reverentiy be-
lieyed were subjected to the crucible. He
( had an unfailing interest in the examina-
I ton OF their component parts, and keen
! eye FOR what was true and what was false.
I Aud he believed that all the truth would
I stand the test and come out whole aud
I unbroken. He had "eonsdered the days
Of old the years of ancient time had
+ meditaied upon the movements OF God in
Z the past and was utterly willing TO trust
/ him for the future. The God on whom he
/ believed and the truth of the divine rcve-
/ lation had always been and would always
/ be sovereign and triumphant The Sc
/ renity OF his faith In God and his faith In
! the truth was therefore never fretted-
never a wave OF fear or doubt disturbed
/ its peace.
Bur / must stop lest trench upon for
bidcen ground and be found, in spite II
my wish. trespasser. | have called at
tention to some of the qualities which
marked DR.. Flyers life and character. and
you Will agree with me that 1t was Sfse
% DO so. Such men ought not to be al
lowed TO pass from our midst IN the ST.
lence that would be fitting in most cases
From them VIC can learn much that will
be useful to us in living our lives and 40
ing our work, although our lives be diff
ietentiy cast. or DR. Ryers II may be sold
without much eXaggeration: "Hc was a
man take him for all In all shall rot
look upon his like again. More thau any
other outside OF his immediate family /
shail miss him Ia the days to come I
shall miss the inspiration of that impact
Of mind which SC often stirred me to
thoughtfulncss; | shall miss the oppor-
tunity OF consulting with his great oXpe-
rience In trying periods that must yet
pass through before my own work is done:
shall miss the splendid illustration Of
mental alertness and productveness de-
spite enfeebled years which he always
placed before me: and I shall miss The
buoyancy OF his undaunted faith with
which he trusted all things to God His
death Is to me loss which can hardly
rope to repair, for II is not likely that I
%ill again be thrown into intimate ASSOC
cation with such man in tha Immediate
neighhorhood OF my work While know
ing what release from his body meant for
nm could not but regret to see him 90
snail always thank God thai He cav
me the friendship OF DR.. Byers IN these
last crowning years OF his long life.
! must not close without adding TINT
ms venerable man came to his desrh
with serene and undisturbed nssce. ''tho
peace. OF God which passeth all unJcr
standing; with an unfaltcring faith in
the saving power Of Jesus Christ. wh1se
gospel OF redemption he preached for near
y ntty years and with an undimmed hone
p ,ndt crown OF righteousness which The
nave loved His appearing" To him was
Iulnlled the Scripture. which saith, Thou
snsli come TO thy grave IN a FUN age. like
az q enock Of corn cometh in In its sea-