Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-02
DORMAN B. EATON,
Tribute by Rey. Mr., OsgOOd, His Brat
tlebOrO Pastor.

MIR. Eaton ns n TownsmRn, Friend aud
nppier in the Church wns One who
Dealt Justly. aud Loved Mercy aud
walked Humbly. =
The sermon Of Rev Mr.. Osgood at the
Unitarian church last Sunday morning
was founded on the familiar words from
Micah, "What doth the Lord require Of
thee but to do justly, and to love mercv,
and to walk humbly with thy God?'
This sermon made the prelude to tribute
to the late Dorwan b. Eaton, who was
closely identified with the Brattleboro
Unitarian church during all the years of
his summer residence here, as he was with
All Souls church (the church of the late
Rev. Dr. Bellows) in New York city, and
with all the work Of the Unitarian demon
nation. After speaking of the personal
tributes paid to Mr.. Eaton's memory at
the public service held in All Souls church,
and giving to these, and "the many other
tributes that have appeared in the daily
press, a reverent amen," Mr.. Osgood said:
But somehow or other, we, in our little
company (of which for so many summers
he has been glad to form one), would think
of Mr.. Eaton for a moment, in this church
among the hills-likewise so dear to him
simply as kind neighbor, as one interest
ed in our village doings, as a fellow wor.
shipper, and thoughtful and sympathetic
friend
Was he not one, if any man ever was,
who "did justly, and loved mercy, and
walked humbly with his God?' Certain
ly, these words of the prophet outline my
conception of the character of Mr.. Eaton
more clearly and more fully than any other
words could possibly have the power to do
He was a Just man, | think we will all
agree; aud this characteristic was as evil
dent in his relations with the town life of
BrattlebOro, and his connection with this
church and society, and his dealings with
this entire community, as in the larger af
fairs of state and country. His face re.
vealed, as perhaps few faces do, the judi
cial spirit whitman Interpretation borne
out so richly in speech and act. He was
just toward God; he was just toward his
fellowmen; and if, perchance, in his zeal
and anxiety TO do well "his Fathers bust
ness" he was not always quite Just to
himself, but laid upon his own shoulders
burdens too heavy to safely bear, yet his
life of upwards three score years and ten
bore fruit until its very close, and evinced
a wise restraint and a careful outstanding
of resources fit to serve AS a wholesome eX-
ample to many of his countrymen in these
days of intense activity and almost reck-
less competition.
Then she loved mercy" as who can
doubt who has been conversant with the
deeds of kindness, so unobtrusively per-
formed, that marked the long life of our
friend? How tenderly you must all call
up to remembrance what Mr.. Eaton has
been to this church of our faith during the
score of years that he has been connected
with it. Thoughtful and loving counsel
has he freely given to enhance its highest
welfare; words of generous cheer for both
parishioners and ministers have his lips
let fall, and, with his substance has he
striven ever to aid in every substantial way
each good work that this society has taken
upon itself to do in the service of God and
man.
We shall long miss his stately, yet gra.
cious presence in our midst, his warm
hand clasp, his hearty greetings, and the
consciousness of loyal, sympathetic and
entirely wholesome and Christ-like spirit
shining behind it all.
Finally, did che not walk humbly with
his God?' No need for me, no need for
you, my friends, to expand this thought.
Our answer must be, that, together with
justice, tempered with mercy there existed
a sincere humility of thought and utter
ance. In no man of his depth of knowl
edge, of his breadth of vision, of his
faithfulness in deed and attainment, have
l ever seen this virtue more sweetly, more
perfectly revealed he was a child OF
God; he would walk in the footsteps OF
the Master as in those of a brother and
a teacher in holy things, yet he was con
scious of shortcomings and failures which
he trusted might be replaced by more per
feet fuhlment in time to come.
And so, would we leave him, friends
and take to our hearts, reverently and will
renewed purpose and higher consecra
ton, this lesson of justice, of humbenesi
and of love-