The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-18
REV. II. V. HUNTERS SERMON.


In the course of his sermon yesterday
morning Rev. r. V. Hunter. of the Seventh
Presbyterian Church, said: Benjamin
Harrison is dead. A brave soldier, a wise
statesman. a good citizen and a man with
simple but intelligent faith in God has
passed from among US. From boyhOOd he
grew in mental power and personal inhu-
ence until he occupied the highest position
within the gift of his countrymen. Since
the close of his services as President of
the United States he has increased rather
than lessened in popular esteem. His Ut
terances upon great public questions have
generally been marked by soundness of
judgment, and his regard for the welfare
of American institutions and his dignified
but forceful protests against all attempts
to transcend the limits of the Constitution
in governing the new insular possessions of
the United States has had a profound eff
feet upon the minds of thinking men,
whether they have fully agreed with him
or not.
General Harrison's type of mind and
character were needed in our country. He
had a sturdy courage, an unfiinching pa
triOtlSm and q moral bias which made him
a force To be reckoned with. His intellect
ual prowess and keen rhetoric, and all with
out bitterness, enabled him TO so handle q
subject that his meaning could not be mis-
understood. He was the intellectual peer of
n contempOraneOus American. OF clear
vision and wonderful acumen. he compre-
hended relationships and followed them to
their ultimate logical conclusions. This
quality of mind has been ~exemplified many
times in his practice of law; was remark
ably evident in his speech on good citizen
snip" delivered before the Union League
of Chicago, about one year ago, and stood
out with great prominence in that memora-
bic address made last spring before the
missionary conference in New York. While
regarded as one of the great men of our
times, / believe history will accord him a
higher place still than he now occupies.
WAS a STATESMAN.
"Ex-President Harrison was a statesman
also. A statesman is one who thinks, plans
and works for the future good of his coun-
try and countrymen; while the politician is
concerned about present, personal and par
ty advantage. The politician is essentially
selfish. The statesman loves his country
and countrymen. A statesman and patriot
of ancient Sparta wrote the laws which he
believed would best govern his country;
then went into voluntary exile that they
might not be revoked. Ex-President Harri-
son followed a course so conscientious
while President as to be largely responsible
for bringing about his defeat for a second
term. 1t is better to be right than to be
President of the United States.
Not only did General Harrison have
gifts of intellect. but he was a man of care
full industry. He was studious and pains
aking Many an invitation to make an adj
dress recently has he refused, simply be-
cause he had not what he deemed sufficient
time to make preparation. Much of his in
tellectual power was due to his genius for
hard and careful study. After all. there Is
no genius equal to that of industry. As
President of the United States he gave us a
clean and able administration There were
no stirring scenes and transitional periods
during his administration such as have
marked the past four years. He did not
have the opportunities of the present adj
ministration in this respect. But no Pres
ident the United States has ever had pos
sessed a higher ideal of the functions of the
office. For high and pure conception of the
duties of President he will compare with
Washington. Lincoln and Garfield. There
was no maneuvering for political power or
partisan advantage; no encroachment on
the prerogatives of other branches of the
government. no breath Of 'commercialism.'
His conscience was stronger than his in
stinct for diplomacy, and for this reason he
was not a strong man when ii came TO the
election of 1892.
GOOD CITIZEN.
"He was a good citizen. Quiet, indus
trious. dignifed, patriotic and intelligent.
he has impressed his countrymen as no
other ex-President has ever done. He
has been in demand professionally; civic
organizations, educational assemblies and
llSlitubiOLlS, nv "a anu niS tOuttiy
have called upon him necessarily; and when
possible to a k part in any of these func-
ions he has brought credit TO himself
and honor and helpfulness to the cause
which he has espouseu.
General Harrison was q Christian. He
stood for the main facts taught by the
Christian religion, both in theory and prac-
tice. He believed in the church as q part
of Gods plan for the redemption and
education of the world. He was a member
of the church. an officer in ii, and sup
ported it by attendance and contribution
His life and teachings indicate great cath
olicity of views. He believed i'm the SOW
Christ, the authority Of the Scriptures,
the utility of the church, and that all
who accept the essentials of Christianity
and honestly endeavor to live up to their
best light are Gods children, without ref
erence to denomination, locality, age or
color.
Life, to ex-President Harrison, was a
sacred trust 10 be returned to it's giver
with all the talents accounted for and the
interest thereon. With q cold exterior,
and what seemed at times imperiousness.
he had wtthal a warm heart for his friends,
for the suffering, for his country and for
wisdom and his voice. But he has left
a heritage to his country and countrymen
of which they are proud. Americas youth
will do we'll to emulate his example of
industry, integrity. high ideals and Chris
tian living. Our statesmen will do we'll to
accept the pattern OF lofty and ihtelli-
gent patriotism. left by him. i'm their flu
ture careers. The laity of our churches can
learn a lesson of high ideals and faithful
ness from his life. We will miss his coun-
sci in church and state. There is genuine
sorrow that General Harrison is dead, not
only in his family, but in his home city.
State and Nation. But his influence will
live for years TO bless mankind"
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