The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-07

Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1913 acres
In addition there were the 1000 acres
to endow the college. The lands held
for Bethesda when subsequently sold
proved to have a considerably larger
acreage than the grants called for.
Career Worthy of study.
To the students of religious awaken
ings, and to those who are interested
in eleemosynary institutions, White
fields career still stands out brightly.
He is yet with them a potent force.
But to the mass of people his name
probably conveys but a vague idea of
some one who at some remote period
was a great field preacher. He is en-
hossed on their minds with just a lit
tie less distinctness than Savanarola,
because Savanarola has figured in
masterpiece of fiction, or is the topic
of a popular lecturer in a lyceum
course. The fault is not with White
field but with those to whom his men,
DRY should be most dear, to those who
should find it pleasure and an honor
to revive in the public mind the recol-
lections of his work, work that stirred
nation and laid the basis for a more
practical, more helpful, more aggres-
sive, more universal religion, a reli-
gion that included the commonest and
lowest within its scope as we'll as re-
strained the highest and mightiest.
The Methodist and Presbyterian
Churches, with their millions of adher-
ents in this country and Great Britain
might we'll set aside a day and devote
it to the study of his life and it's re-
suits. Here in Savannah, where the
tenderest tendrils of his heart envel-
oped the home in the virgin woods
where the orphan children from across
hry Ia af
forts, the impetus might easily be
given to such a movement. Here
character has always been estimated
at it's highest, and the worth of man
has been placed above his possessions.
No man has done more for Savannah,
no man was ever more deserving of
such commemorative study, no mans
life would more repay investigation,
analysis and public discussion than
that of the founder of Bethesda, and
of no man of equal prominence in it's
history is so little generally known. A
small square, whose exact location is
known to but a few, is the only memo
rial in this city to bear his name.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his
friend" But this mans love was of
even broader compass. He had caught
the true spirit, the highest inspiration
of Christianity. To him all men were
his friends in the sense that his duty
called him to work for them even
though the laying down of his life was
the browning duty of all. Through
trials, through difficulties, through
weary hours of exhaustion. of physical
pain, of mental anguish, in
days of sickness of body and
distress of mind. he never wavered
in his self-imposed tasks. When
other men would have succumbed, have
fallen under the load or sought relief
from its overwhelming exactions in
rest among friends, he struggled on
with undiminished ardor, with unswerv-
ing unselfshness, keeping ever before
him the needs of the orphans, ever
mindful of the wants of Bethesda.
Outside of that name of names. the
Christ whom he loved and followed. no
other name was dearer to him, no
other name represented more self-sac- |
rifice, around no other name clustered |
more precious memories or held more
hopes of usefulness through coming |
time. than that of Bethesda. There |
was no thought of renown with him. |
no idea of the philanthropist's crown |
of undying glory. no seeking after tenn
poral fame. no desire to perpetuate his |
own name in connection with the in
stitution. Bethesda was to him but |
the performance of a duty, the laying |
of foundation on which others might |
rear a more stately. more helpful, fab |
ric than he, with his limited means. |
could ever see rise except with the eye |
of faith. II have aimed at nothing |
i'm founding Bethesda but His glory |
and the good of my country" said he |
in all sincerity.
But in the simple, unaffected per- |
Torrance of this duty he built a mon
ument more enduring than one of mar