St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-15

IT is because OF this that | dare stan
- here to speak memorial words. The
d must be simple, few, and free from a
i faint of indiscriminate eulogy. 1t is no
l. merely because woman, well-borr
nobly nurtured, fifty married, and er
?. dowed with many gifts Of nature and c
S circumstance has gone from her positio
j OF social etulnence in our town and com
/. | monwealth that we are met here. 1t i
not merely because her personal infuenc
j and her material support were of momen
? to this church and to every institution
} for the betterment of our corporate ant
individual life. It is not merely becaus
: our chief citizen (strange though tn
words may sound when applied to one o
her SEX, has passed away. No one o
these things would stir US as the coming
of the gentle summons to her a week age
to enter into new light and life ha:
stirred US. The secret of our meeting anC
our feeling lies deeper than any one o.
these things. 1t is larger than any one
of them. For it gives character and
significance to all.
When first came to St. Iohnsbury one
of the things that most favorably i'm.
pressed me was the afectionate regard
with which every one seemed to think
and speak of Mrs. Fairbanks. 1t was a
feeling that appeared to be in no way
dependent upon her position and circum-
stances. These things were not to be for.
gotten because they represented means
and agencies whereby her goodwill to-
ward others could be materially and
tangibly uttered. But there was lust
this profound distinction. Nobody seemed
TO think of trying to interpret her in
terms of her circumstances. 1t was she
herself who made the circumstances sig.
ni6cant.
Time went by and came to know her.
The period OF our acquaintance was not
very long, and yet | venture to repeat
that came to know her. For it is not
merely the shallow life that can be speed
lily known. There are rich and largely
inclusive lives that yet are so clear, so
consistent, so limpd to their beautiful.
calm depths that one sees and knows as
quickly and really as though the life was
shallow. But there is this difference.
The shallow life pals upon US. The deep
life increasingly rewards our study and
our friendship. The open secret of it be-
comes truth of which men make account.
The effluence of it becomes power
whereby men profit materially and spirit
ually. | make no claim to have sought
the secret of this lie. The room in which
its later days were passed was no place
tor curiosity, and there was no need. The
secret was revealed in the very simplicity
that took no thought for its revelation.
There was something about the quiet
form sitting in shadow, and the calm
voice speaking good words that made
demands upon what was best in us, that
exercised it, and reused us to wish that it
were better You remember, know that
you remember, that that room was a
place for kindly judgment and charitable
Interpretation, and gentle dealing with
the fralties of our partial lives, and a
quick and generous response to human
need.
Here were the hidings ofthis life's power.
The four walls OF her beautiful home, the
possible excuses of increasing years and
bodily nhrmity were never permitted to
shut out the one great fact that was so
patent to her Masters eye that men and
women were in need-in need of food and
raiment and shelter, in need Of faith and
hope and love. She saw--even when the
eye that loved so well the fair face of out
ward nature had grown dim-she saw
through Christs eyes his great appeal
ing TACT OF human need. And with a de-
votton learned of Christ she strove to
meet it. In manifold ways, with utmost
dellcacy OF womanly tact, with a pa
thence chat would not be put to confusion,
n hof l. ~ i
yet IS kind she wrought her countless
beneiactions. No man knows their num-
Der or can know until the secrets OF all
hearts shall be revealed. 1t was enough
tor her that men were helped and brought
to love one another more, and through
greater lovefo one another brought into
closer touch with God.
think we all must have felt thus the
gracious influence of this lite upon our
intercourse with one another. 1t is of
great worth to the community to have
such common object OF regard. And in
various ways St. Johnsbury will be the
better for such gracious and spontane
GUS act as that which presented her with
the loving cup year ago. The question
that forces itself upon us now is whether
VIC eudIl Keep awe IUlS DeDeTCent
influence. 1t is by means of such
careers as this that Christ passes
from generation to generation the |
torch of truth and love. They are
not perfect lives. But they are de.
voted, patient, faithful lives. Men see
the reality of their faith They are
touched by the vital power that works
for good in them. They feel anew amid
a careless world that the old truth of the
Gospel is an eternal truth The only
rule TOR life, the only comfort in death.
think OF her life here during these last
years, and OF her recent death as think
OF one OF those pilgrims OF Christiana's
company waiting in the village upon the
bank OF the river for the summons into
the presence of the King. One after an
other they were called, Christiana her |
sell, Mr.. Honest, Mr., Valiant for Truth, |
and last OF all Mr.. Stand-iast.
when Mr.. Stand-fast had thus set
things in order, and the time being come
for him to haste him away, he also went
down to the River. Now there was a
great Calm at that time in the River;
wherefore hestood awhile and talked
to his Companions that had waited upon
hir2 hither. And he said, 1 see myself
now at the end of my Journey. my toll
some days are ended. am going now
to see that Head that was crowned with
Thorns, and that Face that was spit
upon for me. have formerly lived by
Hear say and Faith, but now go where
| shall live by sight.