Milford chronicle., 1902-04-25

thirty-hve years his pulpit was the sole
business of his life. He lived and
breathed and ate and slept and walked
and nursed his strength only for that.
He had the most tremendous capacity
for work Of any man ever knew, and
even after he was turned seventy his
form was as straight as a mountain
pine, his eye as clear as the eagles and
his mental force undated. On that
last gospel journey upon which he set
out on Feb. u he preached in rapid
succession to great audiences at Ma-
con, Charleston. Richmond and New
Orleans with his wOnted elo0uence
and power, and it was not until the
deadly Mexican climate had Slapped
his strength that he succumbed Never
from the first day Of his ministry till
the day of his death did be put off the
harness Of the lords service. When
he went on lecturing tours. it was not
TO make money or to take pleasure, but
to get away from his home tasks, so
that he could come back refreshed to
do more valiant service for Christ.
Every family physician who entered
our home declared that the rest Of rail-
road travel had been his physical sal
vation. 1t forced him to the repose
that he would not otherwise allow to
himself.
Woodworking Genius.
He was genius. but he developed
every one Of his ten talents By the
hardest kind of mental and physical ap-
plicatiOn. No labor for him was too full
Of drudgery Morning, noon and night
found him in his study. He took phys
ical exercise not for pleasure, but to fit
himself for the pulpit. He lived not to
eat, but he ate so that he could live. He
placed his standard very high, and into
every sermon he put his best thought.
He used to say to me: Frank, do not
make the mistake Of many literary
men. They say to themselves, l will
save that thought and put it into anoth-
er speech or article. Give to the world
the best you have. Crowd everything
in that strengthens an argument. but
always strive for quality and not for
quantity" When theological student,
] wanted to occupy for some weeks the
pulpit of small country church. He
uttered his protest, saying. You ought
to spend at least three months upon
your first sermon. writing upon it from
six to ten hours a day" What a testi-
mOny is this to his own careful work,
coming from the cold lips which are
now closed in the casket What q
homiletic lecture it is for the young
ministers, for the young lawyers and
budding statesmen who maintain that
the Oratorical art is a divine gift which
has no need for struggling upon the
rough mountain side of drudgery What
a clarion uOte it is. summOning all men
and women TO do their best under all
conditions. The lesson is as powerful
for the merchant of ten talents as for
the clerk of two talents. To him that
hath shall be given. From him that
hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath.
There is, however. a warning that
comes from my fathers intense 0ppli-
eatiCn to work which deserves the at
tentlOn Of all those who are bending
their physical. mental and spiritual
energies to accomplish something in
life's struggle. My father had one Of
the most robust physical frames ever
given to man. He had a wonderful
mind. He had a wonderful body. He
could speak out Of doors for two long
hours and address 10000 auditors. Yet
the last sentence would be heard as
distinctly as the first. He could do a
ten mile tramp more easily than some
men could walk around a city square.
His chest was broad and deep. His
heart went on with the steady regu-
larity of a pumping engine. He thought
he was taking care of himself, but he
was not. About twenty-five years ago
the first danger signal was lifted when
insomnia. like a hideOus specter, sat ut
the foot Of his bed and refused to let
him sleep. Night after night he would
be up four and five times walking tie
| floor. After awhile the children be-
came used to it. We would greet him
at breakfast, saying, Father how did
| you sleepY and when he answered,
mot very WELL" he would look so
fresh and vigorous that we, too, were
deceived, and we would hope that he
had slept better than he thought he
did. But he could not be induced to
spare himself He Overestimated his
reserve of strength. My father ought
to have lived with that magnificent
body at least fifteen years longer. Had
he economical his strength the best
years of his life might have been those
last fifteen years. He died from over
work.
Ye brain workers. listen to this warm
Ing! Ye literary men, who are full Di
great thoughts which you are eager t,
after, beware of overdriving the brain
Remember that you cannot take you
workshop to bed with you and wOrl
in the dark without undermining you
mental strength. Heed today the mes
sage which comes to all. Stop befor
It is too late. God did not intend m,
father to go on as he was doing
wrecSing his magnificent physica
frame.
Minister of CheerfuIness.
My father was a gospel minister Q
unbOunded cheerfulness. He believe
that there was as much true religion i
the smile seen at the wedding Of Can
Of Galilee as in the sob heard in
house of mourning. He was an opt
mistic Christian whose mind was fire
from gloomy presentiments Inhisyout
he grasped the great truth that God /
love. Because God is love he fe
that God approved of his being stron
and well and happy. He always e.
pected good things to come to him frol
the Divine Father. as u little child ma
urally expects good things to come I
him from an earthly parent. A fallin
tear may, ere it drops, lodge in IL
: wrinkles of a smile A rainbow ca
r climb over the dark clouds of storm.
e a member Of the family was dangerou
/ ly sick, he was not dismayed, but a
l. ways felt that she would get well.
: financial trouble threatened the HON
he never was apprehensive, having u
wavering faith that the God who car,
t for the birds of the air and clothes Il
+ lily Of the field would feed and clotl
/ him and those he loved. He was williI
s to undertake big things because he W;
e walking hand in hand with his Heave
z. ly Father, accompanied by the swe