The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-02-20

held the confidence of his fellow re
publicans in the nation, as he did in the
state. as wise, sagacious and patri
otto leader No man since Chandler has
been so potent force in the politics o.
his state, and no Michigan man since
Chandler has been so influential in the
capital of the nation.
But James Mcmillan was more thar
a successful man of affairs, more thar
a statesman. though as such his ser
vices to his country were of recognized
value; he was philanthropist. The
field Of his benefactions like that of his
business enterprises, was varied and
was subjected to the same discriminat
ing Judgment He was the founder
and the constant friend and helper OF
Grace hospital-which bears the name
of his cherished daughter, deceased
one Of Detroit's noblest humanitarian
institutions, which represents at this
time in buildings, equipment and en-.
dowment half million of dollars.
Among the thousands of students in
annual attendance at the Michigan Uni,
versity the lovers of Shakespeare,
through the liberality of Mr.. Mcmillan,
have access to one of the finest Amer
lean collections of the works of the
great dramatist
He gave to the Michigan Agricul-
tural college, one of the oldest, best en-
dowed, and most numerously attended
of its class, its famous chronological
collection, from which the state and the
nation are deriving benefits through
the advantages it has placed within
reach of its students
ION the campus of Albion college
there stands a noble building, erected
solely through his generosity and dedi-
Gated to the cause of science Daily in
term time, its spacious rooms are
thronged with bright and brainy young
men and women in search Of knowledge
in the science of life From its halls
many teachers have gone forth to i'm
there learned under such favorable con-
ditions.
I'm far-away Texas, whose soil was
never pressed by this lover of men, an
institution designed to uplift and en-
noble the daughters of negro mothers
was the recipient of large donations.
At this hour the grandchildren of those
who were bondwomen share in the
healthful and purifying influence of
this man whose native air never filled
the nostrils of slave.
''These are among the visible evil
dences of his liberality and are illus
trative of his broad view of the needs
of men as well as his response to the
solicitations of those who appealed to
his generosity. 1t is but just to his
memory to say that none of these was
given with ostentation, none was &C
companied by self advertising, nor were
they used for self exploitation. They
are known because they have tangi-
BILE existence; but who can tell, save
Him who hears the orphans sigh, the
strong mans moan, or notes the widows
tear, how many were ministered to by
the left hand of this practical philan-
thropist when the right hand knew it
not?
1.-TWO acts done on the last day of his
life, the knowledge of which was con-
veyed to the recipients in the last let
tiers ever written by him whose life
went out so suddenly, are indicative of
the innumerable benefactions of this
princely man. One of these letters car
ried the joy of relief to husband and
father whose home was imperiled and
which certainly would be lost unless
aid came quickly; the other conveyed a
generous response to the appeal of a
woman, a stranger to him. but the wor-
thy widow of an honored and influential
and being fully satisfied that she was
deserving, he remarked in confidence to
another, Il cannot bear to take the con-
sequences of refusal to an appeal like
that. SO saying, he lifted his pen and
signed his name that carried with it
some hundreds of dollars and removed
the weight from burdened heart. 1t
was his last signature. A fitting close
to a life filled with worthy deeds and
great accomplishments. A few hours
later his own great heart had ceased to
beat and this friend of man and servant
of God had passed from the living.
,If we seek the governing influence
under which this business man built a
name and character which young men
may well strive to emulate; if we ask
whence this statesman's gentle yet con-
trolling power as an incorruptible lead
err of men and shaper of legislation, or
where the hidden spring from which
flowed this ever widening and deepen
ing stream of benevolences, may we not
find answer to all these in the fact that
he was born of Christian PARENTS that
the life principles of the Master Teacher
were early instilled into his nature;
4 -, l.. "a, L