Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-11


Vile Hudson Sherwood. delivered a
fitting memorial sermon 10 his prede-
cessor. taking as his text Psalm 4:3
Know this also that the Lord hath
chosen for himself the man that is
cody
In his opening remarks the rector
spoke OF the possibility that some
might think him presumptnous in at
tempting a memorial for the man whom
they knew so much better than he, for
mis- own acquaintance with DR.. Sweet
was very limited. Before the death of
DR.. Sweet, Mr.. Sherwood was called to
take the parish here. DR.. Sweet being
then rector emmeritus. The rector in
his sermon yesterday spoke of his con
versatiOn at that time with the veneer
able priest, saying; DIR. Sweet talked
of death as one of the most common
of every day occurrences. an event that
might occur tomorrow. next week. or
AT any time. He told me. when | eX-
planned that ] could not take the par
ish while he was in charge as rector
emmeritus that he would retire entire
~ and leave me to- carry on the work
Of the church in my own way and ac-
cording to my own ideas. Whether
he could have done so or not is a
question. but his willingness 10 do so
illustrates the unselfishness of the
man"
II was about four months later that
DR.. Sweet passed away, and some
months ago he was succeeded by Rev.
c. II. Sherwood Speaking of DR. Sweet
as he had known him. the rector said:
DIR. Sweets one care was for his
church. and its members. He had no
reproach for any one but himself"
Speaking of the memory of DR.
Sweet in the hearts of the church mem
beTs. MIR. Sherwood said. No one ut
tiers an unkind word of DR.. Sweet. it is
one long song of praise. often feel.
as before his death. that his is the DOM
mating influence and that | am merely
assisting in carrying out his work,
\ sanity Man.
A holy priest is not curious
thing" said the rector. but when
We meet a saint. of whatever order. we
bow in reverence. for we see the near
est to God that man can approach Dr.
Sweets characteristics as pastor,
priest, and man. all combined TO make
him the saint"
Continuing he spoke of the life of
DIR. Sweet as the pastor. in his kindly
relations TO the members of the
church. as the priest. in his relations
to the church and his religion. and as
man. in his relations TO men. As
the pastor DR.. Sweet knew his church
people as an open book He became
in truth. all things to all men. In com
menting on the life of the departed
rector as a priest. the speaker said:
He was as catholic in his doctrines
as he was in his ideals Of men He
was never tempted by a sister church
that offers greater power and freedom
10 its priests. but believed in and loved
the church he served. He loved the
ritual OF the church and found in il
the greatest comfort
Self Abncgation Main Characteristic.
OF the many virtues that made Dr.
Sweet the man he was. the rector con
fined his comments to the one-his ut
ter self-Tenunciation. He never thought
of self" said the pastor. and he re-
garded money with a lofty scOrn." The
speaker related many of the kindly
acts of DIR. Sweet. for which there are
many who owe TO him their daily
bread. their education, and assistance
n times when aid was an absolute
necessity. He spoke of the many
thank offerings of the priest to his
church. among them the hymn books.
and the electric lights
The rector here voiced the sentiment
Of the entire church membership when
% said u hone soon TO see a fitting
memorial to this priest who served the
church p years erected here. not the
memorial Of one man. nor Of a dozen
men. but OF the entire church. and
those who honor his memory"
Speaking of the poverty which DIT.