Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-04-14
In Memory
EDWARD DAVIS wAsHBURN, D. D.

HC WOilN lai
notice of true greatness. The highest
type of man lives and tolls and bless
es the world, and dies unrecognized
Such a man belongs to the foanda-
lions of things, but. like the fouuda-
ton, exists out OF sight. And it is
fatal to man S greatness. in the
world s estimate, to be'out of sight.
The world has its standard OF great
Mss. but 1t is narrow and shallow,
and OF the surface only. ITO be Sc en-
of men, " is It's sseptial. Yet unob-
trusiveness is enc fthe vital qualities
OF true greatness II it be said that
the world would prize true greatness
if it but knew of it, the answer is, the
world always finds what it values.
The world will compass land and sea
to find a god or diam ond mine; will
toll for it, delve for it, fight for it,
brave Attic ice or tropic hat and
pestileuce, plunge nations in war,
change the map Of earth for it; but
the precious gem Of true greatness,
found near at hand, in the very midst
of the common quartz of human So
ciety, sparkles unheeded, be it ever so
truly Of purcst ray serene. Even
though hsralded forth and held up
before the world gaz., and its rare
and lofty qualities pointed out, the
world is not attracted. There is no
beauty in it that it may desire it. "
Like him WHO was their Archetype
and who had the same experience,
such men have to tread the wine
press" OF life alone; for true greatness
has its own peculiar loneliness. The
letters of Robert Z Lee speak often of
his turning away from men TO seek,
on Traveller the cong enial com
partnership OF xington's lovely and
majestic mountains. True greatness
has sense OF loneliness which its fel.
lowmen cannot take away.
Like their Archetype, such men
look for compensation to the JOY OF
doing their Fathers will" and TO
''thej joy that is set before them y
Their conception of life here is simply
Ito serve, simply do good in their
Saviour name and their Saviour's
temper, and then go to him and be
with their Saviour forever.
Edward Davis Washburn was of
this rare and lofty, yet lovely, type OF
man, He was born in Savannah, Ga,
January IS, 1873. His family was
Southern branch of an eminent and
influential New England stock, the
Washburns of Massachusetts, a stock
that has sent forth statesmen, soldiers.
scholars. A striking exemplification,
however, of the power OF environment
how it sinks to the very soul and
satu ates it with its principles, pre-
ierences. prejudices, and not merely
colors men S external actions. Also,
of the shallowness of human distinc-
tions, as illustrated in the terms
treason" and rebellion; for while
DR.. Washburn was too high minded
a man to be swayed by mere section
al prejudice, he yet from principal
and preference was in every fibre OF
his soul, an intense Southerner. Nay
more, his new England bic cd infused
d Characteristic energy into his COR
victions and actions. and he became
lltht,mole strenuous Conf derate :"
Although but a child IN 1861, he did
not rest until he became soldier in
p that war between the North and
South, and enlisting while mere boy
and in the last year he played manly
part in several severe engagements
A living exemplidcation, even at the
tender age, of Lees lofty words,
"Duty is the sublimest word in the
English language" In after years, it
was a common remark Of those who
knew him best, W4shburn will go to
the stake for his convictions" He
never lost this quality-thiS quality
of the hero, this quality of true great
ness-on the contrary, it matured and
became the dominating force in and
over his whole inward and outward
lite. After the war his education was
resumed and in the final stages broad
ened and deepened by the superb dis
cipline OF a successive threefcld course,
viz, at Har'a ard University. the Uni
iversity Of Virginia, and the Union
Theoiog ical Seminary. He had already
given his heat and life t. the Saviou =,
and turned to the gospel ministry for