Milford chronicle., 1905-01-27
Grent In different Fie1h.

The son of great genius may be as
great a man as his father, but in a
different sphere. He cannot wear his
fathers armOr, but he can wear armor
Of another kind in which he may win
victories in Il different field. Oliver
Wendell Holmes was one of the most
beloved writer's in American history.
His son is a great man, but he is not a
great writer. Oliver Wendell Holmes,
Jr., is a member of the highest judicial
bench Of the world. He is an honored
associate justice of the supreme court
Of the United States. Judge Joseph
Story had one of the greatest legal
minds this nation ever produced In
his class room at Harvard many who
afterward became great lawyers sat at
his feet to learn of this modern CANA
liel. Judge Story had a son who be
came one of the greatest Of Americas
culptOrs-William Wetmore Story.
Here we find the laws Of heredity
changed. A great lawyer has a poet
and sculptor for son, while in Oliver
Wendell Holmes case we find a poet
who has a great lawyer for a son.
What is true in reference to law and
poetry is also true in reference to the
ministry. Great ministers have had
sons who became great ministers, but
that does not imply that all boys born
in a parsonage should follow the pro-
fession Of their fathers. John Mitchell
Mason was the greatest pulpit orator
Of New York city in his day. He died
Dec 26, 1929. A contemporary gives
his powerful description of this king
IF pulpiteers who swayed his audiences |
Tor Christ: Taken altogether no |
American preacher has combined more
impressive qualities. His aspect was
IN scale Of grandeur corresponding
% the majesty of the mind within.
Tall, robust with a head modelled after
neither Greeian nor Roman standard,
'et symmetrical, combining the dig
lity Of the one and the grace Of the
'ther, with an eye that shot fire, es-
Decially when under the excitement Of
'arnest preaching, yet tender and tear
ul when the pathetic chord was touch
d, with forehead broad and high and
With mouth and a chin expressive of
rmness and decision, DR.. Mason stood
efore you, the prince of American pui-
it orators" But, though John Mitchell
Jason was all that, his father, Rev.
ohm Mason. was just as great. John
Iitchell Mason without doubt inherited
he pulpit genius Of his father. But
5 l read history where / find one
linisters son who became a great
linister ! also find dozen ministers
'ns who won their fame in other
-alks Of life than IN lhe ministry. But
le ministerial talent is not necessarily /
transmittable talent. Agassiz, Hal
m, COwper, Coleridge Tennyson,
DWELL, Emerson, Matthew Arnold.
acaulay, Thackeray, Sir Christopher
'ren, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sterne,
azlitt, Peter Stuyvesant, Samuel P.
orse and hundreds Of others Of lesser
me were all ministers sons who won
cir success in life outside Of the min
Try.
Holiness Son Not a Poet.
In all probability, had Oliver Wen
II Holmes tried to make his son a
et, Oliver Wendell Holmes. Jr., would
I'VE made out Of life just as great a
lure as have some men ! . entered
e ministry merely bee 1ejr fa-
ers were ministe
ysicians' sons "
their front doc u.
ended to be ph. ~
tered the medica- proi
use they were adapted The WORT
because their fathers were doc