The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-01-05

The steps of good man are order
ed, or established. by the Lord.
The worlds most valued asset is
! its good men and women. Take these
away, and the world would be poor
! indeed.
/ But the race of good men is not
| dying out, one drops by the wayside,
| and two are ready 10 take his place.
! Never in all the history of mankind
| have there been SO many good men
as today, men manly and courageous,
/ pure and virtuous; men, Strong as
| iron in the mountains, clean as salt
ness i'll the sea.
! Deacon Barden belonged naturally
TO the company of the worlds good
men. How true To him are those
words of Tennyson: Truth, for
Truth is Truth, he worshipt being
| true as he was brave. Good, for Good
is Good, he follow'd, yet he looked
! beyond the grave" Yes, the Deacon,
was a good man, good in all his hui
man relationship.
|. He was a good man in his
home. This is sure test of mans
character Here We throw off re-
straint and reveal our real selves
| Many keep their best selves for the
! public. Deacon Barden reserved his
! for his family. Here one always
| found him cheerful and contented,
| gracious and kindly. Home was TO
| him a haven from the distractinS.
disquieting elements without. On
| the members of his family he be
! slowed lavishly his gentleness and
! love. Here he praised and did not
! blame, here he ministered gladly to
| wife and child. They were his first
| and last thought. What could he do
! to increase their happiness, was the
! question he daily asked himself. His
! great grief when told that he must
! die, was that he must leave these
whom ne SO dearly loved, and who
! depended on him for projections and
| care. Great as was his loss to the
| church and community, infinitely
! greater was his going away to his
| family.
Deacon Barden was a good man in
| business.
/. He was good to his help. This
| is the testimony of those who worked
! for him. Live with a man or work
! for him and you will know him, is
an old saying. Those who knew him
| there intimately are the ones who
were truly devoted to him. He sought
| ever to be kind, considerate, fair and
just to his employees. Never desired
to play the boss, but to be the friend,
generous and brotherly.
2. He was good, yes, too good,
| TO his customers. He accommodated
| them TO his own detriment. He would
furnish them with all they wanted
| and get his pay when and as he
could. Being the soul of honor him
self, he held others to be equally
! trustworthy. To his great sorrow he
| learned at severe cost to himself and
| his business, that some men do not
meet their moral and financial obi
| cations. His generous treatment OF
| others and their ungenerous treat
ment of him, made his position as
merchant before the business world
a very trying one. With lack of
| funds, amply due him, 1t was with
| much difficulty he could make his
| own payments. Any person meeting
| the Deacon in a business way could
| readily perceive that he was carry
! ing a great load of anXiety-a strain
| that was almost to the breaking
| point. | believe it may be truly said
that worry killed him; worry, caused
! by the carelessness, Indifference,
heartlessness, and gross selfishness
of others. He paid too great price
| for his confidence in the integrity of
others. His was a great and noble
| nj haant;f,,lIx
8. A good man is good also to his
! beasts. The Deacon was no eXcep-
! ton to this rule. To save his horses
! from overwork, he would personally
! deliver orders on foot, even as far
| as Washington Park. He lavishly
spent himself while he saved his ami
mails.
III. Deacon Barden was good
man in the church. Faithful always
in the discharge of his official and re-
! ligious duties. He rarely missed a
Sunday or midweek service. To him
it was real JOY TO go to church. The
church was for him meeting house
where God and men meet and hold
sweet communion. AS sermon
critic he was kindly and gracious.
Usually he and his good wife would
have a generous word for the min
lister, no matter how poor the ser
monic output had been.
His presence at a service was a
! benediction. He was usually at the
door ready to welcome strangers, and
TO greet the brethren. When he shook
hands and said he was glad to see
you, he meant it, The act was sin
cere and you felt it to be so. A stran-
] ger coming TO us almost Immediately
regarded the Deacon as a personal
friend. Worried over his business he
left it all outside when he entered the
church. Here he radiated sunshine,
hope and love with seemingly never
thought Of mercantile troubles. In
the Deacon's removal the church has
lost its best advertising agent. To
old residents and newcomers alike he
/ constantly recommended the church