The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-29
FRANKLIN S. BRADLEY,
Ills Career as u Merchant and Banker Lived Here All His Life
 tCpntrlbutedl

from a city of 10000 inhabitants to one of l25,0OO. He was born, edu- cated, married and lived here all hls life He resided on one of its main streets, conducted for many years a large wholesale hardware business in the heart of the city, was president of one of lis great banks, and at the time Of his death he served as It's director Mr. Bradley had also served as direc- tor In the public library Ills name has been e familiar one for nearly q half century; his firm, quick, elastic step has been heard daily on the streets of the city, and his wise, safe counsels listened to in business cir cles, He was conservative, sane and trustworthy, Business interests con ilded to him were as safe as they could he in the hands of any man, He guarded the resources of widows and orphans with punctilous care as administrator or trustee. The city will miss him, for his manhood, his | Integrity and his enterprise have been wrought into it.
 1 He belonged to the Congregational l churches of tho city in general, and l to the Center church in particular, from his hoyhood up. He "belonged' to his church in the real true sense of the word To Center church he | gave his hearty loyalty. his unstinted service and his ardent love, To MT
 Bradley the church was more thanfa religious organization was the body of Christ" "the pillar and ground of the truth" He was true to it as to his Lord and Master He served his church at various times as usher, as deacon, as clerk and treas urer and as a member of many com mittees. Including that of music His reports as clerk were painstaking and Illuminating, and of unusual literary merit He knew the church as few men knew it and loved fl better than he knew it He magnided his offices In it His voice was heard in it's bus mess meetings and it's prayer meet ings His membership went back to Dr Bacon's time, and only little while ago he wrote down for the Bible class his recollections of that lion hearted pastor of Center church. This paper was afterward published in the Connecticut Magazine
 MT Bradley had an open mind to
 the truth and was not afraid of any honest investigation of the Bible, and
 believed in the new light that is ever
 breaking from it. An attendant for a lifetime on the ministrations of the
 pastors of Center church and a read
 CT of the best religious literature, he
 had clear ideas concerning the church and the kingdom. A busy man all his
 life, yet finding time to serve his
 church and the public in many ways
 he exemplined finely the Christian cit
 izen Responsibilities, once assumed
 were discharged with conscientious
 fidelity One could but wonder that he found time to do SD many things
 well.
 Mir Bradley was graduated from
 Yale college in 1861 and received hi'
 masters degree in 1864. He was evei
 an ardent son of Yale and was ofter in attendance on college functions
 He was member of the Graduates
 club. and many Yale instructors wert
 numbered among his warm friends
 He illustrated the usefulness of a lib
 eral education for the business man
 The horizon of his life was not flXet
 by his buying and selling His edu-
 cation and his religion made him {
 citizen of the world, interested il
 everything pertaining to. it's highes welfare. Hence his love of all goot
 literature, of pictures, of music an( ' of travel
 , It was in his home, however, anc | among his wide circle of relatives anc < friends that his love revealed itsel , at it's best He was genial, warm
 hearted and sympathetic. He entered q into the plans of others, and stood !. ready to assist with wise counscls O substantial help. When appreciatlv' z words were to be written of any frient or relative taken away Mir Bradle. :, was the one chosen to write them
 These tributes were sure to be sym z pathetic and appropriate. Those wh
 enjoyed his hospitality could not sool i, forget the cultured spirit of the home The beautiful house, with its book y and pictures and music, was who'll :. at the disposal and for the enjoymen :, of his guests His knowledge of mu
 sic was extended, and he loved to si at the piano and play the old colleg v songs or favorite hymns, or classi
 music. He was a student of churc |. music also. and played the church or Y gan for some years As a converse 7, tionalist he was bright and witty I'll a knowledge of men and books wa ,, widespread, and his discussion of ther Ie most interesting.
 v And now the curtain has droppe " between him and us What he wa
 he is; what he loved he loves; wha Z, he longed to know he knows, W ,. saw him but yesterday in the vestibul 7 of the temple and then the door swun .ee inward and he walks to-day within Il of ,I, heaven-lighted portals,
 W 70 friendship, equal poised control, 10 Q heart with klndliest motion warn
 sacred essence other form. ' o solemn ghost. o crowned soul,' Q, ----------