Warren sheaf., 1909-10-07
A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER
TRIBUTE TO MEMORY Of GOV.
JOHN A. JOHNSON BY REV c. A.
JACOBSON, OF THE SWEDISH
MISSION CHURCH, AT THE MEM.
ORAL EXERCISES HELD IN
WARREN, SEPT. 20.


1t is hard to say anything definitely
about any mans career, whether it
be successful one or not, as long as
it has not come to close. Until the
clay has gone through the hands of
the potter, one cannot correctly esti-
mate it's true worth. A house is not
finished until the last nail is driven
and mans career is not finished un-
till the last breath is taken. A bright
and promising beginning does not al
ways guarantee a successful end,
while on the other hand a very un-
promising beginning does not invari-
ably mean failure in the end. So long
as the spirit of life fills mans body
with energy and light his career is
constantly being shapened, therefore
not until death has removed all
earthly influences can the success of
any mans life be determined.
We are assembled here this afternoon
to honor the memory of our late be-
loved governor, John. A. Johnson,
whose untimely death we most re-
gret. 1t is fitting that we do this not
only to honor the memory of our
chief and leader, but also that we
may be inspired by his noble life and
attainments, that we may be imbued
with the same spirit of devotion to
State, Country and fellowmen as was
his.
While we stand here at the close
of his most wonderful career, memory
goes back over the path which he
when placed together spell the word
Success. But success in his case
does not mean simply a successful
politician or the boarding up of
great pile Of silver and gold, nay, 1t
means a great deal more than that,
it means nothing short of living after
the pattern of the carpenters son OF
Nazareth, who said to himself: Il
come not to be served but to be serve,
and give my life ransom for many
Only as our lives serve our fellow
men are we truly successful. All else
will one day pass away as a vapor
But the good we do will live forever.
The following is nearly il complete
definition of what constitutes sue
cessful life as we can wish to nave.
HE has achieved success who has
lived we'll, laughed often and loved
much: who has gained the respect OF
intelligent men and the love of little
children: who has filled his niche and
accomplished his task; who has LETT
the world better than he found 1t,
whether by an improved poppy, per-
feet poem or a rescued SOUL who has
never lacktd appreciation of earth's
beauty or failed to express it; VINO
has always looked for the best in
others and given the best he had;
whose life was an inspiration, whose
memory benediction'.
Measuring the life of our late gov
ernor by this standard we find it COM
rares very favorablv. Those who
knew him best say with one accord,
that he lived we'll from his boyhood
up, which also his achievements and
his great endurance in the last battle
for life testifies. The smile on his
face was as much part of his soul
as the sun rays are part OF the
sun. His love for his fellow men was
of the Abraham Lincoln kind. AS
some one has said: "The rock in the
Wilderness gave forth pure water nc
more freely than his rugged charac
ter gave forth love when struck by
the rrod of human need. His clean
stong and manly character has won
him the respect and recognition, not
only of his home town and state, but
OF the whole world. He has filled his
niche and accomplished his task, and
can it be said Of any one that ne
left the world better than he found it
it can be we'll said of our deceased
governor. His work as a politician
and lecturer has greatly stimulated
the moral and intellectual world
However, born in poverty and sur
rounded by the most discouragins
conditions, he rose nevertheless ove'
it all, pure and strong, showing the
world that it is possible to live ane
develop true manhood under most un
favorable conditions He was truly {
character who inspired others tt
greater deeds and manlier living