The Washington herald., 1909-06-21
PASTOR EULOGIZES
LIFE OF DR.. HALE
Rev. .. 6. B. Pierce Speaks on
Character of Minister.
HIS FAvORITE HYMNS SUNG
Pew In All Souls Church Formerly
Occupied by the Late Senate Chap
lain AttraotiveIy Decorated with
Floral TributeS-Chair on Pulpit
Platform Is Left Vacant.

Rev. DR.. L. c. B. Pierce. in a sermon
yesterday morning at All Souls Church,
/ spoke on the life and character Of the
late Edward Everett Hale.
1t was a fitting tribute to the great
minister and author. and held the atten-
ton Of the large congregation. composed
OF many admirers and relatives of DIR.
Hale
Special attention was gwen 10 the musi-
cal programme. and only favorite hymns
Of the late pastor were sung.
Decorations Attractive.
A pretty feature OF the services was
the decoration Of simple flowers about
the platform and pulpit. The pew for
merly occupied by Dr. Hale was espe-
cially decorated and his chair on the pull
pit platform was unoccupied. The flowers
were afterward sent TO the Homeopathic
Hospital and placed in the Lend-a-hand
room, which is maintained by the Lend
a-hand Club Of All Souls Church.
Preceding DR.. Pierce's sermon. a col
lection Of car tickets was taken, which
will be later used 70 give poor people free
rides In the country during the summer.
Or. Pierce took for his text the second
verse Of the second chapter Of the first
book OF Samuel
There was not a goOdlier person than
he: from his shoulders and upward he
was higher than any Of the people IL
Samuel. iN-2
These words" said Dr. Pierce, char
acterize admirably one whose chief virtues
were goodness OF heart and largeness Of
nature. Indeed. the chief impression one
gained OF DR.. Hale was Of his wholeness
and sanity.
There was something contagious in his
holy enthusiasm and in his noble devotion
TO the larger things OF life. None could
touch even the hem Of his garment. so to
speak. without feeling this moral health
and gaining fresh vigor. Here was no
morbid intrOspectiOn, no siclxly sentiment
alism. With him there was no tithing
Of mint. anise and cumin while the
weightier matters OF the law. justice and
righteousness were overlooked. There
were no straining OF gnats and swallow
ing OF camels with him. His outlook upon
life and his insight into it were normal
and healthfuL
Nature showed Itself.
This largeness OF nature showed itself
also in his remarkable versatility. He
seemed a combination OF ST. Francis and
CT Martin Luther.
He was philanthropist and he was
poet: he wrote short stories and sermons
HIS mind seemed 10 be ike the trunk OF
an elephant. which could pluck up an oak
by the roots and then pick up a needle.
Now he speaks with the strength and au-
en.r
writes Ike a child OF the Muses.. He is
interested In whatever concerns people;
but his chief concern is that he may, In
one way or another. minister to their
JOY.
HabituaI Good Nature.
And this suggests another element Of
his character-namely. his habituai good
nature. His was not the easygoing cheer
fulness Of the fool. nor the complacent
optimism Of the man who is well fed.
He had drunk too deeply OF the cup Of
life 70 think that Il contained nothing but
sweets. He had sOrrOws, and had con-
quered. not by going round them, but by
going through them. And amid ell these
he never became imbittered
and rebellious. He kept 10 the last the
sweetness OF temper and the tranquility
Of mind that the world admires. His
gospel was always good news. inspiring
people TO look up. and not down; out.
and not in; forward, and not back; and,
everywhere and always. to lend a hand
The task was always easier for having
met this apostle Of good cheer.
His largeness OF nature was also shown
in his passion for democracy. He loved
common folk. Their hopes and their
fears were his immediate concern.
Whether they we're in Tasmania or
Texas made no difference In religion. as
such. il was the same. Denominational
distinctions were 10 him merely the lines
Of latitude and longitude. existing only on
the map He was large enough TO find
these things no barrier. To do the will.
to lift some burden. to cheer some dis
heart-these were the motives OF
his life. and he was glad 10 work and
worship with all who shared these high
aims.
These are only superficial Indications
OF life richly fed within. II he went
about doing good. like his Master, II was
because God was with him Doing good
was not the substitute for being good; Il
was the result Of IL. Good works we're
the fruit OF his mind. not the root Of Il.
Few OF US have such simple. passionate
belief in God as was his: we are not large
enough He was as sure OF what we cali
'theinext life as we are OF this life.
These persuaSions strengthened and
steadied him for life long and varied, !
and enabled him 70 pass over into the
leaving US only 10 admire and
emulate. His life was an inspiration. HIS
memory is a benediction"