St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-12-07
Pres. Nj. H. Buckham.


Matthew Henry Buckham, presi-
dent of the University of Vermont,
who died early last week, was the
last surviving member of a group of
men : whose life work had added
much to the honor and glory of the
state of Vermont. He who had SO
simply but forcefully presented to
the world a beautiful summing up
of the works and virtues of his life
long co-workers and associates, was
left without an associate to speak
the eulogy at his bier. Justin S.
Morrill,, Edward J. Phelps, Torrey
E. Waters or G. G. Benedict might
have spoken fitting appreciation of
the conception of and early struggle
for the accomplishment of his great
aims in life. But they were gone.
Over the bier of each of them Pres.
Buckham had pronounced sweet
appreciation and most fitting
eulogy, while his own heart was
wrung with grief over the personal
loss of friendship and appreciation
their deaths were bringing to him.
President Buckham never had more
friends, was never better appreciated
than during his closing years, and so
his eulogy has been well spoken.
But no one who was familiar and in
sympathy with his greatest under
taking can give to the world today
an accurate picture of the man, his
hi 81. ole iS /
ties, his beginnings of success. This
is most unfortunate, because the COM
ception of what the scope and in
fiuence of the University of Vermont
should be at the time and under the
discouraging conditions that it was
made a part of the life work of M.
H. Buckham, was an act of great
ness. We believe it is unparalleled in
distinctly Vermont undertakings
since the days of Vermont's earliest
history. His persistent work, his
patience when those on whom he
had depended failed to respond, the
mighty transformation that finally
did take place in the equipment and
endowment to the University reveal
something of the magnitude of Pres
ident Buckham's ambition, courage,
faith and ability. Perhaps the
strongest evidence of his greatness
is the fact that his success has only
laid the way for even greater success
by those who follow him. In none
of the fields of his accomplishments
has he exhausted it's possibilities.
He simply used to the best of his
ability the resources within his
reach and has made possible still
greater developments. So in his
greatest monument President Buck
ham has left a complete demonstra-
ton of his greatness. AS writer
and a preacher President Buckham
attained high rank. In both cases
he appeared as the preacher be-
cause in all his writings he treats
of something pertaining to right liv-
ing. The attractive features of his
preaching were a clear understand
ing of the truth he was about to
speak, such a command of language
that he could always use the right
a clearness and brightness that
never allowed him to become tire
some, and lastly that his subject al
ways dealt with some definite phase
of life. He was never specializing
about death, he was always talking
life; how to best apply ones actiVi-
ties to make life most useful to ones
self and others. He was one of the
most consistent and strongest
preachers of life, and therefore one
of the best preachers of modern
times President Buckham had al
appreciation of American citizenship
and it's duties. He never soughr
public office but he understood The
necessity of keen interest on the par
of all good citizens in public affairs
if they were to be kept right. This
interest he always maintained and
he was always ready to serve the
people in their best undertakings
This was shown by his service since
its establishment as a director o.
the Mary Fletcher Hospital and as {
trustee of the Mary Fletcher Free
Public Libraryi in Burlington. To eacI
of these institutions he gave much un
selfish devotion, and, like the Uni
versity they have benefited mucf
from the thought and intelligence
hehad bestowed upon them. The deatl