New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
TRIBUTE TO TRASK
Cheerfulness and Generosity
Praised at Memorial SerUice.

AT the memorial service for Spencer
Irask yesterday in the Church of the
Ascension Seth Low and Edward NJ Shep-
ard both attested to the inspiration they
had derived from the character and friend
ship of the dead banker. Others who ad-
dressed the large congregation were Will
lam I. Evans. vice-president of the Ma
ticnal Arts Club; the Rev. DR.. Henry van
Dyke. the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant. rec
tor of the church. and the Rev. j. Howard
Melish. rector Of Holy Trinity Church.
Brooklyn. Ben Greet read one of Edwin
Arnold's poems. and the choir Of the Church
of the Ascension and the Kriens- -Kronold
Quartet rendered the music
Both Mr.. Low and Mr.. Shepard ernpha-
sized the youthful cheerfulness of Spencer
Trask's nature. 1T is rare gift to pre-
serve ones youthfulness as he preserved
IL" said Mr.. Shepard
He was a very successful and large
minded business man." he continued, 'and
/ think he loved business. But he idealized
and exalted the bread and butter side Of
life, and harvests came to him in his
business he did not reap them so that they
were taken from other men. When the
harvests came to him no other man was
the poorer for them. Indeed many men
which he WAS being remunerated"
Mr.. Low declared that If the banker had
not possessed other noble qualities he
would still remember him always for his
cheerfulness. So marked characteristic
was this. the speaker said, that whenever
he met him he was tempted to think of
him as a man who had never known
sorrow.
He had that childlike faith in God. -
Mr.. Low went on. which helped him in
every way, conquered trouble, conquered
sorrow He carried with him everywhere
the atmosphere of good cheer Whenever
I came in contact with him I was made to
realize how broad and all embracing were
MS religious sympathies.''
Robert Van Iderstine. chairman OF the
memorial committee. read the following
letter from Governor Hughes:
While 1t will be impossible for me to at
tend the services tomorrow, 7 desire to
JOIN IN the public tribute which is to be
paid to the memory of Spencer Trask 1t
was my privilege during the last year to
come into close associa ton with him and
70 nave the opportunity of forming a per-
sona1 estimate Of the noble character and
unseIhsh purpose which justified the high
esteem in which he was universally held
he represented in striking manner a con-
uuct or large affairs and practical expert
ence which had left purity of motive un-
corrupted and the highest ideals Of public
duty undimmed
To him life gave of the best, and from
MIN 1t demanded a heavy toll Of affection
ana grief But sorrow could not dishearten
MIN and pain did not unnerve him. They
only served to strengthen his will and to
reveal herotsm unsurpassed. He had but
one obJect-to do right and to serve his
reIIoW men; and in proportion as we rec
oSnl2e the true worth of such a character
and the opportunities of the development
and persistence of such a type in the busi-
ness world, despite the activities of cum
ming and the multiplicity of sordid con-
Germs, we shall truly appreciate the whole
some currents of our life
Tragic as were the Circum Instances Of his
death, they have served to emphasize the
lessons OF his career. He was taken from
US at the very moment of public service
ana IN the actual manifestation of that
ne was an inspiring example We cannot
adequately describe our sense of loss in
the removal of one whose ability. exueri-
ence and integrity promised so much for
the public benefit. But we NAV find con-
ISOLATION in the thought Of the good he had
already wrought, and We may renew ou1.
resolve to hold precious the aims and
standards of life to which he so nobly ad-
hered.
There Was something high minded and
princely in the nature Of our friend, Spencer
Trask," said DR.. van Dyke, that made him
a generous giver. There was also a strain
Of New England blood in his veins that
made him a prudent and sensible gfver
No complete list of his gifts can ever be
printed, for his left hand helped MANY a
man his right hand did not record. Ha