Putnam patriot., 1911-08-04
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was our privilege when, very rarely, he could be persuaded to occupy our pulpit His contributions to our so. cial meetings were always complete, satisfying, charged with rhetorical beauty and spiritual fervor. If they could be collected and printed, they would make volume of peculiar de- votional value.
 minister. His kindness to me, his new pastor-to me, who preferred to sit at his feet-was uniformly consid- ate, and of great encouragement. His advice, when 1 needed counsel, was al- ways clear, sensible and helpful. He wls brilliant in ali our gatherings His contributions to the ministerial asso- ciation not only sparkled with wit, but a0ounded in wisdom and judgment. We knew him as a man of spiritual vision, bravely and faithfully optimis- tic, studying into the profound things of life, never speaking for the mere sake of talking, but because he had found something worth while to say. He was therefore always listened to with eager attention. He never lack ed an appreciative hearing.
 The kindiness and geniality of this great soul were particularly praise worthy. No matter in what mood you entered his company, you left it buoy ant and radiant in spirit. His soul ra. diated light. His wit was keen as a Damascus blade-but it never hurt. There was no satire in his humor; rather his sense of humor was posi-. tive spiritual talent.
 He was an honored and most highly esteemed member of our church, join- ing us, with his family, by letter from the Rollstone Church in Fitchburg where perhaps he reached the acme of his high service. For the past two years, nearly, his intrmities have kept him closely confined to his home, and shadow seemed to veil the bright ness of his face, though within there was undisturbed tranquility and peace. With great patience and fortitude he has borne the comparative isolation of these latter months, the cutting-of of those fruitful activities which he loved to employ, and the enforced separation from all public life. But here, in his own home, he had been lovingly shel. tered and cared for; here he has been enabled from time 10 time, to receive his friends; and here he has maintain ed his deep and lifelong interest in all that concerns the welfare of humanity. and above all, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
 It has been the happy fortune of this servant of our Lord Jesus Christ to speak words of comfort and cheer many times, 10 the sick, the failing. and the bereaved. Many times has he assured those who were sorrowful that he "knew that his Redeemer liyeth ,, He has assured them of the triumph of Christ, and the Christian faith. over death and the grave. He has borne witness, time and again, to the trnrh of the Resurrection Life, and has him. self lived the life of the Spirit before all men.
 Now he himself has entered into that Rest; and his own triumphant spirit, better than any words of mine or thine, will reassure the members of his own loyal family circle that what things he uttered in faith believing are now, to him, realities amending.
 Well done, good and faithful sery. Lord ln Al the close of Mir. Sleeper's address he read, by request of an aged relative Of the deceased, Whittier's poem. "At Last.n
 Burial was in New Braintree, Mass MT. Brooks early home.