The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-06
THE LATE REV. DR.. CRAIG.

| mis- cOnnect1On WIN westminster
| Presbyterian church in this city to
| identify himself with Mccormick
/ Theological Seminary in Chicago, yet
remembrance of him was almost as
vivid at the time of his death. which
occurred in that city on the 4th inst,
as If he had been gone but a few
weeks or months at most. The fact
| is Illuminating as to the strong per-
| sonality of the man and the deep inn
press he made upon this community.
In this age of frequent changes in
| population and in community leader
ship it is very exceptional that anyone
| is able to influence community to
| the extent of making that influence
felt without perceptible diminution
through a long series of years after
| it has ceased to be exerted personal
ly. DR.. Craig was one of the few
such exceptional men, and from pres
ent indications his influence will con-
tinue to be felt for many years to
come.
The secret of Dr. Craig's great in
fluence and power affords an inter-
esting subject for analysis and study.
He was not an orator in the sense OF
one who tickles the fancy or pleases
the ear. If he had any gift in the
line of constructing perfectly balanced
sentences or well-rounded periods he
exercised it only rarely. His speech,
| for the most part, was plain, simple,
direct. Nor was he pre-eminent in the
| discharge of pastoral duties. He was
not given to over-much visiting at
| the homes of his parishioners. In
/ the social life of the community he
took only a limited part. In contact
with the general public he was in
clined. toward a dignified reserve. But
those who were admitted to the COW
eted circle of which he was the center
found in him a delightful companion
and most valued friend These he
bound to himself with hooks of steel.
But this in itself does not explain the
source Of his power whereby he was
able to exert such a profound in
fiuence upon this community, not only
during his pastorate here, but for so
many years afterward. What was it?
Upon reflection it will be conceded
by all who were well acquainted with
DR.. Craig that the secret of his great
power was his ability to think deep.
lly. clearly and accurately. He was
exceptionally gifted In this respect
and he exercised his God-given talent
industriously and conscientiously Not
only did his thought go at high range
but 1t went with all the force and
accuracy of well-directed rife ball
Like the rife ball it accomplished
that whereunto it was sent He was
an original thinker and was forever
delying after new truths which he
presented with remarkable clearnes:
and force. His powers of perception
and reasoning We're such that he wa!
able to convey his thought unerrfng
/ ly to others and convince them of it!
) truth and reasonableness. In addition
to being a clear thinker, he had grea
mental provision He was far-sightet
5 and was never taken by surprise b.
unanticipated conclusions At al
times he was sure both of himsel
and the doctrines that he preached
t This positiveness, so well founded
4 was large element of his strength
He was positive character, with
positive faith, positive opinions an
+ positive actions, and ii was mos
y natural that he should have impresse
g the minds of others to an exceptions
degree.
AS indicative of the high regard
# which Dr. Craig was held by tn
4 members OF the First Westminste
il congregation here it is interesting I
recall that when he rendered his re
ignation as pastor they voted unan
= mously not 10 accept it. Furthermor
they sent committee TO the loo;
: presbytery and induced that body NJ
~ to dissolve the pastoral relations b
i tween Dr. Craig and their churc
% Such proceeding was very unusua
but DIR. Craig was an exceptional ma
and his people were not willing
IN part with him After an addition
- Years service ne succeeded in gainiI
/, their reluctant consent that he shou
III enter another field Of labor. Fro
a. that time until his death he W;
n closely identified with McCormfc
Theological Seminary, which he b;
previously saved from extinction
disinteregted efforts in its behalf.
Dr.. Craig was 2 strong man amor
- strong men. He became an acknoF
/, edged leader because he possess
:, the qualities Of leadership. His
= fuence went forth in eyer-widenil
H. circles because Of the character
~ that Leadership, which was always
high pane and along right linz
Here II Keokuk where he labored
- long and 80 successfully his memo
- viii be treasured as one Of our mr.
~ precious heritages.
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