Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-04-17


men; In the simplicity and NANTES
, sincerity OF their worship; and Il
the demand for regenerated churcl
membership.
But he was not q slave to ira
dition. He did not believe that hi
, adherence to the customs OF tn,
past added to his religious standing
or to his usefulness in the present
He believed in serving his own day
and generation. Quietly but not les.
really he denied the right of any
man, under the pretext Of religious
regularity. to dictate to him as q
free man, in such matters as home
decoration, mode of dress, or the
conventional usages OF society, even
though he knew full well that II
was at the peril OF his reputation
as strict churchman.
He esteemed the interests Of the
kingdom above those Of the sect to
which he belonged and which he
loved. When the exigencies of
business called him to a neighbor-
ing city in which his own denomina-
ton was not organized, he did not
hold himself aloof with an air CT
exclusiveness or spiritual superior
ity, but sought out q congenial
church atmosphere and took up
work as a teacher in the Sunday
school. Nor did he require that at
much expense Of time and energy
those of his own faith should spend
home mission money to come and
hold services to help bolster up him
self and his family in a sort Of re-
ligious exclusiveness.
He was broadly alert to the needs
OF the kingdom. When he again re-
turned to the congregation at Abb
lene his interest in the affairs of
the church and Sunday school con-
tinued undated. Every legitimate
concern of the church interested
him-the Improvement and the en-
largement and proper furnishing and
equipment of the bulldog as we'll
az the Advancement OF spiritual life.
He sought to promote generosity
and system in the benevolences; he
served with characteristic business
thoroughnees as church treasurer;
he was regular in all the services,
including the prayer services and
the evangelistic meetings. His very
suggestive talks in the young peo-
Pies meetings have been the occa-
sion Of frequent comment.
His interest in the Sunday school
never Jagged. He was justly en-
titled to certain honors which never
came and which he never claimed
nor seemed to think Of. His inter-
est carried him regularly to the
state conferences Of his own church
and to the state conventions OF all
combined christianity of Kansas. For
years he served with singular fidel-
ity as secretary Of the county asso-
citation; he was a member of the
local Sunday school board, and for
present purposes it should be CRATE
fully recalled that he was a menu
Der of the board which for years
has been responsible in arranging
this annual conference for improve
ment Of the Sunday school work |
within our own church.
His personal habits were a stand
ing rebuke to many of us. He was
a model in punctuality. If the time
he lost waiting for other people who
were late in their engagements could
be sold and realized upon 1t would
make a handsome gift for the mis-
sionary fund He did not withhold
praise or appreciation until the fun
eral day but spoke many word of
cheer to people WHO in the face OF
embarrassment or inaptness or in
experience perfor ned a public serS-
&c with difficulty. Nor was he any
ess free to acknowledge personal
benefits received through a sermon
,r public address. And although :
le was capable of approaching the
lest things he was very reserved in
expressing criticism and rarely, If :
,ver. found fault with others.
There could be no just excuse for
his number upon the program un-
ess it be that, having recounted :
ONE of the personal excelIencies of !,
ur departed brother, we seek to
ollow him wherein he followed
Ihrfst His Dunctual habits. his l.