The Detroit times., 1913-06-02


founders or the Detroit Museum or
Art. which grew out or an art loan ex'
hibition in 1888. He was one who sub
gcribed 81. 000 toward the exhibition,
and, finding that the people showed n
deep appreciation OF the art works
shown. he pledged $4,000 toward the
foundation of an art museum, prov;s-
ing that others would raise $4,000.
The money was forthcoming. and in
1885 the Detroit Museum OF Art was
founded. Senator Palmer was one OF
the first trustees, and served as presi'
dent OF the board for several years.
IN 1898. Senator Palmer presented
10 the city Palmer park. lao acres in
extent, in which thousands of people
have found pleasure.
Senator Palmer served in many
semi-public capacities. Among other
positions, he was president of the
Michigan State Agricultural society
Tor some time, and for many years
president OF the Society for the Pre-
vention OF Cruelty 10 Animals. In
1887 he served as president OF the In
ternational Waterways commission
that held its meetings in Sault Ste.
Marie.
lie Was connected during his life
with several financial institutions or
Detroit, but he gradually withdrew
from active work and his name disap-
peared from the directorates Among
many houses with which he was az
one time connected were the Ameri-
can Exchange National bank. the
Wayne County Savings bank, the Sc
curity & Safe Deposit Co. the De-
troit Steam Navigation Co. the Michi-
gan Lake Navigation Co.. the Frontier
Iron Works, the Michigan Mutual Life
Insurance Co, the Preston National
bank, and the Percheron Navigation
Co. In 1876 the University of Michi.
gan honored him with the degree or
lS49
Palmer built the Mary p. Palmer Me-
mortal M. E. church. at McDougali-
ave. and Champlain-st.
For many years Mr.. Palmer had
lived quietly on his farm. west Of Pal
mer park. where he has taken pride
in raising high-bred stock. chiefly Per-
cheron horses and Jersey cattle.
Senator Palner's Philosophy.
Part of Senator Palmers philosophy
was expressed in his speech in the
University Of Michigans semi-centen-
NAL, June 20. 1887, when he said:
Until science can analyze and ex-
plain the emotions of the human
heart and the aspirations which come
to every soul, until hope and despair
can be shown to be the outcome OF
the attraction OF gravitation. love anu
hate to be correlatives of centrifugal
and .centrtpetal force. and heroism and
self-sacrifice the creation OF material
laws--until then, science herself must
acknowledge that there are limitations
TO her domain In dealing with the
higher nature of man.
Science has her domain. II Is In
dealing with the material Her critic
rion OF truth Is the evidence of the
senses, regulated by the understand
ing, or the deductions of reason un-
contradicted by the senses.
Some scientists hold that man
Is what his temperament and environ
ment make him. No one Is primarily
responsible for his temperament or
environment. and they in turn control
his subsequent environment. II seems
TO be uncontrovertible that IL we rely
On reason alone, uncontradicted by
the senses, there is an end to all ac-
countability: but We know when we
have reached such a conclusion that
we have proven that which is false,
and hence must infer that some factor
has been left out-that although in
vestigation In physics must be con-
trOlled by the senses and the reason,
when we come 10 the higher nature
OF man another factor, call It by what
name we will prefer TO call It faith
lis an essential check thereon.
Without faith in an everlasting
power. In an hereafter, and in the
great law OF compensation, consider
1t just as impossible for a man 10
work up to his highest capacity as 4:
is for fresco painter to decorate a
ceiling with the upper end Of his lad
der unsupported: or sailor, strand
ed upon an unknown shore, grit by
the sea and precipitous cliffs. TO climb
into the sunlight without the aid OF
some pendant vine, or rope thrown
down nv frjondI, hand