Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-04-10
TRIBUTE no MEMORY
OF PARIS @. HOFFMAN.
Given BY J. II. EngIe At the River
Brethren Conference.

During the conference OF the
River Brethren church held her,
this week the following tribute &c
the memory OF Paris @. Hoffman
was read by ]. H. Engle;
It is entirely fitting that this
body should suspend It's customary
activities for q few moments while
lingering in quiet contemplation of
the character and services of one
whom we loved so well and who as
an officer OF this Sunday school con-
ference, has passed to his reward
within the year.
To idolize the departed on the
Fone hand, or to ignore his memory
entirely on the other, would be
alike unchristian. But while loved
ones strew with seasonable flowers
his resting place and strive to keep
his memory green, we who are
bound with the fraternal bonds of
christian fellowship may well turn
aside and rest awhile as we call to
mind the virtues of one so recently
a member of our working circle. We
owe to his memory more than "the
moaning of a sigh, the passing trib-
ute of a tear"
He, like all the rest of us who
pause tonight in token of our loss,
was born alike to the blessings and
the hardships OF rural life. With
only academic training he learned
to appreciate good book. Inherit
ing a competency he proved his
strength by developing a character
of unimpeachable honesty and by
acquiring habits of industry with
out being spurred to 1t by the goad
of poverty.
1t is not necessary to ascribe toll
a man the entire catalog of virtues
in order to appreciate those he did
possess. If our brother did have
faults or limitations he was per-
haps most conscious of them him
self and there could be no profit !
in seeking them out at this time.
Moreover, his virtues, both In
numbers and degree, were sufficient
to occupy our thought. In an effort
to elicit from others an enumeration
of the habits and traits Of the del
parted there was common agreement
upon long list some of which are
here mentioned
He was both an advocate and an
example of the clean life. His en-
forced association as a travelling
business man with men of unholy
life and breath were free OF foul
habits or impure speech. At the
peril of his personal reputation or
social or business prestige he fought
the wild beasts of lust and drink.
He Joined with those who waged
warfare against the jointist and the
boetlegger and against other forms
Of social vice and impurity, while
some who claimed high state of
grace wrapped their cloaks about
them and passed by on the other
side.
He was exacting in his demands
Tor honesty of life and enforced this
standard first upon himself and also
upon others. He did not ask, "Is
this thing allowable or expedient,
but, "Is it honest and right?"
Like a true christian citizen he
was actively interested in promot-
ing the well-beIng Of the commun-
Ity. He was more than mere we'll
wisher. He served for years, both
IN Salina and in Abilene, upon the
board of education. From the or
yanized agencies for promoting ma
.erial moral and educational pro-
yress he never withheld his hand.
He was true to the best teachings
and traditions of the church, OF
which he became member in
boyhood. He manifested a Just
pride in the virtues of his people,
IN their simplicity of life and man
ner and speech; in the quiet way
and modest appearance of the wo-