Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

or the many tributes to DR.. Forbes,
both as scholar and man, that spoken at
his funeral by Professor j. NJ. Atwood
has peculiar significance, as Professor
Atwood had had, as student and faculty
co-worker, many years Of close associa-
ton with DR.. Forbes:
If had my way this afternoon, I
would be where you are, paying my trib.
ute silently to this man whom revered
as teacher and scholar, with whom,
with these others, had the privilege of
fellowship in common great work and
interest, and whom as man loved as
no other outside of my own family cir.
Gle; and yet, In another spirit, as be
stood In this place year ago to bear trib-
ute to one whom he loved and admired,
1 would bear my testimony, out of my
intimacy with his life, that others may
know, and honor, and II may be, be emo
bled thereby.
DR.. Forbes was born amid the beauti-
full hills and lakes of western Maine.
He developed from the blood of bis fore
fathers and that beautiful environment,
though rugged climate, that love Of
fiowers-how beautiful and appropriate
the flowers about him are-that sympa-
thy with nature in all her many guises,
that sturdy, self.reliant spirit, that capac.
ity for industry, to do and also to en-.
dure, and may add, for he was born
and reared during the great Maine tenn
perance revival, that undying opposition
to the liquor traffic and all that binders
a man being man, that marked him
through life. Those who have heard
him refer, as some of US have, to that
honored Maine home, remember that
they were wildly impressed that it was,
in spite of the stern necessity of strug-
gle to win the things needful for life, a
place where the children were taught TO
seek first, not the needful things of this
world, but righteousness and truth,-the
things of the kingdom.
He was ever faithful to that teaching
as the needle to the pole. 1t was not
strange therefore, that he turned his
course toward the Christian ministry,
and with his older brother George, Of
honored memory, came to study here 10
st. Lawrence, to make preparation for
his life work. Here he came under the
beniguant influence of DR.. Fisher, the
first president of the Theological School,
and sat under that rare and accomplish
cd Biblical scholar, the late DR.. Orello
Cone. do not know which of these
teachers influenced his life most, but the
meeting with DR.. Cone was especially
fortunate. 1t kindled his interest in Bib
lical studies; for he had a penetrating
mind, capacity to dig to the roots of
a subject, and the scientists patience to
work through an endless number Of
seemingly uninteresting details to ascer.
tain and establish truth. 1t was there
fore in the natural course Of things that
directly after his graduation he spent a
year or more in study in Germany,
where he studied under eminent teach
ers, including Adolf Harnack, greatest
Biblical scholar In the world; and he &C.
quired that conversance with the Ger
man language and literature with which
he kept in touch to the very last.
After brief passionate In Vermont and
another longer one at Danvers, Massa-
chusetts, he responded to tho call of his
Alma Mater to take up the work Of his
old teacher, Orello Cone. Since then,
until he drew his last breath serenely
but with the heroic spirit of the martyr,
for thirty-two years he has gone in and
out of this community, and the manner
Of his life-his broad sympathy with all
sorts and conditions Of men In their
work, in joy and pleasure or In sorrow,
his answering devotion to the temper.
ance cause, his Astounding good cheer
and optimism, his loyal and generous
support, not only of his church but Of
every good movement, his love OF truth
his adherence Of wrong and vice-al
this you know as we'll as I. But you
may not know what was his rank aud
worth as q scholar. l have had Q parlic
ular interest, with others, In the studies
or subjects in which he was an expert
What impressed me, as every one wht
sat under him, was the exactness and
thoroughuess of his scholarship. He
was easily the first scholar in his de
nomination. Moreover, he kept abreas
with the latest thought and interpreta
ton. How this man, with all his mani
fold interests, bis rare devotion to hi
beautiful home, the necessity OF bis tax
ing up 80 many studies In the littl'
school with its small faculty, was abl