The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-24
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ISHER-
WOOD.
Tribute 70 a Great Man Of Rare I'm
s%elfshness and Personal Modesty.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-S~:
Those who are opposed to public owner
ship and the national regulation or great
Industrial systems set forth as one or
their strong arguments that such owner
ship. control or regulation would XIII
ambition and rob the Individual OF all
personal Initiative and incentive. thereby
inducing waste and numerous abuses
and clogging all progress. IT is In
sisted that In order to get the highest
results from men OF genius and ability
the selfish acquisitive instinct must be
gratiaed and the hope held out OF ex-
ira ordinary money gain. Is this SOL Can
you recall any names OF men VINO rave
contributed to the material enrichment
OF the world or to local and temporary
material and business ends without
seeking for themselves either extraor-
binary acknowledgment or extortionate
gain?
! could name a thousand such men {:
I have met hundreds Of them. Permit
me to speak OF only one. the late Ben
jamin Franklin sherwood.
BENJAMIN Franklin Isherwood. ninety
two years old. died In New York city.
the city OF his birth. on June 20. 1915.
He entesed the navy in 1874. He was
the first chief of the Bureau OF steam
Engineering In the American navy. For
HedEiy ud1 n Nthtuiy W. "dc 'N'Vf
nized authority on steam engineering
and his word was listened to In many
allied arts. Few men have contributed
more to the material Advancement or the
world than Mr.. sherwood. For at the
most even the mightiest contribute but
a little each to the great aggregate OF
achievement. Yet all men are In their
generation and the future forever their
debtors. So let me praise sherwood.
2 tn,.ri,ap anufpaar md saiipr
! He was not personally minded. He
was without that curse OF the world. that
thing Christ damned, the acquisitive in
stinct. This human benefactor. Amer
lean mechanic, humble with glory,
meek with virility. daring with meek
ness. brave with humility. unseltish
through the generous joy of beloved
work, was a God endowed product or
democracy. Let others praise him.
A year or so ago the navy officials, as
a tribute 10 his many years OF service.
named the building at Annapolis where
steam engineering and naval construc-
ton are taught sherwood Hall. Over
the entrance they placed a bronze statue
OF him with this inscription:
Memorial portrait bust OF chief En-
gineer benjamin franklin 1sherwood.
United States Navy. rank Of Commodore.
who was the frst chief OF the Bureau of
steam Engineering In the Navy Depart
ment. Erected by engineers of his corps
and In civil life in testimony OF their ap-
probation OF his ability as a man and as
an engineer and in acknowledgment OF
his services TO his country. to his pro-
fession and TO his corps. and of his in
ternational reputation in the science and
art Of engineering.
To give an adequate idea Of what this
NM Tina vaiirOaA martra mic did 70 adj
vance civilization and progress would
require either technical description OF
lengthy popular Interpretation. and this
is no place for the one form OF descrip-
ton. nor could l hope to nave space for
the other. But consider this What his
hand found skill to do he did with
his might, rejoicing humanity in all
praise of IL, damning all blame OF IL and
Indifferent TO all pecuniary eward. His
spirit enr!ches the traditions OF the
American navy. of public service. OF all
work 1t substantiates the ancient ira
ditions Of religion; II remains a spark
TO enkindle generous spirits forever. He.
sherwood. was n Christian gentleman, a
master workman a wise student from
the University OF Everywhere. Usher
wood was a great American. a glorious
democrat. His youth was stern. bold
and fearless: his manhood smiling, re-
%joicing. and optimistic. While II was
vet day with him, he worked and In
the night of supplanting change he needs
not to care.
recur to my question: In the light
OF BENJAMIN Franklin sherwood and
in the light OF a thousand others OF his
illuminated kind whom / could name,
is there any danger that America and
democracy, civilization and progress
would all go to ruin II the acquisitive
instinct were stamped out?
In the Joy n difficulty OF beloved
work IL the electric spark Of incentive.
Democracy Is surcharged with cleo
trical initiative.
Increase the voltage OF democracy
and the amperes of progress will vivify
every wire of God. EUGENE LOMBARD.
New YORK, June 23.