The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-16
EDWARD T. FAIRBANKS
a Personal Tribute from Rev. DIR.
A. P. Crint

May | be permitted to say word
concerning the Rev. Edward T. Fair
banks? Others will speak from a
longer and g larger knowledge OF his
unique personality, but those of US
who have valued his friendship can
not altogether keep silence.
When I came to st. Johnsbury IN
1910, upon my first visit to the Pub
lie Library, DR.. Fairbanks greeted
me with both hands, bidding me a
hearty welcome. This acquaintance
ripened soon into friendship, and
it was not long before l began to be
drawn by characteristics that to me
were overpowering. And now that
his course has been run, | think st. |
Johnsbury is agreed that we have
! lost our First Citizen. And if this |
be true, what tribute this means!
In other lands the First Citizen is
measured by rank and wealth. But
in our democratic country it is other
wise. Roosevelt was not wealthy.
Yet he gripped the hearts of men.
DR.. Fairbanks likewise, and we are all
mourning today. ST. Johnsbury's
First Citizen has passed from our
midst!
The Christian gentleman is difficult
to define. 1t means culture, an in
dwelling unselfishness, an outhowing
!, love, courtesy, the graces that are
sometimes contemptuously regarded
, as etiquette. Dickens never succeed
ed in drawing the Christian gentle
man. But Thackeray's Colonel New
F come is fction's masterpiece. When
we are ali mourning the Christian
gentleman today, I cannot help re-
, calling as so appropriate Newcome's
last hours: cat the usual evening
hour the chapel bell began to toll and
Thomas Newcome's hands outside the
ibed feebly beat time. And just IS
! the last bell struck, a peculiar sweet
z smile stole over his face, and he lift
led up his head a little and quietly
|. Esaid 'Adsum', and fell back. It was
q the word he used at school when
q names were called; and 10, he whose
v heart was as that Of a little child had
: answered to his name. and stood il
! ''the presence of The Master" May
we again venture into iction's illun1-
e mating and suggestive world wher
S our loss is in our mind and on oul
J. heart? In Victor Hugo's "Les Miser
# ables" where is drawn a character
IS that is unique in literature, The Bish
OPP, overf1owingly good, whose all-at
, tractive humanity extends loving
:, forgiving hand to an unfortunate 81
- that life is revolutionized fo1
% heavenly things.
The undersigned has little knowl
X edge, of course, of DR.. Fairbanks
II college days. But when a student a
q Yale is slapped for Scroll and Key
/ outsiders know that his contempora
ries made no mistake in the measure
1t OF this man. For practically the res
n Of his life he lived in our midst. AnC
t. ST. Johnsbury soon began to know
k. him, measure him, then to love him
lie Not only as the Christian gentleman
n, but also as the pastor, the theologian
n. the traveller, the scholar, the writer
I'd the lover of children, the good cit
st izen, ever interested in the uplift O
the community in which he lived
= May I add also that as scientist h,
;, was known to many of US. And al
~ though | would not venture TO clas
;. him as Darwinist, yet his paper OF
: evolution was marvel, to all priv
e LEGGED to hear it, for its knowledg,
and humor
+ Our town only recently lost Elish;
. May, who occupied a unique position
: because of his broad loving humanity
= And now another 'great man. ha
passed away in an honored old age
ST. Johnsbury has suffered anothe
loss, and our town is mourning to
&, day.