The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-01-12
THE PASSING OF A MAN

Henry Sears died at his home Sunday morning
Men do not die, that is men who are worth while
in the world, who have purpose and willingness
and kindness and hope and who work towards
their hopes and purposes do not die. They pass.
They wrap the draperies of their couch about
them at the nightfal and fall asleep but they
leave accomplishment behind them and the evil
dences of their usefulness and unselfishness 1t is
upon such men and their labors that the world pro-
crosses. They are the highway builders, smoothing
the way for the feet Of millions, toifU, patient,
glad in their task. Men jeer and scod and praise
them while living and memorabilia them when
they have gone on and left the results OF tnelr
lives and labors in proclamation Oh their use1ul-
ness.
Such a man was Henry Sears. A man Of the
strctest integrity and of the gentlest and tender
est nature rock ribbed in his belief and his talth,
vet tolerant of the belief and opinion OF others
rooted like an oak in principle and act yet KIND
ly word and hand of help held to the errlng ana
the unfortunate; an honest, straightforward,
friendly generous and above all, kindly man, to
whom service for his friends and loved ones was
a watchword who parted not OF the fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man but looked up
ward to the One and lived the other. Few, per-
hapS save those who knew him best, realize the
good this man did-not with bare of trumpets
and tinlding Of cynbals, but in his own quiet I'M
ostentatiOus way. No begger mendlcant ever
left Henry Sears with empty palm. No I'M
fortunate ever appealed to him in vain. Never was
he too busy to do someone favor; no oblgatlon
was too great for him to take for friend
Henry Sears never had an enemy save those Of
political nature. And with the drawing of the
curtain over this thing we call life such petty
things as political differences fade into the back
ground in the light of the respect which we accord
to the man. When death has settled all differ
fba of
flicker and die out over coffin lid; when hatred
burns out for lack of fuel to feed itself upon when
the heat of struggle and the strain Of combat fade
and living men look upon those who faced them
courageOusly, unfinchingly, in war or IN business
or in politics. respect and high regard and sincere
appreciation rule the hour. 1t is time when per-
sonal affection pushes aside the exigencies of
struggle and comes to stand in sadness and sor-
row in the place Of dissension. And upon the bend
ed head of such friendship is no mark or stigma
Of hypocrisy
Henry Sears did not die a rich man. He did not
forget his manhood and his self in the chase OF
the almighty dollar. He gained his competence and
was content with that; he had no desire to amass
a fortune. It doesn't pay. What shall great
wealth profit man who loses love and the true
liking Of men to gain a great l0nliness. Such are
not happy men in the autumn Of their years when
content and cOmpanionshp are as a precious oint-
ment to the aged. The evil days come when the
rich man hath no pleasure in them. And so he
dies and is buried out of sight and men Gla lie al
his funeral cortege as it passes and turn to 81 ecu
late upon the distribution of hoard which has
ceased to be his. The corpse candles Of avaTice
burn without incense.
To his friends and business associates the raes-
ing of Henry Sears leaves void that will not soon
be filled With a friendly greeting and kind word
for everyone, he pursued the even tenure OF his
daily life. He the friend of everyone men
women yes even of the scores of little chidreH
who came in OF an afternoon for scrap paper or
which to do their sums To the Courier force the
news Of his death is more than the passing Of ar
employer-we have lost friend. There's iuist
ane bert in a Drumtochty and it's sair." Yet the
legacy of kindness he left, the inspiration Of
strength that came with the man and his life viii
live on and serve as he served. He built himself
immutaby into the lives of those whose privilege
and happiness it was to know and love him well.
Henry Sears had his weaknesses-just as otheI
men have. But it is one of the great provisions
of life that the glance of retrospection sees no
our weakness, but our service; service to ou
friends, our families, our community. And if I'm
selfishness, thoughtfulness and kindness of hear
spell service, Henry Sears needs no eulogy.
Henry Sears met death as he met life brave
and without complaint