The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-10-20
DIR. t. L. ELIOT
1850 YEARS OLD
(By Addison Bennett in Oregonian)

(By Addison Bennett in Oregonian)
Sitting in his beautiful home OF
/ West Park street, where the first rays
of the morning Isun as it peeps ovei
the crest of Mount Hood lightens W
the cheerful living room and parlor,
saw yesterday DR.. Thomas Lamb Eliot
one of the most beloved of Oregon's
citizens. Looking out across the park.
| through the branches of the stately
shade trees, after having given me a
hearty hand-shake and a cordial well
come, he replied to a question: Eyes,
if live to see the sun shine tomorrow
will be 80 years old" And | felt
like adding. land at peace with my
God, my conscience and all of my fell
low men"
For almost three and forty years DIR.
Eliot has resided in that dwelling,
which he had erected IL years after
coming to Portland. He came here as
the first pastor of the First Unitarian
church, arriving from his home in st.
Louis via San Francisco. in the good
ship Montana, with his young wife and
one child, the latter being now in
charge of the church founded by his
father in 1867. The vestry call to DR..
Eliot, who was then assistant to his
father as pastor of the First Unitarian
church of st. Louis, was signed by
such well-known men of that time as
Thomas Frazer and C. W. Burrage.
The little society that called him had
a small church on property they had
bought which was then ''out in the
wooded suburbs" at Seventh, now
Broadway, and Yamhill streets, but by
1873 the present church was erected,
and in the same year DR.. Eliot had his
present residence ready for occupancy,
still farther 'out in the woods.
For a quarter of century DR.. Eliot
occupied that pulpit, building up one
of the strongest, largest and wealth.
est Unitarian congregations in the
west. Then he was 80 revered that
his vestrymen compelled him to retire
as active pastor and become pastor
emeritus, zone who has served long
and faithfully" says the dictionary.
and | would add, zone whom we all
love-"
He was succeeded by Rev. Earl M.
Wilbur, who had been his assistant for
few years, and then Rev. Cressey
and Rev. Lord, for short periods, and
in 1906 DR.. Eliot's Oldest son, Rev. |
William Greenleaf Eliot, ''the worthy
son of a worthy sire" took charge and |
will no doubt become the emeritus pas
tor in 1881 if he is then alive.
This is not to be a biographical |
sketch, have just given a running
fire to lead up to the fact that we have
with us yet one who has labored long.
patiently and SUCCESSFULLY for his con-
o,4 n
Eliot was averse to having any men,
tion made of the event, but | per-
suaded him to let me write -four
sticks" as due to the tens of thousands
who love him. So this is just brief
tribute of love and esteem, and small
payment on the obligations due one
who has become an institution rather
than citizen, an institution for the
building of character and all else that
makes our citizenship higher, brighter,
better. cleaner and in every way more
enduring.
DR.. Eliot is practically the father of
Reed College. founded on a bequest of
one of his parishioners, Mrs. Sim. G.
Reed.
DR.. Eliot at 80 is still very busy
man. So very busy that, like all busy
men, he finds time to labor vigorously
for his church, for the uplifting of our
city. our state and our nation, as we'll
as for any and all good works toward
A better life and better conditions in
every way. Never has he shirked
rom an appeal to labor to the very
INIT of his ability when called by his
country or any of its integrals. And
lie does his every duty so pleasantly,
10 Loyalty, so painstakingly, so consci-
that every day and almost
very hour of every day we are more
md more reminded that DR.. T. l..
eliot is the peer, at least, of Oregon's
most useful and most beloved citizens.
Nay he never grow older, in health
md strength, than he is today. |