The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1922-11-10
JOHN d. wORTHINGTON
(Contributed)

Its most upright, devoted and useful
citizens.
On the first page OF every issue o.
this paper appears this insc iption:
devoted TO the best interests Of our
County, State, and Nation" What Is
Aimply stated Of the paper WIS more
Deeply true Of the papers editor. His
was life dedicated to the best inter-
ests Of the people, especially the PEG
pie Of his beloved Hartford county. AS
Calais would have. been found written
On the heart Of England's queen 80
Hartford county would be found craven
on the heart of John d. Worthington.
For her welfare, he lived. and moved,
and had his being.
For Hartford County and her people
John d. Worthington consecrated him
self. That was true even In a physi-
cal sense. Like Theodore Roosevelt,
Mr.. Worthington in early manhood
had to fight for physical strength and
Nigor, and physical strength he was
determined to have that he might ae-
complish the work he had set out u
do. And just as his dedication of him,
self to the service of his fellow-men
helped him to make and keep himself
physically fit, so his self-dedication to
their interests helped TO make and keep
him man Of unblemished honor and
integrity. mo man ever yet hated
his own body, but nourisheth and cher
isheth it, So no man genuinely devot-
cd to the service of his fellows can
fail in personal honor and integrity.
Rank imposes obligation. For theii
sakes he sanctifes himself.
A man has attained high place In
the esteem Of his fellows when he can
differ widely from many of them In
matters of public policy without hav-
Ing his motives questioned or his good
faith impugned. Mr.. Worthington had
gained that high place in this county.
Men expected him to state his position
on every public issue clearly and force
fully. If occasionally we differed from
him. the difference was never tainte
with suspicion or distrust. And he
who 80 often sought other peoples
advice and counsel would have been
the last to claim infallibility for him
sell. He only knew that he loved Har.
ford county and sought always the best
for her and her people, And we knew
that too, and trusted him utterly.
II Is q weakness In many Of our
ablest citizens that they give no small
q part Of their time and talents to the
service Of the people. Such service
commands at best but small financial
return, and oil too often It exposes the
man who renders It to criticism, mis-
representation and abuse from which
men naturally shrink.
The people of Hartford county know
that for many years Mr.. worthington
served them as school examiner and
a. a member Of the school board. They
know he did this work faithfully and
efficiently, as he did all Of the mani
fold work his hand found to do. But
few know Of the wealth of time and
thought that he poured for many years
into his school work. So he ably seiv-
cd the State on the Board OF
; State Aid and Charities. So he served
the church Of which he was 90 long &
devoted member and faithful official.
In season and out of season he was
giving of his time, his talents, his In.
fuence to help his fellow-men, eve
adding new responsibilities 10 q life
already filled with routine duties.
The most valuable charity Is not
simple alms-givins, but the placing at
mems disposal Of the business acumen
and trained ability which will enable
them 10 obtain for themselves things
that they lack. Tbs man who through
sound business methods or productive
enterprises helps his friends and neigh
bors secure needed advantage Is as tru.
Iva public benefactor az Carnegie or
Rockefeller. There are people h
this county who owe much that the,
possess to the sound business sense,
the wise guidance, the stimulating
friendship Of Mr.. Worthington. For
years no was actively identified witt
many of our leading financial inst.
lions, and through them he helped men
70 learn to help themselves. For that
best Of help, self-heln, many who read
these words will gladly and gratefully
recognize their debt to John D. Worth
ington.
institutions are but the heightened
shadow Of a man." When newspapers
were individually owned and managed
thar was especially true Of the press
Unfortunately Il Is no longer true of
our great city dailies, but II remains
true OF many Of our smaller count
papers, and il was pie-eminentiy true
of John d. worthington and The Eris
He took his paper very seriously. II
embodied his spirit. It reflected his
personality His weekly editorial mes.
sages to the people Of Hartford county
were as sacred responsibility to him
as the Sunday sermon Is to the mini.
star On them he expended thought
and care and labor. He was scrupu.
lousy anxious to make his editorials
helpful and true, and fair. Often he
would read them over to friends and
ask their judgment upon them, and
their criticism Of them, so that when
they appeared in print they. might be
as nearly perfect as Il was possible
for him TO make them.
For eighteen years The Egis under
Mr.. worthington's able management
has been . force for good in Hartford
county. Nothing unclean, or unfair,
or hurtful has been allowed 10 appear
in It's columns, for che editor knew thai
his paper was to go into the homes Of
people he rsyened and loved, and who
trusted him and looked to him for lead.
.~na.fs. A s...ka..l af,..4 M ~