PERSONAL 113 



more ordinary course of duty. The answer is soon 

 given. The key to all his actions of benevolence 

 and philanthropy lay in this, that he looked upon 

 life as a great reality ; with him, it was not only 

 to be lived, but to be spent in the service of Him 

 whose creature he was. He regarded himself, as he 

 did his fellow-men, not only as clay in the hand 

 of the potter, but as instruments, under God, of 

 endless possibilities. Throughout life he acted upon 

 the principle, Laborare est orare. To one thus im- 

 pressed every moment was of account ; the maxim 

 of his favourite classical author, though taken in 

 a very different sense from that intended by the 

 poet, was his also " Carpe diem y quant minimum 

 credula postero" It was only those who were near 

 to him who knew how deeply he realised the value 

 of time and opportunity. 



Possessed of an active body and a no less vigorous 

 mind, his great aim through life was to employ 

 them in the service of his Master, in doing what 

 good he could in the world during his short stay 

 in it, and each morning as it came filled him with 

 the desire to make the most of its precious hours. 

 In point of physique he seemed marked out for an 

 active life. Of medium height, and of spare, wiry, 

 and upright form, he looked like one who could 

 do a good day's march without fatigue. To many 

 he appeared to have not a little of the strict officer 

 about him ; and, indeed, those who so judged, judged 

 rightly. Still, beneath a somewhat reserved manner, 

 that at times made itself felt, there was ever beating 



H 



