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much of his sublime composure was attributable to 

 this wise theory. In one of his last letters to me, 

 which breathes all a woman's tenderness, writing of 

 what he thought must be a source of pleasure to me 

 in the retrospect, he expressed the hope, that, notwith- 

 standing the little he had accomplished, he had not 

 lived altogether in vain, so far as duty to home and 

 family was concerned though even in this, he took 

 but little credit to himself. And yet, if ever any one 

 lived for a purpose high and noble, and lived up to 

 the purpose, he did. He realized that God sitteth 

 above the water floods, King forever; and this filled 

 him with contentment in the lot assigned him. 



His death was fully as sublime as his life. When 

 I said to him, that I hoped he would be spared to 

 the church, and permitted to finish the great work he 

 was engaged in, he said so calmly, and with so much 

 meek submission, there is a grander and vaster field 

 beyond us. Though he sometimes indulged in curi- 

 ous speculations, he never permitted a doubt of the 

 truth of the catholic creeds to cross his mind, but laid 

 his vast stores of learning at the foot of the cross, 

 and saw only in that cross the perfection of truth, and 

 recognized in science only the handmaid of faith. 

 And now, that I stand before you to-night, his earli- 

 est friend, in the light of forty years' experience of 

 the heart-wealth and mental power of his well-spent 

 life ; will you chide me for laying this humble gar- 

 land on his honored bier ? 



I appreciate the beautiful in others. I revere the 

 learning and eloquence which have marked their pil- 

 grimage. I admire the flowers of faith, hope and love 

 that have left the scent and freshness of their bloom 

 and rich flowering behind them. I would not detract 

 one iota from their claim on our gratitude and praise. 



