“I always admired the humble side of his character. I think humility was one of his finest traits; although feted and honored as no man of this continent ever has been, he never for a moment showed any signs of realizing his greatness, or evincing a desire to count the honors conferred. Retiring in disposition, yet bold and brave to act when necessity demanded it, I speak of him in loving memory. You all knew him here in his former home, and who with him have worshiped ofttimes in this church, and you all know that he was the bravest of the brave and the truest of the true.
“‘His mein, his speech, were sweetly simple;
But when the matter matched his mighty mind,
Up rose the hero; on his piercing eye
Sat observation; on each glance of thought,
Decision followed.’
“As the day came, so duty appeared, and the brave old General took it up and did it earnestly and well.
“How well great battles and campaigns were planned and fought; how safely and wisely he guided the ship of state; how modestly he received honors of the world from crowned heads; how gladly he returned to the walks of a humble citizen; how bravely and patiently he suffered through his terrible affliction—are they not all known to us, and are they not written upon the pages of history for our children’s children to read and study?
“Is it weak, that we who followed the ever-victorious flag of our great Commander, and who with him stood in trying places against evil and treason, should drop our tears upon the fallen form of him whom we loved? Nay, but let them fall, they but speak in louder tones than words can, of the love and regard we had for him, who, as the years roll by, will be honored and extolled as one of the greatest of all nations.
“Around the throne of the Eternal God must hover the spirit of such as he who lived without ever having a selfish thought.