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Show 3ht JflemortamGEORGE CLAYTON GILBERTOBIT MARCH 28, 1908GENTLE life has passed. His days of toil in the service of humanity are over, and his weary spirit in all its purity and beauty has gone to everlasting rest. Mighty as are words, they are feeble before the serene repose of eternity; yet the last sad service that we who mourn can perform is to record our tribute of loving appreciation. And it is decorous and fitting that we should so do, for the life and character of him who has gone speak to the living in compelling accents.Life is most sanctified by service. Measured by this standard, the life that has just blossomed into eternity was trebly sanctified. No thought of his was squandered upon self; all the impulses of his being led him to lavish his every effort upon those who daily sat at his feet for instruction and upon the welfare of the mother and sister who were dearer to him than life itself. Time and again his friends urged him to economize his strength, to pursue duty a little less strenuously, but his selfflessness was such that to the very last all other considerations were eclipsed by his eager craving to be of service to his students, to his church, and to his family. Viewed in the light of his sadly early demise, we can but wish that his zeal had been tempered by careful moderation, but it was nobly and heroically done, and his example is as a trumpet blast to stir the loiterer on the hard path of duty.If life is sanctified by duty, it is sweetened by gentleness. Affable to all who knew him, courteous almost to a fault, equable in temper, his life was a very epitome of gentleness. Broad-mindedly devoted to the tenets of his church, he was most tolerant of all sincere religious belief; always outwardly happy himself, he delighted in smoothing the paths of others, though his own was one of pain and toil; meek and humble himself, his zeal in the defense of a friend was untiring. His never-failing smile and quiet word of reassurance brought rest to many a weary heart; his innate goodness commanded imitation. Truly it is a benediction to have known him.Whether "this corruption shall put on incorruptibility," whether we shall meet him again, his will ever be a sweet-scented memory in the heart-shrine of all who knew him. In the militant words of the Book which he loved so well and so intelligently, we may say for him, as Timothy said of himself: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." B. R. HOWELL.(6). |