Frederick T. Gray

“ How little did this poor young man think, when he first entered that church, that by fidelity to the truths of Jesus Christ there proclaimed, when he should pass from earth, grateful hearts, true and sincere mourners, would go up thither, and throng its very aisles, that they might mingle their tears, and pay their last tribute of respect to him, their true benefactor and Christian friend! Yet so it was, and as beautiful as it was a striking testimony [13] from the community to the excellence and worth of a humble, benevolent, and sincere Christian. ”

“ In this his benevolence and world-wide charity had their origin. It was this, young men, which makes his memory so precious, his name so dear, and will long embalm him sacredly in the grateful hearts of hundreds of the sorrowing children of men, who will bedew his grave with tears, and rise up hereafter and call him blessed. What power did religion impart to this benefactor of his race! ”

“ If you would know the origin of all that he did, which blessed so many hearts, which made him the [11] friend of the widow and the orphan, and a father to those who had none to help,—why it is that all around us the tears of sorrow are shed,—that every one feels that the community has sustained a severe loss, and that the poor and suffering are bereft of a benefactor and friend,—you must trace it to its true source, and say that he was a religious man and true Christian, and that he simply carried out and exemplified the holy principles of the gospel. ”