It is, therefore, easy to see how fortunate this society was in having such a man for its personal representative; and, how fortunate the churches also were in having the most characteristic spirit and motive and aim of the cause he stood for so fittingly impersonated. That fond mother of the famous English missionary who is reported to have said, that "as for her son, the race of God could find but little to do in him," did not speak for James Powell. God had given him splendid gifts to begin with, but it was the grace of God in him that first saved him from making shipwreck of those gifts, and then taught him how to use them so exhaustively in his service. This Society represents above all things an educational enterprise. It has many schools, chartered and unchartered, throughout the South and West. We can never admire too much this far-reaching educational undertaking. But, the Society is itself, in certain most fundamental respects, the very "head-master" in the school of the churches, in the school of the nation. And how beautifully, how superbly, how effectively did this brother of ours shine and burn among the churches of our land, as one commissioned of heaven to help teach us the reality of meaning there is in this word of our Lord, how he said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." His memory we shall all, and always, affectionately cherish. For the service which he rendered to the cause which we also love, we will be devoutly thankful. If we have gotten any good from the life which he lived before us, we can show it by the growing warmth and completeness of our own enlistment in the same cause. Cries Mrs. Browning at Cowper's grave: O Poets, from a maniac's tongue was poured the deathless singing; O Christians, at your cross of hope a hopeless hand was clinging; O men, this man in brotherhood your weary paths beguiling Groaned inly while he taught you peace and died while ye were smiling. But not in _that_ way was Powell the teacher of hope and of peace and of joy to us. He showed the way of the cross and all the morning light of hope, because he himself had found it! And how lustrous and mighty and winning did his own way of life serve to make all this way appear to be. O face, all radiant with light of love; O eyes, so laughing in their tenderness. So quick to read the language of distress; O lips, so touched with flame as from above-- We have seen that sweet vision, and all the way before us shall be the clearer, and we the stronger, because of it. And the sweet memory of our brother shall remain to us. Like some clear large star, which pilgrims, At their back leave, and see not always; Yet wheresoever they list, may turn, And with its glories gild their faces still!