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ON THE LATE 
 
 i'. (Ifdiiiin S. 35oti!i'r, ® .1., 
 
 John C. Baldwin Professor of Theology, Professor of the Connection between Science 
 and Religion, and Dean of Lincoln University. 
 
 
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 j^ecemfeer ! 
 
 Pastor of the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church of Washington, D. C. 
 
EULOGY. 
 
 — — 
 
 A life can never be rightly estimated until it is ended. Thus judged, 
 some lives, which in their progress attracted applause, dwiudle into insignifi- 
 cance, while others which carefully avoided display, rise into magnificent 
 proportions. This is, therefore, a crucial test, yet one wlych we propose now 
 to apply to the character and life work of Kev. Dr. Bower. It is perhaps 
 better that this eulogy, delivered at your request, should have been delayed 
 for some months after his departure from earth. It is not now affected by 
 the shock of death, which sometimes warps our judgment and makes the 
 flood of tears wash away for the time the memory of derelictions. Bur in 
 this case judgment has had time to review calmly the life and character, and 
 we believe that this has only strengthened your appreciation of his worth and 
 deepened the sense of his loss to this University. As the relation which most 
 of you held to Dr. Bower was that of pupils, it seems appropriate to study 
 his success chiefly as an instructor. But in this case the teacher was the per- 
 sonal friend of the scholar, and underlying these relations was the character 
 of the man, so pure, so true, so disinterested, so noble ; and still underlying 
 this the motive of love to Christ, and the desire to glorify Him as His ser- 
 vant, steward, and ambassador from Cod to man. In all these relations a re- 
 view of his character will make us echo the encomium he has doubtless 
 already received from the Master— “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 
 
 Edwin Rea Bower was born in Lancaster county, Penna., on the 5th of 
 September, 1826. His father was Jacob Bower, a teacher in Strasburg, 
 Penna., and for several years an Elder in the Presbyterian church in that 
 place. His mother, Annie Rea Bower, was also a devoted Christian, and 
 both parents at the time of their son’s baptism solemnly consecrated him to 
 the gospel ministry ; saying in the spirit of Hannah ; “As long as he liveth 
 he shall be lent to the Lord.” Their faith did not go unrewarded, though 
 “The trial of it had to work patience,” for their son in his childhood evinced 
 little aptitude for learning, and at first entered mercantile life. But when 
 Cod’s call to the ministry came he gave up the prospfect of earthly gain then 
 opening up, and devoted his whole effort to preparing for preaching the gos- 
 pel of his Saviour. He then taught in the academy at Strasburg and studied 
 for college under Rev. James Mackey, afterwards a missionary to Africa. 
 He entered the second term of the Sophomore Class in the College of New 
 Jersey at Princeton in 1849, and graduated in 1851, taking the first honor in 
 his class. After graduating at college he taught the Parochial School in Cran- 
 bury, N. J., for one year, and in 1852 entered the Princeton Theological 
 Seminary, from which|he graduated in 1855. How conscientiously he perform- 
 ed his duties and improved his opportunities while in the Seminary was 
 shown by that systematic knowledge of theology which made him so able a 
 preacher and teacher. During 1855 he acted as T utor of Mathematics in the 
 College of New Jersey. At that time a fire occurred in the college build, 
 ing, (“Old North,”) where he roomed, by which disaster he not only lost his 
 clothing and library, but also all his notes on theological lectures, the ser- 
 
4 • 
 
 inoiis he had prepared, and Ids “trial pieces” for Presbytery. As his exami- 
 nation for lioynsnre was .soon to occur, such a loss placed him in a difficult po- 
 sition, but with his accustomed euer<;y in a short time he prepared other 
 trial pieces, and passed a successful examination before the Presbytery of 
 Donegal, by which he was licensed to preach the "ospel, on the third of July, 
 1855 Soon after he received two calls, one to the Presbyterian Church in 
 Springfield, Ohio ; the other to Wappinjier’s Falls, N. Y. The latter he ac- 
 cepted, and ‘iave as his leason for declining the first “That he was too young 
 in the ministry to take care of so large a church.” Ilis wise modesty did not 
 go unrewarded. One of the Elders of the Springfield church said ; “If we 
 want another ndnister we will send for that young man,” and they did send 
 for him at their next vacancy. Having accepted the call to the Presbyterian 
 church at Wappinger’s Falls, he was ordained by the Presbytery of North 
 River and installed on the 30th of October, 1855. On the first of August of 
 that year he had been married to Sarali Elizabeth, daughter of James Clark, 
 of Cranbury, N. J. ; a union which continued until his death, and which 
 gave him a partner whose love, sympathy and help centered largely into his 
 own success. 
 
 After a n)inistry of six years at Wappinger’s Falls, he received a call to 
 the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ohio, which 
 was accepted. So loathe was his former charge to part with him, that after 
 his settlement in Springfield he received an invitation from Wappinger’s 
 Falls to return. This was repeated during his first year at Lincoln, and after 
 his death his family learned that the church was still planning to call him 
 again. About the time of his starting for Springfield the first shot was fired 
 at Sumpter, and the journey to his new home was made amid the excitement 
 of the transportation of troops and the sending by the families of his new 
 charge of their sons to the war. lie and his family entered at once into active 
 work for the soldiers, indeed he became one himself, for at the time of 
 “Morgan’s raid,” southern Ohio being threatened, the militia were called out; 
 from this call no profession was exempt; he drilled for several days with the 
 troops and at last was ordered to Columbus, but word coming from that city 
 that they had sufficient troops, the order was countermanded. In November, 
 1864, he volunteered his services in the Christian commission; he was accepted 
 and sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he was present at two battles which took 
 place between the forces under Generals Hood and Thomas. In a letter dated 
 Dec. 6, 1864, written from Nashville, he thus speaks of a service held on the 
 day of one of these engagements : — “In the afternoon I went out to the lines 
 and preached to the Fifth Tennessee Regiment. I shall never forget that 
 service. We assembled just along the intrench ments where the men were 
 drawn up in line of battle; at the left of us, on a high eminence, about three 
 hundred yards distant, was Fort Argley; every few moments the large can- 
 lions would belch forth their thunder; away to the right of us also, the can- 
 nons were firing, and all around was the noise and confusion of an immense 
 army. Nevertheless the men gathered round us, and never have I preached 
 to a more attentive audience. God grant that I may have done some good.” 
 
 These services for his country did not interfere with those to his church. 
 He had, before starting for his service in the Christian Commission, gotten 
 his church at Springfield into excellent working order, and he returned to 
 take up the pastoral duties with renewed vigor. How' well he succeeded, is 
 shown by the flourishing comlition of that church under his ministry, by the 
 members added to it and by the loving remembrance with which its members 
 
o 
 
 followed liini to the day of his deatli; yea, even after his death, they unitetl 
 with the church at Chester, Pa., and others, in a substantial tribute to his 
 memory. 
 
 It was in the midst of his successful work at Sprinjifield, that he received 
 notice that the Board of Trusteesof Lincoln University had elected him to the 
 new chair of Theoloory, This occurred in June, lS(i7. This call was entirely 
 unsought; indeed,' when in the previous year he received a letter from his 
 former colleae-mate, Rev. Dr. Rendall, asking if lie woi\id consider favorably 
 a proposition to become professor, Dr. Bower replied tliat he could not, and 
 added — ‘*1 would never leave tin* pastorate for a college professorship. If I 
 ever become a professor it would be to prepare young men to preach the gos- 
 pel.” When the formal call came, he visited Lincoln and returned to Spring- 
 field with scarcely a thought of accepting the position; luit, what was char- 
 acteristic of his whole life, he ‘‘committed his way unto the Lord:’” One 
 thing after another pointed unmistakably to his duty of going to Lincoln; 
 and therefore, notwithstanding the opposition of his attached people at 
 Springfield and the rendering of many pleasant ties of acquaintance, he arose 
 and came to Lincoln. 
 
 It may be well to pause here and consider tb, appearance at that time of 
 the field to which he was about to devote his future life work. Lincoln 
 University presented in 1807 a very different appearance than it loes to day: 
 Now, there stands on this site a group of beautiful buildings— Ash- 
 mun, Lincoln, Cresson, University, Houston and Livingstone halls; (what 
 glorious memories and generous benefactions are linked with each of those 
 names !) Around these are grouped many comfortable homes for the profes- 
 sors, and this beautiful chapel, the excellejit library, the convenient dormi- 
 tories, well befitting a university which takes rank with the best in our land. 
 
 Now, six professorships are endowed, a faculty of able men attend to the 
 ditferent departments of instruction, while a substantial board of trustees, 
 aided by active financial agents, a«lminister wisely and successfully its 
 pecuniary affairs, and a large number of young men, gathered from two 
 continents, (America and Africa,) compose its noble band of students. Far 
 different was the aspect of affairs when Dr. Bower was invited hither. It is 
 true, noble men had already tried and sacrificed in laying the foundations of 
 this institution, “of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some 
 have fallen asleep.” Yet Lincoln was comparatively in its incipient stage of 
 development. There were but two college building.s, which contained the 
 recitation, sleeping and eating rooms of the .students. The president occu- 
 pied as his dwelling what is now part of Cresson hall; besides this, a single 
 brick and a poor wooden structure represented the hou.ses for professors. 
 There were but two professors in the faculty, a sjnall numl)er of students and 
 at that time the theological department was not distinctively organized. 
 
 The question presented to Dr. Bower was then practically this : Should 
 he leave a strong church, situated in one of the most beautiful cities of the 
 West, well organized, with prospects of yet greater growth, wdth a comfor- 
 table support for himself, with opportunities for personal distinction ; should 
 he exchange all this for a work which was yet in a formative condition, for a 
 meagre salary, for what many regarded as a doubtful experiment ? This 
 question he answered in the affirmative. First, because in his call to Lin- 
 coln he recognized the voice of God. Second, because Ids heart was in full 
 sympathy with the work. Third, because with what 1 may term an inspired 
 foresight, he saw' the sure and glorious outcome of the work. One thing his 
 
1 
 
 ! T) 
 
 j faith never failed in— the grand future of Lincoln University. How often 
 have I heard liiin speak of it in terms of glowing anticipation ! No hour of 
 i financial pressure could come to it l)ut he saw a light ahead. No appearance 
 
 I of a desert could it wear hut beyond came to his vision its “blossoming as 
 
 ! the rose,” It was not the faith of a self-interesteil party, but that of a Chris- 
 
 ! tian man wlu) believed that Lincoln University was the cause of Christ. It 
 
 j was not the zeal of a devotee to a favorite cause ; it was ratlier the wisdom 
 
 j of a philanthropist who realized that here was a work having important rela- 
 
 tions to the church, to the country, yea to humanity at large. It was not a 
 sense of stern duty which drove him hither : it was love for the work ; inter- 
 I est in the welfare of the young men to be here educated, which attracted him* 
 Fie realized that this was not only his mission, but also his high calling. 
 Commencing his work with such a spirit it is not surprising that he was a 
 succe.ss himself and lived to see this University become a success. I would 
 not be understood as meaning that he was the sole cause of that success, 
 
 I 'I'he success of such an institution as this depends equally on all its instruc* 
 
 j tors, trustees and benefactors. They too have been actuated by the same noble 
 
 I motives, and have always evinced the same spirit of self-sacrifice. A member 
 
 of Dr. Bower’s family (to whom I am indebted for many of the above mention- 
 ed facts), .says on this point : “I want it distinctly understood that whatever 
 hardships assailed Dr. Bower and family, they did not equal those endured 
 by Dr. Rendall and Ih'of. VVestcott. They were the true pioneers of this 
 work, ami nobly did they do it. One has received his full reward, and upon 
 the other still re.sts the burden and heat of the day.” The same lady adds : 
 “The countless words of cheer and encouragement, the countless acts of 
 thoughtful kindness with which Dr. Dickey and Dr. Rendall helped Dr, 
 Bower, when even Ids strong hope sometimes failed, cannot be too thankful- 
 ly remembered.” 
 
 But to return to the details of Dr. Bower’s work in this University. One 
 thing must impress every one acquainted therewith ; namely, the versatility 
 of his usefulness. It is surprising how many duties he performed, and how 
 many places he filled. In the Theological Department he was Professor of 
 Thqology and Dean of that Faculty. In the Collegiate Department he was 
 Professor of the Connection between Science and Religion and Dean of the 
 Faculty of Arts. As the classes gradually took their permanent place in the 
 three departments. Dr Bower’s work fell mainly in the Theological Depart- 
 ment ; but he also taught the following in the college : the Bible— to the 
 Sophomores ; Butler’s Analogy, Paley’s Natural Theology and Astronomy— 
 to the Seniors, After his death we learned that he had planned to give extra 
 lessons in Astronomy to the Sophomore Class, as preparatory to their Senior 
 course. Before the election of a Professor of Greek (Dr. Woodhull) he 
 taught Greek. In the Theological Department he taught besides Theology 
 and the Catechism, Church History. He taught well and thoroughly, for 
 however great were his capacities as a Pastor and Preacher, his main forte 
 was undoubtedly that of a Teacher. One of the most illustrious graduates of 
 this University in spt'aking of Dr Bower, lately said to me : “Why he was a 
 born teacher ; for he was so clear in his definitions, so lucid in his arguments 
 that he could instruct the dullest mind ; he had also such versatility of teach- 
 ing ability. There was not a branch of study but which, if the Professor 
 was absent, Dr. Bower could teach. He thus, at times, taught in almost all 
 the University’s curriculum.” This testimony is valuable, as it comes from 
 one who well illustrates the benefits received from the instruction in this 
 
7 
 
 University. Besides these professional duties Dr. Bow'er attended toothers 
 connected witli the interests of this Institution. He was Secretary of tlie 
 Board of Trustees and Clerk of the Faculty. While he was not Treasurer of 
 the Faculty in name, he did all the Treasurer’s work for eleven years without 
 one cent of compensation The general accounts of the students, their indi- 
 dividual accounts, even to the payment of their wash bills, he alsf) attended 
 to. He corresponded wdth young men inquiring about terms of admittance ; 
 raised much money to aid them in their studies, and even after their gradua- 
 tion followed them with letters of wise counsels as to their future lifework ; 
 also corresponded largely in their interests with the Presbyterian Board of 
 Education. 
 
 During his first winter at Lincoln Dr. Bower recognized the advantage of 
 dividing the one existing Literary Society. As the members of the new so- 
 ciety came to him for advice and help relating to its organization, he was 
 henceforth known as the founder of the Philosophian Society. Often during 
 the absence of the President he had the entire peisonal supervision of the 
 students. At such times he never missed “chapel prayers” morning (U’ eve- 
 ning ; also spent hours of the day at the buildings arranging for the comfort 
 of the students. Sometimes after such a visit he would return, his face full 
 
 of concern and anxiety, and exclaim : “Just think of it, has no flannels ! 
 
 He is a first-rate fellow ; something must be done at once.” It was the ap- 
 preciation of this interest in them that made the students resort to him con- 
 tinually as their adviser and helper, and he always had a spare moment for 
 them. Even when through pressure of official duties he was compelled to 
 send word to the study door that he could not be seen, he was more than 
 likely to go to the front door “to see what the boy wanted ” Nor did this 
 untiring interest in their welfare go unappreciated ; it evoked from his stu- 
 dents undying affection. I was present at his funeral services in this chapel 
 on the 10th of April, 1883, where was gathered a vast assembly, comprising 
 the Faculty and Boards of this University ; the representatives of the Presby- 
 tery with which he was last connected, and that in which he was licensed ; 
 clergymen from distant cities ; friends from the surrounding country ; all of 
 whom came to pay him their tribute of love and esteem. As I listened to tlie 
 beautiful and just tributes of respect rendered to his memory by the repre- 
 sentatives of this University and other distinguished speakers, as there fell 
 upon my ear the sobs of family, students and attendants, I thought, here is 
 indeed a testimonial to the character and work of Dr. Bower. But after the 
 services in this chapel there occurred an incident which spoke more eloquent- 
 ly than words, of the love which he had won. As the funeral procession 
 wended its way over the many miles which stretch between this chapel and 
 the cemetery in which he was to be buried, at the head of that procession 
 walked, every one of those long and wearied miles (going and returning 
 seven miles in all) the students of this University. I learned that this was 
 done by the free choice of the students. They had asked as a privilege that 
 they might thus show their respect for their beloved Professor. I do not 
 know which this incident reflects most praise upon ; the man they honored 
 or the men who thus honored the man. But this I do know, that many a 
 king, though borne to his mausoleum with all the pageantry that an empire 
 could command, yet received no such tribute of loving respect as attended 
 the funeral of this man of God. 
 
 Though Dr. Bower attended punctually to his duties here, yet he found 
 time to preach continually in the neighborhood and even in distant cities. He 
 
8 
 
 had been preaching? some time at Chester wlien a colony, known as “The 
 Third Church,” was formed ; Dr. Bower orjjanized this new church. He 
 was immediately invited to accept a call, and in spite of his declinature was 
 asked to occupy their pulpit rej^ularly, which he did ; j*oin" to Chester late 
 Saturday night and returning early Monday morning. Before they called 
 their first pastor. Dr. Bower was again pressed to accept that position ; but 
 finding him firm in his former intention, the church united on Rev. C. F. 
 Thomas. In 1878, after Mr. Thomas left, the Third Church made out a regu- 
 lar call and presented it at the spring meeting of Presbytery. The pressure 
 biought to bear was very great. A wide field of usefulness was opened up 
 in the very direction he most loved, the pastorate. The people of Chester 
 were already endeared to him by long and familiar association. On the one 
 hand, the Chester church prayed that Dr. Bower might be sent to them ; on 
 the other, the students prayed that their beloved Professor might remain. 
 Dr. Bower prayed only for guidance, and the prayer was answered in deter- 
 mining him to remain at Lincoln ; a determination that he never afterwards 
 regretted. The students showed their joy at the result by coming over to his 
 house one night and singing a psalm of thanksgiving under his window. It 
 was not to be wondered at that Dr. Bower was in demand by our churches, 
 for he was a very acceptable preacher. He had the faculty of both pleasing 
 and edifying his hearers. His sermons always evinced careful preparation. 
 Logical in their construction, they were not heavy ; dealing with the grand 
 truths of redemption, they were not tooobstruse for the most humble hearer ; 
 delivered with impassioned earnestness they engaged the attention ; roused 
 the conscience and fed the soul. There was too about Dr. Bower such a holy 
 devout sanctity that you felt yourselves to be listening to indeed “a man of 
 God.” Many of the students of this University traced their conversion to his 
 discourses and addresses, and many were led to consecrate themselves to the 
 ministry by the same instrumentality. His favorite themes wore : “The 
 Love of God in Christ,” as a motive to repentance ; and “A Higher Conse- 
 cration to Christ,” as the privilege of the believer. Some of the largest 
 churches in our land invited him to their pulpits, and would gladly have call- 
 ed him as their pastor at double the salary he here received. Not more than 
 four weeks before his death his name was mentioned in connection with a 
 wealthy church. After hearing of it he remarked to his wife that there was 
 no use in any church trying to get him away from the University. Here he 
 felt was his work, and here was his heart. 
 
 In the spring of 1879 he received from the College of New Jersey the 
 honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. It was a source of gratification that 
 his own Alma Mater, never lavish of her gifts, had thus remembered him. 
 The home life of Dr. Bower was so connected with his work here and else- 
 where, that it should be noticed in passing. However tender, sympathetic, 
 wise in counsel and courteous he was to outsiders, these attractive qualities 
 received their fullest manifestation in his own home. A more devoted son, 
 brother, husband and father could not be found. How beautiful an exempli- 
 fication of a Christian home did his present. The aged mother, verging on a 
 century of life, nursed with the utmost delicacy and thoughtfulness of at- 
 tention ; the sister, wife and daughter not only reciprocating his affection, 
 but aiding him in every possible way in his work. That home was one en- 
 deared to you, the students of this University, by the many acts of attention 
 you received from its inmates in times of sickness, and of aid in time of want ; 
 and with your grateful remembrance of Dr. Bower will always be entwined 
 
9 
 
 that of his wife, sister and daugliter. In the midst of his work in this Idii- 
 versity, and in the zenitli of his usefulness, Dr. Bower was attacked With 
 severe illness which in a few days terminated his life. He died on the 7th of 
 April, 1883, in the 57th year of his age, having completed twenty nine years 
 of active work. The first being spent as a Teacher, the following 12 years as 
 Pastor, and the concluding 16 as Professor. 
 
 As regards the distinguishing traits of Dr. Bower’s character, I should 
 place first his firm, unfaltering faith. This was the underlying spring of all 
 his actions. He carried this faith into every department of his life work, 
 believing that every event was shaped and moulded by a Hand which never 
 erred. His belief in the power of prayer was as trustful as a child’s. His 
 success in his work here was largely owing to this element in his character. 
 When pressed for money for certain students he would not merely apply to 
 man, but earnestly lay the case before God; and his faith anticipated the 
 answer. He would often at such times say, “It will be all right, wait ’till the 
 mail comes in.” “Do you know of any money coming?” would be asked; 
 “no, but I expect it.” When a letter was handed him he would exclaitn — 
 “that has a check in it !” “From whom?” “I don’t know,” he would say; 
 but when according to his firm expectation the check was there, he would 
 
 simply say, “didn’t 1 tell you so? Now can stay.” Another element in 
 
 his character was purity. He was remarkably pure in his motives; hence the 
 utter lack of selfishness, hence that peculiar care for the interests of his 
 friends, which made every one appreciate his friendship. He was pure in his 
 affections and thoughts, literally obeying the divine injunction, “whatsoever 
 things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely — think on these things.” 
 Hence his clear conception of truth. For it is a fact, that the purity of the 
 soul gauges the clearness of the understanding. Hence, also, the heighth of 
 his consecration, for he had “an eye single to the glory of God.” Hence the 
 true greatness of the man, for he reflected the very central gloiy of the divine 
 image. In this age, when the greed of wealth, the lust of jjower, the strife 
 for self-aggrandizement makes us sceptical as to the motives of so called phi- 
 lanthrophists, it is refreshing to find a character like that of Dr. Bower, which 
 can submit to the crucial tests of Christianity, as applied to both the motive 
 and the act, the intention and the deed, yea, to the very words of the mouth 
 and meditations of the heart, and yet come out stamped with this mark- 
 pure. Associated with this element in his character was another— Refine- 
 ment. He was the model of a Christian gentleman. His tastes, manners, 
 and conversation fitted him for association with the truely great. I should 
 place as the crowning trait of his character— disinterested affection Dr. 
 Bower possessed a large heart, and it would require a long catalogue to 
 contain the names of his sincere friends. Besides his home relations and 
 those to the students of this University (of wdiich I have already spoken), 
 was his deep affection for his fellow Professors and brethren in the ministry, 
 among all w^hom he himself was “a brother beloved” There was not a 
 member of one of the families of the Professors but he felt a personal interest 
 in, and if in any way he could add to their hj^ppiness, he was always at their 
 command. Thus was beautifully blended in his character, “Faith, Hope, 
 Charity, but the greater of these” was his “Charity.” 
 
 In thus enumerating the varied facts in Dr. Bower’s history, I am con- 
 scious of having departed from a strict unity in the handling of the theme, 
 but have adopted this method with the hope that by the letting on these 
 varied sidelights the character of the man would come out in bolder relief. 
 
10 
 
 There is liowever a focus to which all these different rays converge, and 
 which will form the concluding part of this discourse, namely— the character 
 of the work in which he was engaged. That work was pre-eminently the 
 elevation of his race His race, 1 say, because if we profess to believe in the 
 Bible, we ought to believe in “the unity of the race.” The time had come, in 
 the Providence of God, when a large part of the human race had been lifted 
 from slavery to freedom 'i'he first step in that elevation required a new set 
 of workers, the last, perha))s, man would have anticipated, and yet the result 
 proved the very ones needed for the issue. For if a generation of warriors had not 
 sprung up this country would have still presented the contradiction of a nom- 
 inally free Bepublic, yet really a house of bondage. The next step in the 
 elevation of that race required leaders — men who should adminster the affairs 
 of the Republic in harmony with the principles of true freedom; God raised 
 them up— such men as Lincoln in the Presidential chair, Sumner in the 
 Senate and Stevens in the House of Representatives, and Chase in the 
 Supreme Com t of the U. S. 
 
 But the time must come when this portion of the race must produce its 
 own leaders— men like Moses and Aaron, springing from the very portion of 
 the race which needed to be led out of their moral and intellectual Egypt to 
 their promised Canaan. There was a gap here, in the providence of God, to 
 fill, and there was only one class of men that could fill that gap, namely — 
 educators. The time is not far distant when humanity will appreciate the 
 fact that side by side with the names of Lincoln, Sumner, Stevens and other 
 such, must be written the names of the educators of this portion of our race. 
 Yea, in one phase of the subject, the educator is‘the greater benefactor of the 
 two; for great as was the work of Warrior, President, Statesman, their work 
 in freedom’s cause would have proved fruitless, if the shackles had been 
 taken off the body and yet left on the mind. Yea, we can go a step further 
 and assert that the greatest, truest educators of this portion of our race, are 
 these Christian men who combine the instruction of its mental with the 
 training of its moral powers. For, even if the body is freed from fetters and 
 the mind from ignorance, yet if the heart is left in the bondage of sin, a man 
 might in name be a free American,yet,in fact, a slave of Satan. For has not, 
 he “who needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was 
 in man,” has He not said— “he that coinmitteth sin, is the servant of sin; 
 but if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” 
 
 This was the view that Dr. Bower took of the necessities of the work for 
 this portion of the race. He thought they needed above all else an intelligent 
 and consecrated ministry ; and to help toward this he devoted his life. A 
 high collegiate training he regarded as accessory and helpful to this ; and 
 therefore he advocated a thorough course in Greek and Latin, in Mathemat- 
 ics and Natural Science. To that course he would welcome as many, who 
 were not expecting to be ministers, as could avail themselves of it ; in the 
 conviction that ultimately the leaders of the freedmen would be of themselves, 
 and that their competency would be increased by bearing company with the 
 scholars of the world. In adapting this course to the freedmen he united 
 with the authorities of this University in arranging that they should have the 
 benefit of this training, without waiting until they could pay for it, or until 
 preparatory schools among them should bring it within their reach. He aim- 
 ed at thoroughness rather than quantity ; a patient method rather than im- 
 mediate results. The benefits of this course have been proved by the efficiency 
 of the men who have gone forth from this University during the last sixteen 
 
11 
 
 years ; men advanced in scholarship, in ability, to communicate in their con- 
 servatism of all that is good, and in power to apply their higher knowledge to 
 the condition of the ignorant and degraded. From this high standard it is to 
 be hoped that this University will never retrograde, but that it may continue 
 each year to press higher and higher. 
 
 Here then we find the focus in which all these lights on the character of 
 Dr. Bower concentrated, and bring it out so high that it seems bathed with 
 the very glory of Heaven. A pure, holy man, well cultured, well balanced in 
 judgment, far-seeing in his expectations, yet conservative in his hopes, well 
 equipped for life ; dedicating that life to this great service, the education of 
 both heart and mind of this portion of his race. Doing it so well that among 
 those that were his pupils are to-day men doing great deeds for humanity ; 
 exerting his influence so widely that in the Northern and Southern, the East- 
 ern and Western parts of this land, in Africa and the isles of the sea, are the 
 workers who have been trained partly by himself ; doing it so self-sacrificing- 
 ly that he laid his means, his health, and perhaps his very life on the altar. 
 It has been said of John Wesley that while at his death he was reckoned 
 among the poorest of men in pocket, yet he really left one of the greatest 
 legacies ever bequeathed, namely the Methodist Church. It may be said of 
 Edwin R. Bower that while during life he spent his whole salary in main- 
 taining his work for Christ and his race, yet he left one of the greatest lega- 
 cies ever bequeathed by man— his share in the building up of Lincoln Uni- 
 versity. A few weeks ago I read in one of our religious newspapers, the ac- 
 count of the sailing to Africa, as a missionary, of a young man, one of ten 
 who came to this country to be educated in this University. Constantly also 
 in the South I hear of men, the graduates of Lincoln, who are taking high 
 positions as preachers, physicians, teachers, lawyers and leaders. These are 
 the monuments on which are inscribed in letters of unfading light, the record 
 of the character and life work of Dr. Bower ; and as through the character 
 and life work of his students his own is amplified and perpetuated, his influ- 
 ence will be felt and his memory cherished in America and Africa. 
 
 Young men of Lincoln, do you want to raise a monument to his memory 
 that shall outlast all time ? Then emulate his example and improve his coun- 
 sels. Remember that the teacher lives over again in the taught. The better 
 you live, the nobler you act, the more you do for God and man, the more hon- 
 or do you reflect on his memory. Remember that the source of his greatness 
 was the grace of God ; the secret of his success, Christian principle. If you 
 wish to be fitted for the noble work which is now waiting for you to perform, 
 yea for the wide fields of usefulness that are loudly calling for yon to fill, 
 seek your first preparation at the foot of that cross at which he knelt in 
 youth ; where flows the blood which can alone cleanse from sin, and the 
 Spirit which can alone truly enlighten the mind ; thus consecrated to Christ 
 and baptized from on high, go forth to do a work for humanity, for its 
 freedom, its elevation, its enlightenment, which will like his, cause joy 
 amid the ransomed from earth and the very angels of God in Heaven. 
 
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