Second Visit to his Native Land. - The Freedom of the City of London. - The Queen's Letter. - The Queen's Portrait. — The Peabody Statue . Memorial Church at Georgetown. -Mr. Peabody's Love for his Mother. Hymn for the Dedication, by John G. Whittier. - Gifts to his Family and Westminster Abbey.-Transportation of the Remains to America. - Descrip- tion of the Ship "Monarch."-Poem suggested by the Funeral Procession Newman Hall on George Peabody. - Tributes from Various Sources. - Poetic Tribute from "The London Evening Standard." - The Pulpit's Voice in INTRODUCTION. O' F the myriads of human beings who flit across the stage of life, but few, comparatively, ever become really eminent; but few ever thrust themselves, so to speak, unwittingly, it may be, upon the popular observation, or organize and achieve a marked success. But few are willing to burst the shackles of sensuous thraldom, and gird on the whole panoply of a true and elevated manhood, and enter the arena of life's conflict, yielding to the nobler impulses of the higher nature, the intellectual and moral, necessitating the complete subserviency of the lower and mere animal nature. But few raise high the standard of attainment, basing the purposes of life upon clear and vivid ideas and potent aspirations, and then concentrate the developed and expanding energies of the soul with pertinacious and indomitable courage. These few stand out in bold relief, like the majestic oak on the hill-top, or like some "bright, particular star," suddenly emerging from the horizon, moving upward in majesty, full-orbed and radiant, increasing in size and brilliancy, and sending its beams of light to the remotest regions. Some of these remind us of the meteor as it dashes across the heavens, blazing with its own native fires; sometimes seemingly erratic in its course, yet true to its nature, and controlled by fixed and immutable laws, startling and awing the observer, or challenging respect and admiration. Such organize and decree success and distinction in obedience to the laws of mind, not only by unremitting effort and toil even, but by a wise adjustment of means to ends, having regard to principles as definite and undeviating in their applications as those which guide the chemist in the laboratory, the physician at the bedside, and the surgeon in the operating-hall. Their success is not the result of accident, "luck," unusual mental endowments, aid of friends, but rather the legitimate and necessary sequence of industry, perseverance, energy, clearness of perception, oneness of purpose, fixedness of effort, and strength of will. If the circumstances and surroundings are not favorable, no energies are squandered in useless hesitancy or unmanly murmurings, but are modified, and, if possible, made subservient to the great purposes of life, or may be utterly ignored ; |