the grief-stricken heart he bore, when his beloved Mother in the gospel left him, the brave giving of his strength to the ever-crowding demands of the time, in the effort to fill in all the vacant places, the patient, forgiving spirit when reviled and persecuted, smitten and deserted by those to whom he had given love and prayer and gentle teaching,-all, and more than can be told in words of earthly speech, live unforgotten in the hearts of those who honored and loved him.

One thing only he could not do,-care for, spare himself. With aching hearts his people saw the sacrifice go on and were powerless to hinder or prevent. He met the last call as he wished,-"Not to be sick, but to work right up to the last moment, then,-Go!" Thus, on that bright February day, when all in the home were busy, unseeing and unheeding, he heard the angels call him, dropped the mortal and was gone.

"HE THAT LOSETH HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT." Matt. 10:39.

While many are bringing heartfelt tributes to the memory of one so richly worthy, I would touch but a few points in a life about which volumes might be written. All readers of Social Science are aware of the argument against communistic life, on the ground that competition, with love of private property and family, are essential to the highest exertion and fullest development of the faculties.

Those who thus plead can have no conception of the exquisite delight in service and wonderful power of endurance where self is forgotten and all endeavor is stimulated by holy ideals and the love of kindred hearts. Of this, the life of Elder Daniel Offord was a remarkable demonstration.

For the mere accumulation of money or the support of

HE MADE OF EVERY DUTY AN ACT OF WORSHIP. 163

private family, did ever any man work as Elder Daniel worked with heart and brain and hand, and, with such limited opportunities, develop faculties so diversified for service of such high order?

Not a turn can be made over our extensive premises but are found comforts and substantial improvements attesting to his skill and loving devotion. His high official position for so many years, with power to direct and apportion the work of others, has never deterred him from personal toil in any laborious service. He never shirked the muddy ditch or sooty flue, and whatever task was disagreeable or hard for another, that was the one he chose for himself. No work was menial, for his intelligence, self-sacrifice and consecration made of every duty an act of worship.

During the fifty years in which our principal buildings have been heated by steam, especially in severe weather his nights were shortened, that in earliest calls to duty, our rooms should always be comfortable. Did he know of any one being on duty watching over the sick? In the still hours of the night, careful that none should be disturbed, fires were renewed, water heated, or any thoughtful kindness rendered. When falling mercury warned of danger to water-pipes or stores of provisions, often the whole night was passed in making fires here and there, or otherwise protecting from injury. In furious storms, when dams were in danger, or overflowing streams threatened floods, he found his way to reservoir gates or, heaving aside the massing débris, turned the swift waters in a safe course; in continual watch in all the liabilities of danger to the premises, he was verily a guardian angel of great might.

No self-indulging dissipations were ever permitted. Over every passion of mind and body, he held the most rigid control. The baptism of which Jesus spake is as the fire of the alchemist turning baser metals into gold.

The strongest passions and forces of nature are thus utilized on the plane of higher, spiritual activities. In our Brother, these baptisms were often renewed, through deep labor of soul. In the meager way in which he provided for himself and the energy and thoroughness in which he planned and wrought for the future, he lived by that injunction of our Founder, which he often quoted: “Do your work as though you expected to live a thousand years and as though you were to die to-morrow."

He was severely critical relative to his own shortcomings, but noble, frank and humble in acknowledgment had he consciously or unconsciously wronged or grieved another. Magnanimous and forgiving, never retaliating or permitting himself to hold hard feelings, though sensitive and often deeply wounded.

Realizing the Divine Oneness, that all were the children of One Parentage, with the same human needs, his sympathies and efforts were not confined to home interests. If he failed in reasonable care for himself, it was because, with his intensely energetic temperament, his keen eye for improvements and his unselfish nature, he saw so much to be done, and he counted not his life dear except for such service as would bring more of heaven to earth.

He walked in the truth as upon a sea of glass. His faith was as a diamond's glow, his purity as a stainless robe, his religion, self-renunciation. He grandly gave his life and has found the life eternal.

ELDRESS M. CATHERINE ALLEN,
Mount Lebanon, N. Y.

I went to Mount Lebanon, the first time, out of curiosity: I went afterward, again and again, out of love for its inmates. Chief of them all were Eldress Anna White, whose pure, luminous soul shone out through every look and action; and Elder Daniel Offord, apostle of accuracy and caretaking.

WILL CARLETON.