Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/265

Rh of their own, were guided by his good judgment. One grandson, just entering on his first pastorate, another practising law, another lately married, each felt unwilling to make important decisions until sure of Grandfather’s approval; and to say “Grandfather thinks it best” was an argument not to be gainsaid. Through many temptations at school and at college, Grandfather’s strongly expressed convictions formed a barrier of safety to the young people. His strict integrity was a stronghold of power. One of his sons, in some business transaction involving the transfer of some considerable sum, expressed surprise at no security being required by the banker who was party to the transaction. “Ah!” said the banker, “if I could not give you ten thousand dollars on the simple word of your father, I would go out of business!” Well it is for us that there are men in our community whose steadfast uprightness is a lesson to a younger generation, Let us thank God for such names,—names which are synonymous with unflinching integrity. Happy all children and grandchildren who bear the heritage of such a name! In the parishes of his sons and son-in-law he had many warm friends. Long will the people remember, in a prayer meeting in Boonton, New Jersey, (the home of his eldest son,) the reading by Mr. Carter of the first chapter of John’s Gospel in a Scotch version. It was published in the “Sunday School Times” of February 4, 1888, and Mr. Carter had cut it out and carried it in his pocket-book. Never before had the chapter seemed so full of tender and marvellous sweetness as when our Scotch friend read it in the accents of his childhood. I never think of Nathanael but I seem to hear him called the “leal heartit Israelite wi’ nae guile in him,” and the verse, “But as mony as took him till them, to them gied he richt to be God’s bairns,” holds a sweeter meaning than ever before.

It was in this church that his voice was last heard in public. The occasion was one of a series of praise services, when pastor and choir united in giving expression to the