Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
232 LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
and the profound respect of a grateful humanity
for whom your great head gave his life and best
efforts.
Rev. Hugh T Stevenson, pastor of the Baptist
Church of Anacostia, in his tribute to the memory
of Mr. Douglass, spoke of the high character
-and transcendent ability of the deceased. It
was his firm belief that when prejudice had died
away the future historian would write of him as
the greatest man of his time.
Rev. Francis J. Grimke, who could not be
present on account of the death of his mother,
in a letter, which was read by Professor George
W Cook, paid a loving tribute to the memory of
his departed friend.
Rev. J. E. Rankin, D.D., LL.D., President
of Howard University, in paying his noble tribute
to the memory of the honored dead, eloquently
said: —
" He sent a man before them; he was sold for a servant;
his feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron:
until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the
Lord tried him."—Psalms cv. 17-19.
There is but one parallel to the life of Frederick
Douglass, and this is found in the Bible; the
Bible, which surpasses all other literature.
There is no narrative which in natural pathos
and eloquence so reminds me of the history of
the favorite son of Jacob as the story of