Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

.
Continued
morning'."
Prof. John Ramsey
.
Niagara."
.
from page 199
The story was spread on the front pages of
newspapers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It was
in 1892. Professor Ramsey was a delegate to the Pan
Presbyterian Conference held in Toronto, Canada.
He visited Niagara Falls to attend the opening of the
first suspension bridge, in company with his hostess,
Mrs. Grimason and her two daughters. While cross
ing the bridge on foot they stepped from the crowded
footpath to the main thorofare. As Mrs. Grimason
attempted to regain the footpath she stumbled and
catching her toe on the curb was catapulted through
the guard rail and under the bridge where her cloth
ing became entangled in the girders. There she hung
more than a hundred feet above the rocks and roar
ing waters of the gorge below.
Without a moment's hesitation he took off his
coat, crossed the railing and made his way down
sixty feet of struts and girders to the last angle
where the woman lay. Within a short time a rope was
let down from above. Clinging with one arm around
the slippery beam he fastened the rope around the
woman's body and she was drawn up to the rail and
to safety. Then he himself made the difficult ascent
to the bridge without assistance. Is it any wonder
that he was called "The Hero of Niagara" ! One false
move, one slip of the foot and he would have been
dashed to pieces on the rocks far below. He did this
for a friend. True, he received a medal from the Royal
Humane Society of Canada and the plaudits of many
countries. But there was no thought of such things in
his mind when he went over the rail of the bridge to
help a human being in distress. This incident in the
life of Professor Ramsey is indicative of the qualities
of soul which he possessed.
When he was chosen to fill the Chair of Biblical
Literature in the Irish Seminary in 1922 I had been
for six years in the corresponding department of our
own Seminary. He wrote me at that time about text
books and courses in our Seminary. Thus began a
correspondence that continued until a very short
time before his death. His letters were a joy to me. I
feel quite certain that his family will not criticize
me if I record here a letter in answer to one I had
written him upon receiving the news of the passing
of Mrs. Ramsey. It is the last letter he wrote to me.
I had the honor of being a guest in his home in
Ballymoney in 1928. His was a good home with the
finest yard and gardens. What impressed me most,
however, was the spirit of love and Christian dignity
that pervaded the home and motivated every act.
Mrs. Ramsey was a gracious hostess. The memory
of that day in such a home has never faded. The
memory of that kind of home life has endured in the
sons and daughters and makes them what they are
today.
Professor Ramsey's last letter to me was re
ceived on April 8, 1954.
Portstewart,
Co. Derry.
Professor R. J. G. McKnight,
My dear trusted, kind Brother:
You have come through deep waters and can
sympathize with one who has followed. Your
thoughts and words are refreshing to a heart but re
warmest thanks.
cently stricken. Please receive my
My dear wife was not unwilling to die. She went
202
away into sleep after a period of weariness during
which she often wished that we might go together.
Among her later sayings were:
" 'Life'
! We have been long together; Through
cloudy and through sunny weather. 'Tis hard
to part when friends are dear. Perhaps 'twill
cost a sigh, a tear. Then steal away: give little
night'
warning. Say not 'Good but in a better
clime, bid me 'Good
You, too, will be there to bid me and yours
"Good Morning."
At present I can write no more. Thank you
again.
Yours ever,
J. Ramsey
And thus it was. Eight months and three weeks
morning"
later they said "Good on that distant shore.
What blessed memories remain in the hearts of
those who knew and loved him most. An athlete, a
scholar, a gentleman, a wise counselor, in the delib
erations of Synod, a loving father, a constant hus
band, a loyal soldier in the army of the Lord, and
faithful even unto death. What a heritage he has left
us!
Aptly did the Moderator of Synod base his ad
dress at Professor Ramsey's funeral on II Samuel 3 :
38"Know ye not that there is a prince and a great
man fallen this day in Israel"
In the turbulent years during which he served
the church of his choice, the storms of Destructive
Criticism, Liberalism, and Humanism were sweeping
across the Western World. Within the circle of his
influence and with all his strength, he stood firmly
against the deadly sand-storms of the so-called Lib
eralism. He became for our Covenanter Cause as
"the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."
Against his shoulders the desiccating sands of the
desert fell back to windward and to leeward the Rose
of Sharon still blossoms.
R. J. G. M.
Current Events .... from page 195
Democrats in the House passed an income-tax reduction of
$20 per person, attached to the bill for extending excise and
corporation taxes. They made no provision for making up
the lost revenue. Republicans accused them of "financial ir
responsibility,"
while the Democrats charged that the Re
publicans favored the rich. The real motive for the cut was
political
the Democrats expect the Republicans to reduce
taxes for next year's Presidential campaign, and decided to
beat them to it. The Senate, however rejected all proposals
for income-tax cuts and accepted the Administration pro
gram for the continuation of present taxes. Five Southern
Democratic Senators joined the Republicans on this issue.
INDONESIA MAKES PLANS
The Republic of Indonesia is working on a five-year
plan for economic development, which it hopes to put into
effect beginning next year. Indonesia, formerly the Dutch
East Indies, has great natural resources which must be ex
ploited to feed her people
the island of Java is one of the
most densely populated areas in the world. About 25 per
cent of the budget will be designated for transportation and
communication, 25 per cent for industry and mining,
and an
other fourth for irrigation. The remainder will be put into
other improvements in agriculture, health, and education.
One of the top priority projects is a multimillion dollar hy
droelectric project to industrialize north central Sumatra,
which is rich in minerals.
COVENANTER WITNESS