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STATEMENT AND OBITUARY
The close of the preceding chapter brings the Memoirs of W. W. Blair to the spring of 1877. He kept a faithful account of all of his travels and work from that time up to the time of his death, and the writer of this chapter has long had it in mind to finish this work that he had begun. However, after carefully reading the diaries that lie kept I am compelled to conclude that, if attempted, the work would be unsatisfactory to the readers as well as myself, and so it is omitted.
These memoirs are published that his early experiences as well as the experiences of some others with whom he was closely associated in the early days of the Reorganization may be preserved to the church. While his death was a heavy blow to his family, there is comfort in. the thought that lie died at the post of duty, busily engaged in the Master's cause, The following extract from the obituary notice, written by Elder Mark 11. Forscutt, appeared in the Herald of April 29, 1906.
"The sudden stroke by which Father Time laid one of Israel's nobles low, and removed one half of the late presiding quorum of the church militant to the realms of paradise, is felt and mourned deeply wherever the knowledge of its great loss has gone. The one of whom we thus write was American by birth, but Scotch by descent, and was named by his
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parents William Wallace, a name that to some who are familiar with the history of that noble Scotchman, his faithfulness to principle, and his integrity to his chief, will seem almost prophetic as they recall President Blair's devotion to principle and his personal integrity to the prophet of Israel whose counselor divine wisdom had chosen him to be.
"William Wallace Blair was born at Holly, in Oneida County, in the state of New York, on October 11, 1828, and died April 18, 1896. He had therefore lived in the flesh 67 years, 6 months, and 7 days, filling a little less than the proverbial threescore and ten of earthly pilgrimage; but as his life was not one of those which are measured by years so much as by deeds, we feel assured that he filled his mission ere he took his departure, and has gone to his reward.
"Our departed brother, notwithstanding the position to which he attained in the Church of Christ, charged himself with being, at one time, quite skeptical on religious questions. His skepticism., however, was not an innate quality of the man. He loved truth and admired consistency in doctrine. He believed that if the Bible was to be accepted as containing the word of God, then all so-called Christian dogmas, as well as the ethics and personnel of Christians. should be weighed and measured by it. Unsatisfied with what he heard, disappointed in what he saw, lie lost faith in professing Christians, and in Christian professions. But when heheard 'the eleventh-hour message' delivered by William Smith, a brother of the Palmyra Seer,
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he accepted it in good faith, and adhered to it thenceforth to the end. It was to him the Good Shepherd's voice. This was in 1851. Like others under William Smith's leadership, he looked forward to and hoped for the restoration of the church to the order and system of government it was under before the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and from which he believed there had been serious apostasy. In consequence of this hope He took an active interest in the organization known as the Reorganized Church, and became identified with it on April 7, 1857. This was during a conference held at Blanchardville, Wisconsin. He was there ordained a high priest; this on the day following his admission to church fellowship. On October 7, 1858, he was ordained an apostle.
"As an apostle and a traveling minister lie was conscientiously and almost continuously employed. As such he was, perhaps, the most widely known minister of the church in America. Personally be had many friends, and by his kindness of heart and suavity of manner he made friends for the cause wherever he went, as well as for himself and by implication, for his compeers, and for every worthy representative of the cause he so well loved and so worthily adorned.
"As a counselor, an official character the divine Leader alone can determine his value in. little can be said by man. His reverent and pacificatory disposition would of necessity prevent him from attempting to lead where he should but counsel and guide, equally as his manly and courageous qualities would
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preserve him from sycophancy, prevent him from fawning, and deter him from offering the adulations which would mark the policy of him who would rather seek for meeds of praise from his chief than the establishment of what in his judgment would involve honor and truth. To stand by one holding the important position of President of the Church in all the world, to drink sufficiently deep draughts of inspiration to sufficiently grasp every new truth revealed, to be competent to teach such truth, to defend it against opposition, and its revelator against the suggestions of doubt, and the objections of unbelief, requires spirituality, judgment, firmness, and courage such as few men possess; but President Blair possessed all these qualities in an eminent degree. The church has lost an able and loving representative; but none will feel the loss more keenly than the one of his quorum who is left to mourn alone. We all deplore our loss; but confident that lie who has taken our brother does all things well, we meekly bow and pray for grace to say from the deepest depths of the heart's fountain, 'Thy will, 0 God, be done.' Israel has thousands of good men; but had only one William W. Blair."
We thus close this volume, and humbly pray that
it may be the means in God's hands of encouraging
and building up the faith of all who may read its
pages. FREDERICK B. BLAIR.
LAMONI, Iowa, July 7, 1908.
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