Memorial Service for Prof. H. R. Salisbury

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1916

Memorial Service for Prof. H. R. Salisbury

WE have been forced to believe that Prof. H. R. Salisbury was among those who went down with the sinking of the steamship “Persia” in the Mediterranean, Dec. 30, 1915. The evidence seemed conclusive when on Jan. 21, 1916, there was received from Elder J. S. James, the vice president of the India Union Mission, the following cable: “Survivors interviewed; evidence conclusive; Salisbury lost.” The following day, Sabbath, January 22, a memorial service was held in the Takoma Park church, which was attended by a large gathering of our people, including the students of the Washington Missionary College. The following order of service was conducted:—

Congregational hymn, “Rock of Ages,” “Christ in Song,” No. 654 Introductory Remarks........I. H. Evans Scripture Reading........F. M. Wilcox Prayer....................C. Sorenson Solo, “Our Final Rest”........F. Griggs Biographical Sketch........W. A. Spicer Brief Personal Tributes (3 to 5 minutes)     General........I. H. Evans     General........W. T. Knox     Association in Africa, G. B. Thompson     Association in England....M. E. Olsen     Association in Educational Work     .........................F. Griggs     Association in School Days....     .........................W. E. Howell Association in Foreign Mission Seminary........M. E. Kern Association in India....J. L. Shaw Male Quartet, “Asleep in Jesus” Benediction................E. R. Palmer

Elder I. H. Evans had general charge of the service. Prof. C. Hamer arranged for the music.

We regret that space will not permit a report of the heartfelt remarks which were made by these workers on this occasion. Each spoke of the high esteem in which he had held Brother Salisbury, the great loss which had come to our church work through this untimely death, and his deep sympathy with Sister Salisbury in her terrible affliction. The following sketch of Brother Salisbury’s life, given by Elder W. A. Spicer, will be read with special interest:—

Homer Russell Salisbury was born on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1870, in Battle Creek, Mich. He was of Seventh-day Adventist parentage, his father, Burleigh Salisbury, and his mother, Nettie McDearmon Salisbury, being among the early members of our church in Battle Creek. In childhood he lost his mother. He grew into youth in Colorado, where he lived for some years with relatives. He attended the public schools of Boulder, Colo., completing there the high school course. In 1888, at the age of eighteen, he entered Battle Creek College, where he was a student until 1892.

From these college days he dated his conversion, being baptized in 1890. His first work in the cause that he loved was as a stenographer, secretary to Prof. W. W. Prescott, president of the college.

In 1893, while secretary to the manager of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, he accepted a call to South Africa, where for three years he taught in the Claremont Union College, Cape Town. The memory of his service there is still lovingly cherished by many, as I learned during a recent visit to South Africa. Former students, now bearing burdens in our work, charged me to give him their greetings when we should meet at the autumn council.

He left Cape Town in 1896, and spent a year in London, in the study of Hebrew. From 1897 to 1901, he was teacher of Hebrew and church history in Battle Creek College.

It was during this time, in 1898, that Professor Salisbury was united in marriage with Lenna E. Whitney. Miss Whitney came of a missionary family, her father, Elder B. L. Whitney, having died in Basel, Switzerland. He was one of the pioneer workers in our cause in Europe.

In 1901, the year of the removal of the work of Battle Creek College to Berrien Springs, Professor Salisbury responded to the call of the General Conference to establish a training school for workers in England. That year the Duncombe Hall Training College was opened in North London. For five years our brother and his wife were engaged in this work in Great Britain. His loss will be as keenly mourned in that country as in America or India. In 1904 Brother Salisbury was ordained to the gospel ministry, and the following year, in addition to his school work, was president of the South England Conference.

In 1907 he was proceeding to southeastern Europe to take the superintendency of the Levant Union Mission. On the way he attended the biennial council of the General Conference Committee, at Gland, Switzerland. At this council it was decided to call him to Washington to act as principal of the Foreign Mission Seminary.

He continued with the Seminary until 1910, when he was called to the secretaryship of the Educational Department of the General Conference. In 1913 the ever-sounding Macedonian call from the mission fields came with direct appeal to him again. India was left without a superintendent. At the invitation of the General Conference, Professor and Mrs. Salisbury accepted the call to the great India Mission field, sailing in July, 1913.

Brother Salisbury continued his efficient and arduous labors as president of the India Union Mission until his death. Coming to attend the autumn council of the General Conference Committee, in California, in November last, he was with us but a few days ago, joyful in his work, bringing a cheering report of progress in India and Burma, and taking part in the organization of the Asiatic Division Conference, of which the India Mission became a member. He was hastening back to his field when his life work was

suddenly cut short in the sinking of the ship “Persia,” on Dec. 30, 1915, not far from the Egyptian coast.

He is the fourth of our missionary army, we believe, to find burial at sea; and now the Mediterranean is marked along with the Atlantic and Pacific and Indian Oceans as holding the dust of our beloved and honored missionary dead against the great day when land and sea will be called to yield up again those who now sleep in Jesus.

Endeared to the hearts of his associates everywhere, Brother Salisbury’s death brings a very personal grief to friends in all the four continents of his service. Sister Lenna Salisbury, his wife and close comrade in teaching and study and missionary work, is left bereaved in India, while a world-wide circle of friends are praying God to sustain and comfort her by his infinite grace.

Our brother was gifted by nature and by training, and all his gifts had been dedicated to the cause of God. Many of his former students, to be found in missionary service in all parts of the world, will feel that his death, in the midst of the activities of his best years, is a call to gird themselves for yet more earnest work for the Master, for whose service he has helped to train them. His earnest devotion to the cause of truth, the Christian and gentle manliness of his life and the winning personality of it, touched by the winning grace of Christ, will ever be with us as a sweet memory and an inspiration to service. Our brother and fellow laborer, Homer R. Salisbury, rests from his labors, but his works will follow him.