That which requires an apology should be left undone. Hence, the author
of this humble work offers no apology in sending it forth. If it finds
favor in the sight of those into whose hands it may fall, he will
appreciate it. If not, it is confidently assumed that the world will
pursue its wonted course, and no one will be the worse, if not the wiser.
No special literary excellence is claimed for it. It is a feeble, though
honest, attempt to preserve from the cold, merciless realm of oblivion a
life story that is well worth preserving—the life story of one for whom I
have come to have the profoundest reverence and affection. My only regret
is that it has not been done better.
Its chief value consists in the fact that it reveals the fundamental
elements of true character and true success. The life of “Uncle Jack”
Newgent is a conspicuous illustration of the fact that each individual is
the architect of his own fate or fortune, that the conditions of success
are internal and not external. This has been his life philosophy and has
been abundantly vindicated by his life record. His right to a proper
regard among his fellows rests upon his sterling qualities of manhood,
devotion to a great purpose, and personal achievements that have added to
the sum total of the world’s weal and worth. He belongs to a worthy line
of foundation builders whose work underlies the great superstructures of
both church and state of the present day.
Hence, two purposes have been kept in view in the writing of this
sketch—to acknowledge, if not to pay, a debt of honor and gratitude the
Church owes to a worthy man; and by giving special attention to those
personal qualities that make for success always and everywhere, and which
were so strikingly exemplified in his character, to preserve the lessons
of his life to the present and future generations in the hope that they
may thus contribute to the further progress of righteousness. If in this
unpretentious little volume these purposes are in any degree fulfilled, I
shall be abundantly satisfied.