Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/173

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CHARLES LYMAN
133

mental machinery. And for the success of this important reform, very great credit belongs to Mr. Lyman.

He has compiled "The Laws Relating to Loans, Currency and Coinage from the Organization of the Government to the Year 1878," published by the Treasury department; reports of the Civil Service Commission; and many papers connected with administrative government, as public documents. He belongs to the Loyal Legion; the Sons of the American Revolution; the Army and Navy club of Connecticut; the Evangelical Alliance; the Washington City Bible Society, etc. He is a member of the Republican party. He names as the books of most interest and value to him, the Bible, Shakespeare, 'Webster's Spelling Book, Blackstone's and Kent's Commentaries, English and American History, with general literature and poetry. The first decisive impulse to strive for excellence came from a "good woman, his school teacher in early boyhood." "I shall never cease to be thankful for the helpful influence that came to me from the Reverend Charles B. Boynton, D.D., who was for many years my pastor," he says. "The best part of my education has come from private study, from the doing of important tasks thrust upon me without special preparation; and from contact with men and affairs."

Mr. Lyman has been an elder in the Presbyterian church for nearly thirty years, and has served as a commissioner in four general assemblies. To young Americans he says: "A man should love his God, his country and his fellows; love and practise truth, honesty and virtue." He was married to Amelia Brown Campbell in 1865. They have two children living in 1905.