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Few men have been more deservedly prominent and popular in the work and history of the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church than Dr. Griffin. He was well educated and endowed with a clear and logical brain, possessed broad sympathies and positive convictions and he was perforce of his mental and moral organization a man of action as well as ideas, early attaining prominence as a leader among his brethren.
Three times he was placed in charge of districts and four times elected to represent his conference in the General Conference. Though retired from the active work of the ministry several years ago, he has always kept in touch with the needs of the world and the work of the church, and no worthy object ever appealed to him in vain when it was in his power to grant the desired assistance.
To the cause of education he has always been a ardent friend and liberal supporter. Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., credits him with the endowment of its "Chair of Philosophy" and Syracuse University with having endowed its professorship of "History and Political Science."
Cazenovia Seminary, where Mrs. Griffin had been both pupil and preceptress, was made the recipient of $25,000, to endow the chair once occupied by her and to perpetuate the memory of the place where she had passed not a few of the sunniest days of her life. Generous contributions have been made to other educational institutions.
But history will undoubtedly show that at Round Lake he has accomplished the crowning work of his life.
In 1886 he was elected president of the association, and most worthily has he filled the position for more than a decade and most generously has he contributed to the development of its growing educational work. Here he has had ample field for his versatile genius, broad sympathies and indomitable perseverance. Up as by magic have sprung a summer school with its varied departments of music, art, archaeology, oratory, modern and ancient languages, theology, and a popular assembly of wide range in up to date subjects.
Here, also, has been established a flourishing academy and an exceptionally fine museum of art and archaeology.
Though eighty years have rolled past him, time has dealt most kindly with his vigorous physique and left little impression save in his whitened locks. Living royally in years and deeds and memories, he is yet planning larger things in the interests of his beloved Round Lake.
