Raymond Cottrell
(1912-2003)
 

The Legacy of a Rose

By Dr. C. Norman Farley

Opening remarks at the memorial service for Dr. Raymond Cottrell held at the Yucaipa Seventh-day Adventist Church, in February 2003.

On behalf of the church and members of the Cottrell family, I take this opportunity to welcome guests, friends, past students, members of the "Adventist Forum," theologians, administrators, church members, Sabbath School class members and the wide circle of seekers of truth who knew and loved Dr. Raymond Cottrell. Irrespective of whether you knew him as the editor of the SDA Bible Commentary, the associate editor of the Review and Herald, an administrator, educator, editor, lecturer, or an exegetical linguist, you loved him.

Several years ago, on one of my frequent trips to his home, he escorted me to his backyard. Scholarship was his vocation, but gardening was his avocation. His spacious yard was filled with a multitude of fruit trees such as peaches, oranges and persimmons, but the favorite segment of his yard was his rose garden. Methodically he escorted me to this fragrant spot where one by one and in exact order, to rehearse the names of all 27 of his roses. It was a masterful recitation, just what you might expect from a linguist turned botanist.

As I considered the garden and the recitation, it dawned on me, that to Ray Cottrell, the rose was not just a flower, it was, somehow an identity of his life and indeed of life itself.

Throughout time, "the queen of flowers" has become the flower of kings, queens and sweethearts. There are more than 30,000 varieties of roses.

Historically, roses have been used in extravagant ways. Cleopatra once received Mark Anthony in a room knee deep in rose petals. There are some 4,000 songs about roses. And, of course, just down the road is the annual "Rose Parade."

Roses, you see, are symbols of love, beauty, war and politics, and you’ve all heard of England’s "the war of the roses." Thus, the diversity associated with the rose is a fitting symbol of Dr. Raymond Cottrell. A man of peace and serenity, and yet, with pen in hand, a warrior for Biblical truth.

Scholars from different continents have loved and appreciated Dr. Ray Cottrell. Dr. Desmond Ford writes: "I have known him for approximately 50 years. I found him a man of great learning, great integrity and great kindness. I owe him much for the inspiration and encouragement his friendship gave me. Only in the coming years will the denomination fully realize what a treasure it possessed in this loyal son. Because he was even more loyal to his Savior, he sometimes ventured out in independent paths, which I believe will ultimately be fully vindicated."

A scholar from North America writes: "Ray Cottrell deeply treasured the fellowship of the Advent people and his beloved church, yet he sometimes found himself walking the lonely stretches of the path trodden by every truth seeker. As a human being, he seemed to share the hope found in the aspiration of the 17th century philosopher John Locke: ‘If I have anything to boast of, it is that I sincerely love and seek truth . . .’" [John Locke, 1632-1704].

An old man carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went. If he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If the gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch, and thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him. People observed that he often walked the road alone, but the old man went steadily on refueling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiling the hard places he found.

There are, of course, many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them, they need lubricating with the oil of gentleness, gladness, thoughtfulness and the fragrance of a rose. A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart; therefore, the legacy of the rose offers fragrance to all and tells the rest to Jesus.

Religious historian, Dr. William Smith states that "the Rose of Sharon," in Eastern tradition, is generally believed to be the sweet scented narcissus, but in Western thought, the Rose of Sharon is the Hibiscus syriacus which especially attracts hummingbirds because of its sweetness. "The Rose of Sharon" demonstrates an interesting phenomenon – it does not bloom until late spring causing many gardeners to believe that it has died; but, to their astonishment, it suddenly resurrects. Considering the legacy of "the Rose of Sharon" in 1922, Ida A. Guirey wrote the song "Jesus, Rose of Sharon."

Yes, Dr. Ray Cottrell loved roses. Their diversity and fragrance are a fitting symbol of his life, but our welcome, our hope, and our celebration of his life today is found in the love of Him who first loved Ray and us: Jesus, blessed Jesus, the Rose of Sharon, the resurrection and the life.