The sun., 1879-02-23
THE REV. DIR. NELSON'S FUNERAL.
The ImpressiVe Services Yesterday In sc
Paul's NJ. ~. Church.


The funeral Of the Rev. DIR. Reuben Mel
son. General Manager OF the Methodist Book
Concern. took place in St. Paurs NJ. +. Church.
Mt Twenty second street aud Fourth avenue.
yesterday afternoon ut o'clock Tho attend
ance was very nrge. A large number OF cer-
gymen SAT in "A body in the centre OF tho church.
Tho two galleries were filled by the employees.
male and female. OF tho Book Concern and Of
the Missionary Society. Mr.. Peter Cooper was
in the audience.
The afternoon was gloomy and the church
was partially lighted. The organ played n low
dirGo as tho funeral procession entered from
the street and passed up the south aisle to tho
chancel. Eight clergymen preceded the pail
bearers. who wero; John NJ. Phillips and
Fletcher. representing the Book Concern and
the book trade; the Rev. Drs. W ID. c. Crawford
and Fletcher. representing the Presiding Elders
Districts; A. V. Stout and Judge T. l. Fancher
representing ST. PaurS Church John B. Cornell
md tho Rev. DR.. Warren, representing the
Board OF Managers OF the Missionary Society
ing the New York mud the New York East Con-
ference; Gen. Clinton u. Fisk and John Elliott.
representing the Church at large and James l.
Taft and George l. Terry. representing the
Mtthodist Book COncern: The Rev DR. o. II.
Tiffany. the pesior OF ST.. Paul's. read the ritual
ms the procession moved slowly to the head of
the church. anu the caskct WIS placed upon
bier lust in front Of tho chancel. The casket
with silver trimming. There were no flowers.
, The cIrrgymen who had walked in front Of
tho pail bearers entered the chanccl and sat
upOn mo pulpit platform. Mrs. Nelson. the
wife. and Mr.. and Mrs. George =. Bennett of
NlikeSnnrre the son-in-law and the daughter
OF Dr. Nelson aut in one Of the front prws in
Company with other near relatives aud friends.
The hymn; Asleep in Jesus, was sung by the
choir, the Rev; Or. Cyrus ID. Foss. Prcsideri Of
tho Wesleyan University aI Middletown. said a
prayer; lessons from the Q.d and Now Tcsta-
ments We're read 10y the Rev. DR.. Hurst President
o the Drew seminary. and the Rev lr. Curry.
editor oi the National Repository: tho Rev. Dr.
which wns sung 10y the choir. and Bishop Harris
gave niographical sketch of Dr. Nelson
The Bishop said that DR.. Nelson was born in
vertcd AT the age Of 10. and Joined the Meth
odst Episcopal Church. NJ II he WIS licensed
preach the Gospel. lie devoted himself with
industry and large success TO ncademcal
S'nuios. In iSfO ne was nppointed 10y the Con
ference the third preacher In the Oisego cir
cut. the following year he was appoint 'd third
prehcher IN tho Mesiport circuit. and in 1872
ne was made iuil member of the Conference
ana principal OF an arademy. At that time his
Voice gave ont, and in the lists Of 1873 he was
put down rs "a superannuated preacher" He
recovered in great measure before the CLOSE nf
tho year. and in lSi4 the Conferences estAbis he'd
the wyoming seminary, near Wilkrshnrre, and
appointed him principal. He remained in that
ppsitnh twenty-eight years, until. in 1872 he
Was elected General Manager of the Book Con-
cerili hs successor 10 the Rrv. DIR. Carlton, who
had held the position for twenty years. With
rare devotion, The l,ishop said Dr. Nelson
studied, planned, and toiled when he should
have rested. and doubtless FASTENED his death
by his constant hard work.
:, 4! the conclusion Of the biographical sketch
Bishop Simpson delivered an address. A
prayer was said 10y the R"y, Dr. G. II. Fowler
editor of the Christian .idrocdte. and tho core
monies were CONCLUDED by the singing of a
hymn. which was first read by tho Kev. j. NJ
BuGEley. Chairman Of the New York Committee
on Hymnnl.
Tho body will be taken to Kingston. Pa,
where Dr. Nelson lived so long MS principal OF
the wyoming Seminary. and will be buried in
the cemetery there on Monday.