Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-01
THE SMITH MONUMENT.
T-E UrVeiLIsa cERE MONIES.
impressive Exercises al the NaileY Ctr
Cemetery A. Address Dy John
Patton. Jf

Thsrs .as yssy barse satlssring " eiti-
zsas az The valley Gag Csalstery yesteF1ay
afternoon Arse eu4bisd " Stiffness tbs eefe-
monies connected ziLh TIC ansslllng Of It's
monument ~ HE memory u keg. ). Morgan
allith-
The monument - magnificent Hlenorial
maze Of granite and IA the form of a
sareophagus. The sarcophagus consists ~
three bs.-es. the die and three cap-. Its aitl-
tude l. eIzht feet; is breadth and length
foar sat az feet respectively. Upon the
front side Of the ba-e the name, smith,
= carved ia raised block letters. highis pol
shed. The die 10 also higbly polished, aEld
upon the front side Is the inscription. KEY
Joseph Morgan smith. Pastor OF the FRET
Congregational Church AZ Grand Rapids
from 1908 u lSSh Bofn April ~,
I-s3. Dle,i October 1. lSss- On
the base OF ths cap IL raised
letters are the following inscrip-
tion=, one GA each OF the four sides: On
the front. "CnfA the day break and The
shasioxs dee away" ca the Fight, Look
ing for that blessed hope. Ca the left,
Let not your heart be troubled. neither let
Il DC afraid" On the back, Peace | leave
with you; my peace give unto you" These
notices we're selected by Mrs.. smith -Four
granite posts, each bearing raised polished let
ters. stand one On each corner The mOnu-
nent cost 81 $50. which sum was eontribat-
ed By the friends OF Mr.. Smith, shortly after
his death.
After the reading OF appropriate selee-
tons of scripture by Rev. b. f. Sargent,
and a fervent prayer BY Rev. A. K. Merriam,
the monument WAS unveiled. after which
Mr.. "A. j. Hollister introduced John Patton,
Jr.. Who delivered in a very impressive man-
nef. the following address:
The committee ia charge of these solemn
services has done ME the honor To ask me To
say a few words, to-day, as a representa- %
OF those who have contributed this beautiful
aud appropriate memorial, and especially of
the Younger men 10 whom the fruitful hfe
that ended so sadly here was such lofty IN
spiratiOn and such a noble example of all
that y good and true Unworthy as am To
speak fittingly for them, and oppressed by
the deep sense of personal los, l feel how
difficult il l. TO speak of j. Morgan Smith,
free from that friendly prejudice which
wsrps the Judgment, for 20 me he was one OF
the brayest, one of the truest. one of the ten
dersst Of men How hard Il is TO utter that
Of which all hearts are 80 full to-day
We who bad loved him 50. followed him. hon
orssi him
Dwelt 10 his mild and masnihcent eye
Learned his great Language, caught his clear
accent
Made ham our pattern to live and to die
This i not the time for an extended esti-
mate of his lie and character. His eulogy
has already been written by the loving hands
of those who knew and appreciated fully all
his great qualities of mind and heart; but
considered as pastor, teacher, citizen,
or a friend. Morgan Smith was a remarkable
and conspicuous man. His fifty years were
crowded with honorable achievements, and
II was gwen 10 him TO exercise great influ-
7 euce II the development of tins city, where
almost half of his life was spent When ne
began here what was 10 be his life work he
I had but recently left Yale college, and the
Andover minary, and save a few years at
West Avon, Conn, the Park church at Grand
Rapids was his only charge. He was then
but thirty years of age, the town was small,
and he entered into It's life with all the ardor
and enthusiasm of his nature. The hold he
then gained upon the people he never lost,
and succeeding years and the growth of tpe
city only served TO strengthen his influence
ministry are seen IN the large and flourish
ing regatiOn be left, IN the beautiful
I and cOmmOdions church edifce built during
/ has pitstOrate. in the two churches. the
/ Second and South Congregational, which
I have grown aud derived their-ife from the
+ Park church. and IN the many Congregation
al churches IN Western Michigan which owe
their existence 20 the arduOus labOrs and
afectionate care of J. Morgan Smith.
I OF the unseen results of his work, of the
seeds he has sOwn that will blossom and
\ bear fruit IN the years that are 10 come, OF
I the lives that have been made better and
I brighter and nobler because of him, of the
7 hidden influences he has exertei. the suffer
I in. hearts be has cOnsOled, of all those good
and helpful things which radiated from him
a. freely IA the beams of the sun. of these
/ greater results eternity alone can tell.
] A a preacher he was attractive. and his
/ sermons we're more remarkable for the
avenues Of thought suggested than for the
I excessive elaboration of one idea. He had a
forcible aud novel way of presenting the
[ gospel. and his audiences we're always sure
Of finding abundant food for thought in al
that he said. He was most conscientious in
( forming his opinions, and he had a rare anC
/ admirable courage In expressing them
/ Deeply read IN the best literature aud al
theoiogies. an enthusiastic Bible student. hs
/ yet kept fully abreast of modern thought, anC
I Vas ready AZ al Llule~ not only 20 'I-Cl-~ tnt
great fundamental truths of the gospel. bui
/ - challenge and expose the failacies ia the
latest utierances Of Tyndall. Huxley anC
+ Herbert Spencer. His mind was imbue,
( with q philosOphic cast. and his convictions
I were the result Of careful study. and express
I ga with the establishment Of all the wealth
I OF learning ms gifted mind had accumulated
I aud which made him such a master of con
+ densed expression.
lie preached a gospel or love. and soBgh
( ever to present God "a the all-wise. all-EOOd
I benefceut and loving Father. The intellect
I uai life of this city owes much 20 hin. and hs
I was foremost IN al efforts to promote ans
. stimulate Il. He gladly taught Shakespeare
/ Glasses 10 the High School and In his study
Z and the myriad minded poet vas 20 him
dear and familiar friend.
Those Who participated in his Cultars
classes have prpciorGs memories Of his rar,
{ powers a. a teacher which cannot be for
gotten. Endowed with a keen. penatrsiin.
intellect he pointed ont with unerring aeon
racy the underlying principles which far
nisned the key t0 a play or book. With hin
self-Cnlture vac duty and delight. and h
was blessed inspiration 20 All within tn
range Of his Influence. An admirable criti
be- was. learned not only in poetry. scieuc
ard rh5f.,sss-f ff- rs.f IA haI q ra-a Lr,~rf frF -