davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
STRENGTH AND BEAUTY.

The prophet jeremiah, bemoaning
Moab, exclaims, "How is the strong
staff broken, and the beautiful rod2"
The smile suggests strength and
beauty in union. When one comes to
look for the significance of the smile,
we find how grand and how perfect
such union is everywhere. This is
shown very clearly in architecture. 1t
is necessary that many parts of build
ing should be strong-brace and beam
and pillar should be large and strong
to bear up the great roof or to brace
the sides. Once in the world men did
not know that with all this strong USE
fulness there might be also the most
wonderful union Of beauty and grace.
And even after they began to carve and
fashion some parts of the building,
either in rafter, or post, or beam, they
did not grasp the idea that the carving
and fashioning, might be beautiful.
They carved all sorts of hideous figures
and faces; here and there where rafter
was to be supported they put some fig
ure whose face expressed the torture
of holding up the weight which rested
upon the shoulders. Men are coming
now to realize that beauty is in no
way incompatible with strength.
A higher form of such union as this
is seen oftentimes in human characters.
A moral strength is found sometimes
in men that would be hard and unlove-
ly If it were not for the beauty of a
chastened and pure spirit playing all
over and around it. This is one of the
suggestions in the death of DIR. WILL
LIAM II. RYDER. A man of firm will,
of strong conviction, of utter fearless
ness in maintaining what he believed
to be the truth, of great common sense
and discrimination, he had all the ele-
ments of strength peculiar to perfect
manhood. With his New England par
entage, with the SAVIOR of the salt sea in
his blood, and the blood of hardy
sailor of the rocky coast in his veins, he
had all the opportunity man could
need to be staunch and severe even to
unloyeliness. But no man was farther
removed from this than was he.
All who knew DIR. Ryder intimately
understood how his whole nature was
wreathed and softened and adorned
with the beauty of sweet spirit. Born,
we may make sure, of the deep religious
faith, the noble thoughts of God and
duty which he cherished, the glad hope
of an immortality of ineffable peace
and blessedness lsid up for the children
of the father,-bOrn of all this was
tender grace which shone out upon
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
THE SCENE IN THE CHURCH.

The scene at this early hour was sim
gularly impressive. With the numer-
Gus floral emblems and other decora-
tons of the altar, the church presented
beautiful appearance and through the
stained glass windows of the dome
and clerstory, streamed the morning
sunlight, casting rich hues of color on
the scene. The floral offerings were
placed on the platform and around it (;
nothing rested on the coffin but two
palm leaves crossed upon the lid.
These were most beautiful and appro-
pirate. The baptismal font which
stood near the head of the casket was
filled with Easter lilies and their broad
caves. On the right of the pulpit
stood large upright cross of ivy
leaves. A cross of white camelias
hung in front, and ON the left was
large wreath of Easter lilies and white
rosebuds resting on a pedestal and en-
closing a white dove with outspread
wings. The Ladies' Aid Society, the
Sunday school, Old Peoples Home, and
other organizations with which DR..
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

IN ANOTHER PARAGRAPH OF the
sermon, Prof. Swing speaks as follows
of DR.. Ryder, in connection with the
deaths, also last week, of Bronson AL
colt and his daughter: "As these two,
father and daughter die, paying tithes
of noble ethics and noble fiction, thus
though less widely known, this city's
dead clergyman stands for the real
Christian spirit of the modern church.
He began his ministry in time when
the war between orthodox and hetero-
dox was still being violently waged.
He came with character and method
which helped persuade the warning
sects to send out at least flag of truce.
In the same years the orthodox denom-
nations were also rearing minds and
hearts, capable of making peace capa-
BILE of separating the service of Christ
from a definite tenet regarding the
eternity of punishment. Toward this
reconciliation of those minds which
had quarreled for generations, Will
lam FL. Ryder performed a noble part,
and now that he has closed up his re-
lations to the people of earth, we can
see that the tithes he carried to the
common storehouse of our Christian
thought go on to swell that wealth
which will fall into the approached arms
of those who are to live after him.
Thus these three fresh tombs stand for
a simple theory of human life, for
fiction full of high ideals, and for a
Christianity in which hundred differ
emit sects may be one in their resem-
blance to their Master"
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
OUR WEEK OF SORROW.

DR.. Ryder's Illness, Death and Funeral.-Re-
port Of the services at the church and the
Addresses.
When our last paper went to press DIR.
Ryder was lowering between life and
death, but we knew it not. In the large
city, with all its facilities for intercourse
and communication, frequently when di-
rect news is wanted the most promptly,
it is difficult to secure it. The first intel
ligence Of DR.. Ryder's illness came to us
on the previous Sunday, when it was an
nounced in St. Paul's church that he was
very sick, and the prayers of the congre-
CATION were requested in his behalf. But
while his illness was alarming, the report
was that he was better, and in the even
ing also the report from the sick room
was still more encouraging. On Monday
change for the worse occurred; Tuesday
night he sank into unconsciousnsss, and
on Wednesday, March 7, at 2:25 in the
afternoon, death took place.
His illness began on Wednesday Of the
preceding week. He returned home on
that day, after ride in the afternoon,
and felt chilly. Thursday morning he
was quite ill, and the physician was
called, who pronounced his trouble in
fammation of the larynx; the cold which
he took settling in bis weak throat. He
suffered extremely for some time, and
was not able to take nourishment for sew
eral days. The Inflammation in the throat,
yielding promptly to remedies, was finally
overcome, but on Sunday night pneumo-
MIA developed, attacking his left lung, and
this clearing, going to the other. The suf-
erer had not strength sufficient to resist,
and sank rapidly from Monday night.
Very few, comparatively, knew of DR..
Ryder's illness until Sunday morning,
when the announcement was made in the
church, and the news spread rapidly and
great anxiety was manifested by hun
dreds of friends. On Tuesday night,
when the dedication services of the new
church occurred, the report was more
unfavorable. 1t was then understood
that pneumonia had developed, and it
cast a deep shadow over what would
otherwise have been very joyful cele-
bration.
DR.. Ryder was unconscious for the most
of the time for the twenty -four hours pre-
ceding his death. He rallied little on
Wednesday morning and was able to speak
few conscious words to Br. J. 81. Swan,
who was present at his side; but the
words did not indicate that he realized
anything more than that the medicine
which had been given him was produc-
ing condition of torpidity. The rapid
progress of the disease, after it assumed
it's fatal form, was remarkable. DR..
Ryder was man of robust constitution
and promised to be able to physically
withstand disease for great length Of
time, but the result proved otherwise.
He vent down almost at once before the
destroyer.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

his place, much less to be his pastor.
With reverence for the man and his
spirit, I can say here to-day, that in all
the close acquaintance which these later
years have brought have only learned
higher respect for his character, and
for his Christian heart. No man ever
was more loyal to his pastor, no one
ever strove with more singleness of con-
science to fulfill the duties of a trying
position. Would that he had still been
spared to grow old in an ever.Iipening
wisdom, our trusted friend and counselor.
His bodily presence is gone. His life
with us is over. But the memory of his
work, the influence of his spirit, the
power of his soul, these are with us for
ever, the blessed legacy of Christians
life
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
DIR. HANsON's ADDRESS.

My own mind and heart have been
busy with personal "reminiscences ever
since the tidngs of this great bereave-
ment reached me. I go back more than
forty years to the time when 1, a young
theological student, first met the youth
full pastor, then on the threshold of his
long and shining career, in Concord, N.
H.; even then, though scarcely past his
majority, giving rich promise of what
more than generation of years have
amply fulfilled. A strong personal at
tachment then sprang up on my part,
and one which many test has proved to
be mutual one,-sn attachment that in
creased and intensified as the lapse OF
years land closer acquaintance revealed
more clearly those qualities of character
that won the love and veneratioh of all
who were privileged to enjoy intimate re-
lations with him, and attracted the es-
TEEN of all touched by his wide influence
At frequent intervals we met, until
after more than twenty years 1 followed
him to the West, where he had preceded
me about six years. And from the time
of my connection with our church jour-
nal, nineteen years ago, 1 have known
no other man so long and so well.
A too truthful axiom declares, "Few
men are heroes to their Wallets" Most
men look larger, their regulations lottier,
and they more worthy, seen through the
perspective of distance. But there are
men who are loved most by those who
know them best. Such man was YIN.
Henry Ryder. 1t has been my precious
privilege to be closely associated with
him, not only in the delightful init
macies OF our happy homes, both now
alas, shatteredl-and in the abundant
labors in behalf of our church in many
parts of the Northwest, where we have
wrought so much and SO long together,
and in tue extraordinary experiences of
the great fire, and the trying scenes that
followed, connected with our publishing
interests, and in many business and &C.
clesiastical complications of the most per-
picking nature, such as tested all the re-
sources of disposition and character. 1t is
but simple justice to say that every test
of motive and purpose, of principle and
conduct, was borne without strain, that 1
have found him endowed with a judy
ment we'll nigh infallible, tact that
utilized at it's best everything favorable
and adverse with consummate skill, and
ever accompanied by the soul of equity.
Uprightness, exact justice, always seemed
to be the prime impulse Of his life,- "a
purpose never to allow friendship to
swerve or prejudice to warp opinions or
conduct But joined to this tendency
were the tenderest sympathies that soft
ened and melted what without them
might have created an unloviug austerity
and this combination made him the
friend and counselor, the
model pastor, whose presence ID the
home of sorrow was a benediction, and
whose genial sunshine gave an added
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
ON SUNDAY.

Sunday in Chicago was bright and
cheerful day. There was quite snow
fall on Saturday night, and the morning
brought bright sunshine, which, with a
clear sky, continued all day. The arrange
ments for the funeral began with the re-
moval of the body from the residence,
1926 Michigan Avenue, shortly after 8
o'clock. The body was encased in a cas-
ket covered with black broadcloth, and
lay in the back parlor of the residence,
whore private service for the family was
held OF Saturday afternoon at o'clock.
At the early hour in the morning none
were present, excepting the ministers of
our church, who had been summoned to
bear the body from the house to the new
st. Paul's on Prairie Avenue. Those Sc
lected for that service were DIR. Hanson,
DR.. Cantwell, Charles Conklin, q. 8.
Nickerson and T. III. Tabor. At about
8:15 the body was borne to the hearse
and, followed by two carriages, wendell
it's way slowly up Michigan Averue to
the corner of Sixteenth street, where, as
the sad cortege turned to reach Prairie
Avenue, a view was had of the old st.
PauPs Church on Michigan Avenue,
where so many years of DIR. Ryder's min
istry had been spent. Reaching the
church the body was borne up the main
aisle and deposited in front of the altar.
Here the remains were committed to the
charge of a guard of honor, composed
of the young men of st. Paups church,
as follows: ]. s. Price, w. f. Burrows;
M. M. 8. Marsh, F. N. Gage, L. @. Law
ton and 81. M. Kingman.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
ADDRESS OF MR.. ADAMS.

1t seems as il hardly day had passed
since DR.. Ryder stood here by my side
to greet the first congregation of wor-
shippers that ever gathered in these
walls. 1t was Joy to us all to see his
erect and noble figure, unbent by the
years, and to hear the rich cadences of
that unrivaled voice, as it fell upon our
ears, mellow and tender with the spirit of
Christians prayer. 1t was benedic-
ton to look into his face and see those
strong features slight with his friendly
smile. For on that face were impressed
all the traits of manly, faithful, low
ing life of service.
And now to think of what has come in
two short weeks ! His body is laid low
in death. That voice is hushed upon his
lips; the light will no more brighten in
his eyes; that face must henceforth be-
come a memory. For the soul of our
friend has gone to its reward, and his
body to it's long sleep. 1t is hard to think
that we must lose that familiar form
from our streets and our homes. But
harder still, the real poignancy of our
grief, 10 to think that we must do without
his spiritual presence, that we may no
longer enjoy the counsels of his rare wis
dom, the, encouragement of his warm
and sympathetic heart, the stimulus of
his courage and his faith. 1t is the going
away of this great soul which bereaves
us! 1t is the man that we mourn, the
strong and tender husband and father,
the faithful friend, the loyal and wise
citizen, the devout minister of Jesus
Christ. How can we spare him from all
the places he has filed in this city, 80
sorely in need of such as he? How can
we spare him from the councils of the
church to which he has been 80 loyal
and SO rich in service How strange to
think of st. Pauls church without DR..
Ryder's presencel And who may dare
to think Of the home he has left, and the
void by its fireside This is what we
must suffer when so large, go strong, SO
good and noble a man is taken from our
sight. According to the greatness OF the
place he fills is the grief at his loss.
But in the midst of our deepest grief
we will not forget to be grateful that we
have had him. 1t is an inestimable priv
ilege to have known such .man, to
have felt his influence and to have en-
joyed his rich endowments. To those
of you who were so long his people
bound to him by the strong tie which
holds the pastor to his flock, no words of
mine can be needful as an expression of
the good and the gain it was to be train
ed under his teaching, and helped out of
his spirit. He was a man who made his
impression upon all who met him. There
were power and virtue going forth from
him at all time. No one who ever knew
DIR. Ryder could fail to receive an i'm
pulse from his positive and vigorous ma
ture. Aud having felt it, it was not a
thing one could forget. For myself, 1
grew up with youths admiration of this
strong man, whom my own dear father
taught me to count among the formost in
our church. For years had learned to
listen for every word he spoke to the
Oh urch, and to weigh it as a counsel of
the wise. 1 never dreamed to stand in
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

WE NEED NOT offer our readers any
apology for giving so much space to
the sad event of last week, which we
record and report with unusual fulness.
The great bereavement of our church
is the explanation of so many columns
devoted to one sad subject. 1t is likely
that the years of a generation will pass
before any such demand is made upon
our columns in a similar case. DIR.
Ryder's life work in Chicago was at a
center from which radiated many in
flIences, affecting not alone the city,
but the Universalist church throughout
the great Northwest; and in making
this impression of THE UNIvERsALIsT
a Memorial number, we know that
it will come as nearly to the expecta-
tons of our constituency as any other
dis position of our columns.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
SATURDAY, MARCH IL, 1888.

THE ADDRESS of Rev. John II. Bar
rows, D. D., of the First Presbyterian
church in this city, given at the dedi-
cation of st. Paul's, on Tuesday evening
of last week and printed on our first
page,-a special report for this paper
contains a tribute to DIR. Ryder,
which was spoken with feeling and
tenderness, as the beloved clergyman
was lying on what proved to be his
deathbed. In his sermon on last Sun
day morning, DR.. Barrows also paid a
very handsome tribute to the dead
clergyman, not reported in the papers,
but conveyed to us by members of his
congregation.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

this wicked world from his strong
benignant face, glowed upon his
brothers in the ministry in all their
councils, and was the tie that bound
nis friends to him by hooks of steel.
No man in the whole church, few men
in the world, have possessed in greater
degree this rare union of strength and
beauty. Appropriately may we use the
words, recited over his lifeless body. to
describe our sorrow in his death: "How
is the strong staff broken and the beauti-
full rod
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

Ryder was connected were represented
in these offerings. The marble med
allion of the dead pastor, over the inner
entrance of the church, transferred
from the old building, was draped in
smilax. 1t was the last object on which
DR.. Ryder's eye rested as he left the
church fortnight before, and he ex-
pressed great pleasure to the writer
that the medallion had been safely
transferred. He was apparently well
pleased with its location in the new ed
ifice.
During the time that the remains
rested before the altar, hundreds of
people looked upon the face of the dead
for the last time. They began to come
singly and then in little groups. Some
came and went away in sadness and
silence. Some sat in the rear pews, and
so in utter silence, broken only by the
faintest whisper or chance football
the church remained, until every seat
was occupied and many were stand
ing in the side aisles and the cloister.
AT 1885 the casket was finally closed.
The arrangements at the church were
under the charge of Mr.. j. E. Sanford,
the well-known and efficient usher of
the congregation, assisted by several of
the young men of the parish. Every
thing was conducted with great order
and regularity. No crowd was al
lowed in the aisles, and the movement
of those who came forward to see the
remains, was quickened by gentle
word from the attendants when it was
necessary. The main body of the church
was reserved for members of the parish
until 1926, when the entire church
was placed at the service of those who
wished to attend the last rites.
AT 1920 soft organ sound fell upon
the ear and trembled through the
arches of the church. In five minutes
more the choir were in their places :;
the officiating clergyman followed on
the pulpit platform. The organ vol
untary was continued for brief time
and then trembled into silence; and
after few minutes more of waiting,
the bereaved wife and daughter moved
slowly up the aisle, attended by Mr.. j.
III. Swan and DR.. Cantwell. 1t was
the wish of Mrs. Ryder and daughter
that the usual morning service be fol-
lowed as nearly as possible. Rev. Mr..
Adams, therefore, read in opening, the
intr oductory sentences and asked the
congregation to join in the Lords Pray
er. The Responsive Psalm-a favorite
service of DR.. Ryder-was read by Rev.
Mr.. Nickerson and the congregation.
LEAD, Kindly Light was sung by the
choir. Reading Of selected Scriptures,
followed, by Rev. Charles ConkliD; then
came another selection by the choir.
Prayer by Mr.. Adams followed and the
choir gave "Abide With Me-" Four
addresses then followed, which we give
in the order in which they were
delivered
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17

very earnestness, for the reconciled life
at one with God, and devoted evermore to
the service of his church. This was indeed
the burden Of his ministry. He was a
pastor who placed the most solemn en-
phasis on these things, seeking to bring
his people intounion and fellowship with
the Lord, and thus fulfilling the func-
tons of minister of Reconciliation.
1t Is not too much to hope that this ap-
peal OF his ministry will be remembered,
and still bear fruit in the future. That
it has already borne fruitsge in devoted
and consecrated lives-lives renewed in
the spirit and made new in the things of
Coda great multitudeof such lives-we
know. These are the jewels in the crown
the now immortal pastor and friend. He
could desire no nobler record; and these
are the trophies of his ministry-sweeter
than these floral emblems, dearer than
all worldly plaudits and worthy to accom-
pany him into the ineffabie blessedness
of God.
We know that sometimes over the
bosom OF our lake the clouds of the city
smoke rise upward and meet the darker
clouds of heaven. But sometimes, as on
the day on which our friend was taken,
they do not at once meet and mingle,
and for time, the clear blue sky is seen
in azure beauty between-a rift of open
glory, pure and clear, between the two
borderlands of darkness. To-day we are
between the clouds-one falling on us
from above; the other gathering in the
new sorrow of our hearts. But thank
God, there is the open blue of heaven
shining still over us, and looking for
ward and into it, we see our friend not
the captive of death, but as the immortal
child risen to the Fathers embrace. And
SO he will be hencefortb, "forever with
the Lord"
amen ! So let it be
Life from the dead is in that word;
And Immortality
And as ON that day when we came
fret to this church, he pressed my
hand and laid his hand on my shoulder,
SnyhBt dh Sihu uldb VIC hfc AoIO
that we are ALL here" so let us with
confident faith look forward to the meet
ing hereafter, when he will again say,
out Of the full joy of heaven, to dear
wife and daughter, and the little child
rem lately come to his home, to the below
ed members of this dear church, to the
friends of his ministry, and the large cir
Gle OF co-workers in the Masters service
81 am glad that we are here; that we are
ALL hereP' Until that hope is realized and
this vision becomes reality, we may be
sure that even immortality will not yield
it's full blessednees for the tender SYM
pathy and all embracing love of William
Henry Ryder.
Then let us say in the words of solemn
triumph:
"Who is the angel that cometh?
DEATH
But do not shudder and do not fear;
Hold your breath
For kingly presence is drawing near.
Cold and bright
Is his flashing steel,
Cold and bright.
The smile that comes like starry light
To calm the terror and grief we feel:
He comes to help and to save and heal.
Then let us, barring our hearts and kneel-
ing,
Sing. while we wait this angels sword;
Blessed is he that cometh
In the name of the Lord"