Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-13
WITH OFFICES OF AFFECTION
The Hemains OF Mrs ,. w. spencer
TenderIy Consigned GO the Grave
The Services at the Residence OF
Mr.. ID. II. Robinson this Morning.

1 The Remains OF Mrs. j. w. Spencer
TenderIy Consigned 60 the Grave
The Services at the Residence OF
Mr.. ID. II. Robinson this Morning.
The funeral services of the late Mrs. ]
W. Spencer were held at the residence Of
Mr.. D.. T. Robinson, Gle Twentieth
street, at 0 o'clock this morning, and not
withstanding the extreme and penetrat-
ing GOODNESS of the atmosphere, large
number OF friends gathered to pay their
last offices OF respect and love for the de-
parted christian woman and pioneer
Mr.. E. w. Spencer did not arrive from
California in time for the service, but the
other son, Rev. W. A. Spencer, d. D., in
whose house Mrs. Spencer died, was
present, having accompanied the remains
from the east, Many Of the county's old
settlers were in attendance.
The body lay exposed to view in a
handsome black cloth covered, silver
mounted cssket in the east parlor. The
features were composed and life like, the
appearance of the face being as one who
had fallen into a gentle sleep The SER
vices were conducted by Rev P. A.
Cool, presiding elder of the NJ +. church,
assisted by Rev. G. w. Cue. The SER
vices opened with the hymn, How
Blessed the Righteous when he Dies. -
by the choir of the First NJ. E. church.
Presiding Elder Coo, then read several
appropriate selections from the scrip>
lures. and Rev. w. s. Marquis. of the
Broadway church, offered prayer.
The funeral discourse was delivered by
Rev. DIR. w. II, Hunter. of Peoria, for
merly pastor of the NJ. E. church in this
city, and for many years an intimate
friend Of the deceased. DR.. Hunter has
devoted fifty.two years of his life to the
ministry, and is still engaged in minis
terial work. He stated that it was the
sixth time that he had been called into
the mourning family to share the grief in
time of the visitation of the death angel,
but he came this time not as preacher,
nor to pronounce eulogy on an honored,
cherished and loved friend. What he
could say would be of little avail. Her
long, useful life, deeds of charity, devo
ton to her blessed Lord to whom she had
consecrated her noblest powers. are her
own best eulogy. She had lived and
walked among the people here, as an
angel administering to the community in
various forms, and every one feels that a
friend has gone, a benefactress passed
away, noble woman gone home. The
only comfort and consolation that could
be derived in an hour like this. was in the
promises and revelations of God. He had
come, DIR. Hunter said to perform his
part in paying last tribute to beloved
friend, and he would be glad if he could
make an i'm preston upon the audience in
behalf of his dead friend, that would
convince all that religion was good
thing, something that was necessary to
human existence and that Goodness was
profitable. The speaker then outlined a
touching picture from inspiration, of the
past and future life of the deceased wo
man. He said the life to come includes
exemption from pain and suffering and
death. In the future home all will have
a perfect understanding of the mysteries
of Divine providence.
DR.. Hunter then spoke of the last i'll
ness of Mrs. Spencer, which was of but
three days duration-two days of which
she was confined to her bed. and when
the final swapping of the heart strings
came, she slept calmly and peacefully
away without struggle or a groan.
She realized the near approach of
death, and shortly before her eyes
closed forever, assured her son
that all was well. The speaker had
had home in the family for three years,
had seen Mrs. Spencer under varied cir
cumstances, and in all his experience of
ffty-two years in the ministry. he had
never seen her superior. Her life was at
all times one of christian heroism and |
faith. Her hand was always
extended to the unfolding of truth and
in all the earth. She was
not narrow bigoted UNCONVENTIONAL
christian, but believer in the universal
church of Christ
The choir sang Servant of God, |
Well Done, i" Rev. Cue offered prayer, and |
then came the hymn, How Swift the
Torrent Rolls" after which DR.. Hunter
pronounced the benediction. Messrs.
Geo. Mixter Palmer Stearns, David
Halves and Gilpin Moore acted as honor
airy pail bearers, while the active pail
bearers were David Noftsker, j. L. Free.
man. A. G. Dart, Chas, Rose, M. e.
Sweeney. Albert Taylor, DR.. j. W. Stew
art and e. W. Hurst. DR.. and Mrs. W.
T. Magill were in charge of the funeral
arrangements. The floral offerings were
magnificent in design, and in profusion.
The remains were consigned to the
vault at Chippiannock cemetery, to await
he arrival of the son from California