Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-05-11
OUR LOSS.
Death of J. Edward Hall Hundreds
Attend His Funeral

uc lOlS IllutSS VI our COUTdue,
j. Edward Hall, ended with his de-
cease on May 3. The proletarians'
terrible disease, consumption, which
he contracted, it is supposed, from
inhaling brass filings, carried him
off. He was born August %, 1851,
at Glen Cove, N. Y, and after re-
ceiving common school education
learned the trade of a machinist.
He was of a sympathetic tempera-
ment, with excellent reasoning pow
ers, and soon became connected
with organizations Of advanced
thinkers. He was a member of the
New York American Section of the
Socialist Party, and was one of the or
ganlzers Of the Central Labor Union.
He helped to organize the National
Trade District of the Machinery
Constructors, of which organization
he became the Secretary, his term
Of office ending about year ago.
In 1887 he was the Progressive
Labor Party's candidate for Secre-
tary of State, and last fall he was
nominated by the Socialist Labor
Party for Governor He contrib
uted to the WORKMEN'S ADVOCATE
slnce its establishment in New
York, and one of the New York
Labor Library'S pamphlets entitled
"The Place of Individualism in the
Socialist System" was from his pen.
His last contributions to the Work
MEMS ADVOCATE were printed in
the issue of November Il, 1888, and
were entitled "Standard Sophis-
tries and "The Press Parrot. :"
These were written while he was
confined to his bed.
Comrade Hall was held in high
esteem by the members of his Sec
ton, and visiting committee was
in frequent communication with
him during his long illness.
Upon hearing of his death the
members of the American Section
held special meeting Last Saturday
evening and resolved to attend the
funeral, which was arranged for the
next day, in body, wearing as
insignia small red ribbon bows
draped with Grape. A wreath of
dark red roses was also ordered to
be woven to be placed upon the
bier, and committees were elected to
draw up suitable resolutions and to
arrange memorial mass meeting as
soon as possible.
The funeral was attended by hun
dreds of people beside the American
Section. The German Section had a
large contingent present, as did the
Jewish Branch, and there were dele
cations from various trade and labor
unions. A delegation from the So
cialist Sections of Kings County
was present with their banner
drap9d in mourning. A clergyman
who was friend of the deceased
read a funeral service from ritual,
although our comrade was a pro-
nounced agnostic. A wreath of red
roses with q silken pendant of the
same color was placed upon the
coffin from the American Section,
and other floral offerings were made
by the Jewish Branch, the United
Machinists of New York, and the
Machinists' Progressive Union.
After last parting look upon the
face of the dead, the coffin was
closed and borne to the hearse,
while the delegations, numbering
about 500, formed in line with the
color bearers in front; then followed
the hearse with four Socialists as
guards and the carriages containing
relatives. Arrived at the Astoria
ferry the men formed in line on
either side of the street while the
hearse and carriages were driven be-
tween. The red banners were un-
furled and heads were bared as
last salute while the cortege passed.
The remains were then taken to the
Crematory at Fresh Pond, Long
Island, and consigned to the flames,
in accordance with the express wish
of the deceased. A number of the
Brooklyn American Section were at
the Crematory to pay their last re-
spects, bringing with them another
floral offering. Besides these many
of Halls friends came to DO his