Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-21
IMPOSING OBSEQUIES.
The Last Honors Paid to F. J. Tatum by
Fort Worth.
The Church, His Masonic Brethren and Citizens
Generally Follow the Remains
to the Grave.

L
last tribute to the honored dead. AT 9
clock the body was brought from the
family residence under an escort of
Knights Templar, headed by the depart
ment band playing flu neral march,
to the church where the members
of Fort Worth Lodge 14S, A. f. and A.
M. who had conducted preliminary
services in the lodge room had
with hundreds of citizens assembled. The
pail bearers were DR.. Jackson, A. b.
Smith, George Strong, Capt. T. P. Mar
tin, W. A .s&arner and VIM. Rose. YES
trymen of 81. Andrew IS church. At tie
door of the church the remains were met
by Rev. Mr.. DeFOrrest who preceded the
body, borne by the pail bearers up the
aisle. 81 am the resurrection and the
life, - spoken by the minister, impressed
all with the truth of the words. The
beautiful service of the episcopal church
ended Rev. Mr.. DeForrest spoke as fol-
lows:
In the sudden removal, by distressing
accident, of our deceased brother the
community generally has lost respected
citizen; the business community especial
" q punlic spirited, enterpising man; the
Masonic fraternity an honored member;
the church a brother beloved, and
his family kind husband and
father. To these we might add
other relations, notably that of employer
and employed, and in all we hear the
same testimony borne. We love now,
and for many years to come we shall lore
to think and speak of his virtues, his
sterling common-sense, his genuineness
and modesty, his quiet unobtrusive
w -
respect for what he was. Members
of various churches, orders, societies, we
come. Hearts sadly regretful, sorrow
touched, are blending currents of sym
pathy towards them upon whom affliction
has fallen heaviest, believing if we may
that by some subtle law of spirit we help
in some small degree those sitting in
deep shadow of affiiction to bear bur-
den almost too heavy for human heart.
In the New Testament we find an eu-
logy pronounced on one who was not
great, as the world counts greatness. He
was not rich nor powerful. He con-
quered no kingdoms, controlled no state;
the record Is simply, che was good
| man. It was the best of records, and
where it may be truthfully borne, 1t is
the grandest testimony that any man can
! receive. Indeed, a good name is
sion may place this lesson before US, es-
pecially the young men of our time and
place, moves me to accept the privilege
of saying a few words, otherwise l might
be content and you would be content
that no words be spoken. Ali funerals
are eloquent reminders to us of the GER
tainty of death, and this one is a warn
ing of the uncertainty of life. The voice
of prayer, and solemn chant and chosen
words of Holy Writ, may at times be
sufficient articulatiOns of the heart S
emotion and soul demands, but this
thronging cOngregati ton, attesting the
common sorrow the widespread sense of
common loss, constrains me. Wise as he
was in council and clear in judgment,
we could spare Tatum, the citizen; we
could spare him, perhaps, from the ma
terial interests of our city, since God had
use for him in that city not made with
hands; the brotherhood gathered here
to-day could spare Tatum, the Mason;
we could possibly spare Tatum the church
man, faithful and earnest as he was ia
yestry and church, but none Of US could
spare Tatum, the man.
He was a good man. The words are
repeated, growing eloquent with repeti-
ton, on all sides. There comes a young
man TO his door, saying: 81 want to see
the remains Of my early benefactOr. He
helped me in time of need; he put me III
the way of getting start in the world,
and taught me how to make an honest
living Another says: 81 have known
him many years and better man never
saw. His partner in business breaks
down as under personal family beTeaYe-
ment. Time and again have seen him
at the communion table, kneeling to
worship the risen Lord as he received the
symbols of his dying love. The
last time I saw him living was Oh
Sunday evening, few hours before the
fatal accident. He entered the church
and knelt in silent prayer. The prayers
in the service which followed were his
last in the public assembly on earth.
Little we thought those prayers were
messages sent heavenward and answered
by the call, ''come up higher. He
went higher, passing from the church ON
earth to the church in Paradise, for
saints, living and dead, do but one COM
munion make.
We are not of the number, 1 trust,
who regard life as s"narrow vale be-
tween the cold and barren peaks of two
eternities; - nor is the only answer ''the
echo of our wailing cry. Let no such
dread uncertainties pervade and i'm
prison Christian mind. IL the
night of death hope sees
not only a star, but faith anu
hope reveal a grand temple, of which we
are now but standing IN the yestibule.
Listening love hears not only the rustic
of wing, but is enraptured with o music
which completes the harmony of human
life and interprets the rushing melodies
of the universe.
Nearer Ny God to Thee was surg, and
the services concluded by committing the
body to the Masonic brethren present for
interment. The funeral procession was
made up with knights Templar
on either side of the hearse,
preceded bY Worth commandery, in
front of which the members of the Ma
sonic order marched headed by the de-
partment band playing dirge. Preeed-
ing these were the fire department,
mayor, council, N arshal and
policemen and city officials.
Immediately following the hearse came
thas carriages bearing the widow and
children of the deceased, his nearest
friends and employees, following
bv the many who had known