Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-07
Memorial OF Friend Eli Jones.

On the first day of the End. inst. at four
O'Clock p NJ, Eli Jones, after bard strug-
gle with pneumonia, quietly ami peacefully
passed from the earth into the Unseen
Holy.
He was conscious to the last moment OF
his life and his ever active mind was thought
full Of the mission so dear TO him and OF
the school toward which his heart always
went out in loving interest. His life has
been full of activity and now that he has
entered into his rest we shall realize a.
never before the breadth of his work
There is no need of words of eulogy from
those who loved him. No written word
can add anything to the finished temple
HIS messages from Heaven have
all been executed as he understood
them and like the devout Simeon
he has been allowed to depart in peace.
having fully completed the allotted time of
earthly service His life has been one of
continual growth aud development. He
has obeyed the Voice constantly, ard
obedience to the voice of the Master opens
free course for His vivifying to flow in
and where that life giving principles
courses, will there not be growth! Ali
who have been near him have felt his
power to inspire the young, and to tip their
aspirations with fire from his own glowing
life. And with what higher gift can man
be endowed than this power of raising
shining goal and of enthusng those whose e..e
race set before them?" No benefactor
wins surer tribute of love. and for him
there is goodly company of witnesses
As member of our society he has fol-
lowed in the footsteps of the spiritually
,,Jal mi. GEnrra Eny Nh IN
Grelet, and Daniel Wheeler. The Lords
work seemed to him the most important
business for a man to be engaged in, and
whatever service he could perform to raise
men anywhere to a wider and juster com
prehension of the scope of manhood,
wherever he could declare more perfectly
the proper relation between God and man.
this he has counted work for the Lord. He
has sat for many years at the head of New
England Yearly Meeting and its best well
fare has been his deepest hope aud longing.
He hs. seen advances which have cheered
his aged eyes, and he has beheld changes
that saddened him, but whatever has been
done TO make the blessing of Christ's life
and death more really personal bless
ing TO each member, has been welcomed
with joy by him, while everything tend.
ing To darken to the eye. of Friends the
glory and brightness of the Sun of right
eousness has received his challenge. His
constant good judgment and shreHd
sense have made his influence far reach
ing and widely benefcient, and his coun-
sells have been impregnatei with the Wis
dom of a rich experience. The deep grief
which so many hearts feel as the news of
his departure is heard given fitting testi-
mony to the appreciation of his character
and the work of his life. Not alone
among his own kindred is there sorrow,
but many hearts on the slopes of Lebanon
and around Mount Zion will swell with
grief that he who was their sincere friend
has been silenced.
For fifty years he has been almost con-
tinually in some field of labor No land
was too distant and no service too hard when
the call sounded. And old age did not les
sen his zeal though it compelled him to
abide at home more than he would have
other wise done. His friends would never
have been ready 10 part with him, for he
seemed an indie spensible part of their earthly
possessions, but the loving Father, know
ing what to us is my sterious, has seen it to
raise him to fuller fellows ship with the
Saints" though we long in vain for his
companionshlp. His townspeople will miss
him most, for he lived among them as a
father and he has earnestly pointed two
generations to the door which opens into
Gods infinite home.
He loved especially to work for t1e up
raising of the citizens of his own State, and
not ouly his own town but nearly all the
towns of kennebec County have felt his in
flueuce. Honored by the rich, and associ-
ated as he was with the cultured, yet he
gained his highest satisfaction in meeting
with the men and women of toll. aud no.
where has he done more good than in his
vigorous, ringing appeals to the villagers
in his own and neighb1riug towns to fill up
the measure of true citizens and to "quit
themselves like men
Knowing as we do the consistency of his
every day life, the purity of his deed. and
the breadth of his faith We say With conf
dence that he was noble imitation of that
Highest Type esr,h's records show, it does
not yet appear what he has become. but we
believe he dwells in peace in the regions
which we are constrained TO contemplate in
reverend silence. And though we long for
his loving and inspiring voice to comfort
US. it is our firm conviction that he has
already learned The truths which we are
toling sill our lives to find" There are
none of US who have known him intimately
but owe him large debts for what he has
built into our characters-may We honor
him BY initiating his strong and devout life |
and may the society in which he has worked |
80 faithfully have Eiishas raised up to |
herald the same Kings messages and to
carry on the unfinished work.
RuFUs NJ. JONES.
OAK GROVE SEMINARY. VAssALBoRo.