Telegram-herald., 1891-02-09

rAs Isss on~ss II kssvs<s s.A Aasesiss

1oz@> - uAS H@ISd ~ kts ttiASss S4tA&tt
| by citizens fTon Al parts ef the city
Tie foFal arrangements were very
sl2sorsss, the dssign from the church
gates slar," bsins especially hns, one
from the grandson anc another from TIE
Tayioss, we're in beautiful taste A hns
portrait Of the deceased looked out
iron alsld bank Of fragment tessi-
tnony. The choir, under the direction
OF ". X. fex, rendered appropriate
pieces, closing With lhe fasofats hymn
OF The deceased, .-Shall We Gather Al
the Rluer.n Rev. j. /. Buell., presiding
elder, made ths opening prayer. scrip
lnres were read by ksss. k. Z. craw-
| ford and A. N. Gould. Rev. j. ~.
Reid gave the fret address, fecllogly
| sIludlag u Ais acquaintance with TIE
deceased during nls pastorate. hes,
". Henry Thompson. The pastor, fol-
lowed, and gays an obituary OF the de-
parted, foiloweStty an ANALYSIS OF ms
| character.
| Tue remains were viewed at the house
by alargenumber OF citizens. In making
| All analysis 81 the character OF Brother
| Whltworth, the Iust thing that ini-
| presses Us Is iaat hA Wa a Christian.
Christian with all that that implies. lie
| Was converted while IA his young man.
hood, and he brought all the energy OF
MS young lie into his religious proies.
sion. lie had experienced change Oh
heart, he had seen tne Lord, he had
| felt the spirit, he had conscious favor
aud confident hope. He was Chris
tian man. lie came 10 THIS country as
! a Christian, he did not put his probes
| sion in abeyance. he did not hold II IN
l suspense, but when he settled AS 10
his residence he also settled the
plan Of his life. lie announced him.
lself q Christian. Ills Christian faith
gave dignity and beauty 10 his business
career. He brought INTO hls business
life beautiful spirit OF manly intes-
rity. Dlllgent, industrious, prudent,
he met the scriptural type. ''Diiigent
III business, fervent III spirit, serving
the God" lie was man OF very
| stable habits. He resorted to no pulls
but established his business upon u sub
slantial basis. All! his business ar
rangements had about them the air OF
stability. lie thus commanded the en-
tire confidence OF all with whom he
dealt, alike those from whom he
His church relations were controlled
by the same unfilnching constancy and
persistence. His chosen principles were
irrcvocable. lie was a pillar III tie
church and that pillar was founded Oh
the rock of stable and InvIuclblc pur
pose. This was manifest when he came
to this land, he was a Christian first,
but he was Methodist Christian. lie
had defined preferences for the church
that had been his mother when he was
born into the family of God. All was
new here; some things and usages were
strange. He sought for the church
that embodied the principles
he had expressed. He soon
discovered in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, they were the same
i'll doctrine and spirit as those with
whom his lot was cast in the beginning.
He at once said, "This Is my church.
This people shall be my people," ilav-
ing once determined his choice, he
never wavered. He loved not changes
In any of life's relations, and especially
in the things that were dearest to him.
His church relations were TO him the
most sacred, the most vital and the
most precious. Here lie the remains of
a man who walked with the people
called Methodists for about half q GEN.
tury. Over forty years of that walk
has been visible to your eyes, IN this
city. He went to Heaven as Method
ist class leader and teacher in the
Sunday-school.
His interest in all the affairs of the
church was deep and alert, he desired
only Its prosperity, that was the burden
of his prayer and desire. AS years
multiplied and others came in to share
the burdens, he modestly declined some
of the offices he had so long honored
but the one of class leader was chosen
one that he retained to the last. This
class of which he was the leader was
known as the Young Peoples, and pos
sessed the affections of the young peo-
pie. They loved Brother Whitworth
Uncle John, as they famlliarly called
him. He was TO them as q father and
) as such they looked to iiim for spiritual
leadership.
Brother Whitworth was fine exam
pie of sturdy adherance to a settled
policy. There were no tendencies to
rove in his disposition, he moved once
from England to America, aud selected
his place OF abode, settled there, and
for forty-four years has been an honor
able citizen of Grand Rapids, he was
contented with his lot and abode in his
place. This was characteristic, YOU
knew where to find John Whitworth.
When the present pastor came To
Second-st., Bro. Whitworth was sick
and with his relatives IN the country
seeking respite from business. 1--WE
heard of him as "a good man." the
class leader "Uncle john" When he
, returned We fastened to meet him. lie
was still sick. Our fears were aroused;
we hoped and prayed that as u church
we mignt not be called upon 10 sustain
this loss. During the three months
past we have watched the inadious
| encroachment of disease.
All through the months of sickness
] he was hopeful of recovery, never con-.
planned, but sought to present the ia.
, vorable side OF his case. Patient
appreciation OF the smallest
attentions. Trusting in God with the
same deliberateness that had marked
every aspect of his life, we never saw a
cloud upon his brow, but when tho face
was pale and wan, when the weary
morning found him worn with the
sleepIessness of the night, still there
was the same pleasant smile and
kindly greeting. When we prayed with
, him he responded with firmness and
: fervor, and assured me of his un.
dimmed hope Everything was conf
dant. He had nothing TO fix up. He
declared himself ready. He took il for
granted that il Vas all right. lie bad
IN reserve nearly, If not quito fifty
years Of faith and conscious LOYALTY "a