Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-10
HONORTO THEDEAD
The Memory of Mel Ford Re-
rived in Congress
0'DoNNeL'S ELOQUENT SPEECH
he Reviews the Lie and Services of The
Deceased and Pays HIM
Nortny Tribute.

WAsHsGros. ID. G., April 9.-Today
was tae day set apart for the eulogles
10 be pronounced upon the Late NJ IL.
Ford. congressman from the Fifth dis
triet Of Michigan. The principal pane
gyric Was delivered by the Hon. James
ODonnell, member from the Third
district. Mr.. 0'Donnell said in sub
stance.
Since Michigan became . state i've
of Its members in this house and two
senators have died in office. The lat
ter we're kInsley ). Bingham. one Of
our early statesmen. who died IN 1861 1,
aud ZacnaFIah Chandler, the great war
senator, Unexpectedly taken from
earth IN 1879. or the members of the
house whose terms were closed by
death were Edward Bradley, died IN
1911, befaTe taxing his seat; Wider D.
Foster, who passed away IN 1872, A J.
pheus ,. Williams, summoned hence IN
1878; seth c. Mofiilt, suddenly called
IN 1881; and the fifth snd .ass OF Mich-
igan's representatives released from
duty by death was Melbourne ii. Ford
whose memory we honor today, and
who was numbered with the dead less
than year ago, April 20, 1891.
Brs Acquaintance with Ford.
Mr. Ford was born in Saline, Mich,
June 30, is49. My first acquaintance
with him began IN my own city, where
be was employed as clerk. l remem-
Der that the duties of the clerkship
were performed faithfully and accept
ably by the youth. When he had gwen
IN hn do
parted. and | did not meet him again
when be came to enter upon the duties
of a representative IN the FIftieth con-
gress. Mr.. Ford commenced his edu-
cation al the Agricultural college at
Lansing. and while there received the
appointment of naval cadet At Ann
apolls. He pursued the studies 1T that
historic school for few months. The
young man desired TO serve his coun-
try. lie had not attained the years OH
entering the academy to De enrolled
among the coantry's defenders, but af-
ter time he joined the naval forces
and saw little service before the or
deal OF war was fully ended. He was
permitted to be participant in the
great struggle that made ambition vir-
tue and repaid the nation in following
the professor for which Il had partially
educated him.
His Death and Burial.
He retired from this house at the end
OF his term disappointed at the lack of
recognition on the part OF the con-
stituency whom he, had desired to bene-
MT The interreRnum between elec.
tions passed, aud IN 1890 he was again
nominated Tor congress, to share
IN the astonishing victories OF his
party in that year OF surprising results.
In the brief period of forty-seven
days after the beginning OF his tenure
90 member of the fifty-second con-
grsss he wss sudde My summoned from
sarth by death. the grim messenger
striking the fatal blow without warn
ing. On Sunday night, April 10. 1891,
ne sought repose, and IN tnat strange
and solemn interval of time, the
twilight of the morning. IN the violet
dawn, he was stricken with the malady
which in . few bours removed him
from the scenes oil earth. He never
recovered consciousness from the
attack. He saw not the sorrowing
wife and children and grieving friends
stepped from the harassing cares Of the
present into the realm Of eternal rest
and peace.
The 10Th OF last April was q day Of
Iadness at Grand Rapids, his home.
The wave of sorrow was felt all over
Michigan. At the funeral the affection
1f the people and their mourning tor
his demise was manifested in many
ways The legislature of the state at
ended in a body, business was sus-
pended. and ss the remains lay in state
at the city hall, amid the flowers of
awakening s9rIng. thousands with
MOST eyes looked upon the placid
sountenance of the dead.
Tribute tn uis Worth.
To repeat the words of our departed
friend. spoken here four years since.
Tor him we trust in that encouraging
bope'' he gave Of his "bellef in q fu-
ture existence and are glsddencd by
the conviction that with him il 10 we'll.
In the celestial economy no ray of
lignt "A left TO wander aimlessly. II 8
20 ii deeds are treasured IN the ar
chves of eternity. We rejoice that
back OF deaths semblAnce is the po-
tency of a splendid new birth.
TINS young life "a closed. We pause
today to speak Of the work be under
took. the tasks he accomplished, OF bis
best sndesvor. As the sketch IL COM
piete we snvoks a benediction from the
world beyond, turning to those tender
sords OF Newman, which are hopeful
for the cead aud helpful aud worthy
for the living:
Lad kfndiv ffrhf
We stand dumb in deciphering the
mystery of death--why this life was so
soop and so suddenly abridged. IL u
not gwen us 10 explain why this career.
~ well endowed by nature and 40 futl
q promise, should be thus early ter
lnt aied. This pr blsm for centuries
las not been solved.
Gar friend aud colleague Is no more.
for those who renlan the star OF the
'uture which shines IN the horizon is
Iope; there = never more night than
lsv.
And now We leave him in his dream
ess sleep. Farewell
sleep -tili the shadows tsks
Their eaaie = afehF
East The neraing sreak-
coed nixtG good nizhu