Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-05
WASASINCERE MAN
The Prohibition Club Pays
High Tribute 10
The MEMORY or [. R. ATWATER
Speeches Were Made by George c. New
al, the Rev. A. III. Gould, Harvey j.
HOLSTER, and Others.

The memorial services held yester-
day afternoon on the death OF the late
Luman Il. Atwater Ia Good Templars'
hall in the MeMullen block were
largely attended. A large pic
ture of the deceased was dis
played on al easel and placed on the
rostrum before the audience. and few
emblems Of mourning were arranged
about the SPEAKERS desk. The Schu-
bert club furnished music for the occa-
sion, and several old friends of the de
ceased expressed their appreciation OF
his life and character.
The services were presided over by
Elton ID. Fuller, who requested >. Nj.
Pearsall TO read u passage of scripture.
Mr.. PeSrSall announced that he would
read the passage chosen by Mr.. At
water as the foundation of his last ad-
dress before the Prohibition club. lie
then proceeded 10 read from ST. John,
LET not your heart be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me. In
my Fathers house are many mansions.
IL il were not go | would have told
you" etc.
After having read the chapter Mr..
Pearsall offered prayer. The presid-
ing officer then stated the purposes for
which the club had met and the Schu-
bert club rendered very impresslvely,
Cannot Always Trace the Way"
DIR. NewaIps Address
George c. Newall. in behalf of the
club, delivered brief address on the
life and character of the lamented
| 80 - ~
other Things he said: "Mr. Atwater had
been a worker IN the cause Of temper
ance from his childhood, and had
| always been n candid and earnest pro-
moter of the interests OF the prohibi-
ton party. The party was organized
in Chicago in 1859. and Mr.Atwater was
delegate TO its first national conven-
ton in 1872. He voted with the party
at every succeeding election and had
the pleasure of seeing the vote in
| crease in the United States from 5,607 TO
many times that number. He was one
OF the organizers CT the prohibition
club In this city and always performed
his duties credltaDly and as a sincere
| Christian. He was always found at his
| post IN church work ana IN the Sunday
| school. In 1874 he was the candidate
| of his party for treasurer of this coun-
| ty, receiving ,267 votes, greater num-
Der than was cast for any of his associ-
| ates. He WAS not q man who prayed
364 days IN the year for the suppression
| of the LIQUOR traffic and on the 365th
walked up TO the polls and cast a vote
| for the perpetuation of the devil and
the dram shop.
Touching Tribute.
i
sion street NJ. +. church, Mr.. Atwater's
old paster next paid touching tribute
| to the memory of his old friend. Mr..
Gould said: 1.-THE life and character
OF our deceased brother have made q
deep and lasting impression on this
community. He has been closely
Unidentified with the growth and devel-
| OpmeEt of the city. He came here
fifty years ago and at once allied HIM.
self with the temperance cause. He
was a member of the Kent County
Bible society. His time and money were
| given to spreading the gospel among
poor people. There is hardly an inn
provement IN the Division street church
with which Mr.. Atwater had not some
thing 10 do. He was praying man
and was regular attendant at the
prayer meetings. He always worked
for the comfort of the members of the
church and gave his support to the
pastor in a substantial way. He always
loved the people, the city, the church
and God"
Nearer My God to Thee" was sung
by the Schubert club.
OF Sterling Character.
Harvey J. HOLSTER, lifelong friend
1 IF g..
cences of the life of the man for whom
the club is mourning. He said: 1T
has always been the good fortune OF
this city TO have men of sterling char
acter and ability, and Mr.. Atwater was
one of this class Of men. | knew him
forty years ago, when he was IN the
prime and vigor Of manhood. 1t was
then in the formative days of the city,
and much is due to the efforts of Mr..
Atwater for the steady progress of the
city's growth and prosperity"
The Rev. John Graham. a former
paster of the Division Street NJ. K.
church, OF which Mr.. Atvater was a
member, was the next speaker to pay a
tribute TO his memory. He said the
city had seemed more lonesome to him
since Mr.. Atwster's death. and the
church sadly missed the presence OF
the "Grand Old Man"
NJ. n. Walker read the resolutions
passed by the club August ! on the
death of its member, the resolution,
having been published at the time
Remember Thy Creator" was sung by
the quartet. and the exercises were
closed with the benediction by the
Rev. A. VI. Gould.