Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-21
IN MEMoRIAM.
George Whitfield Freeman.
DIED n ~. 1895.

In the calm and peaceful quiet Of Tho
early hours of Wednesday,, March ID
1895, the soul of our father was called
to live with its Giver. a soul whittier
and more pure than the softly falling
snow that bore it to it's home.
Early Wednesday morning Father
Freeman awOke from Il sound anG
peaceful slunber, coughing and expec
torating phlegm He raised himself
on his arm to ease the s~utfOcation, but
it did not help him. His wife went fol
some camphor, but he arose before she
returned, walked out into the mex,
room aud sat down in his arm chair
She wrapped a quilt around him and
asked if she should go for George. He
nodded assent and she ran across the
street and awakened him. In a very
few minutes he was by his fathers side,
but it was too late to hear him speak. In
answer to his sons passionate cry,
Don't you know me, father?" the good
mar only changed the expression OF
his face. and seeming to smile peace
fully, without a movement passed from
the land of shadows to one of eyerlast-
ing day. His mind was active to the
last, and though the power of speech
was gone, the changing of expression
showed that he knew his loved one.
G. H. Freeman and Mrs. N. A. Kirk,
son and daughter, were called, but the
end had come and they could only feel
the. face Of him they loved so we'll grow
cold in death.
''Tben fell upon the house a sudden gloom,
A. smile upon those features known SO well;
And softly, from that Borrowing room,
Two angels issued, where but one went In"
Gods finger touched him and he
slept" going to sleep with the blessed
assurance hat he would be with the
Jesus he loved and served SO we'll.
When he awoke from his last earthly
sleep he cried, "Jesus! Oh, my Jesus!'
and He heard that cry and came and
| carried him to the home he labOred for
| so long.
Never was q greater shock felt in
this town than when the death of
Father Freeman was announced on the
streets. Men seemed paralized and
not a few doubted, but the sad news
was true. Men who seldom give way
to tears broke down and cried; the
little children whom he loved seemed
unable to comprehend the news. Many
of these little friends came to the house
asking to see Grandpa. They looked
upon the ~lifeless features with the
same calmness rs when he taught them
in Sunday school. Death is not death
when little children stand in its pres
ence a they did. The friends who
came. and their name is legion, sadly
mOurned the loss they felt so keeLly.
"How I shall miss him." was what
all said. To all the loss is per-
sonal and time only can bring it home
TO our hearts. The very air seemed to
mourn for the dead, aud from it came
it's beautiful benediction, the spotless
snow.
"Can that mar be dead
Whose spiritual influence is upon his kind?
He lives In glory: and his speaking dust
Has more OF life than half its breathing moulds.''
No words can be more appropriate
here than the words of the poet. The
features of that good man SO cold in
death appeal more strongly to us than
half the breathing moulds.
But yesterday the voice of the dead
performed those last sad rites over the
body of a friend, and now he is gone:
and another speaks words of love and
sympathy over him who was his leader.
In writing this we know not what
to say. Trying to gather words to-
gether to tell u loss, and every
mans loss, we are unable to say what
is in our hearts. We can only turn to
Him and keep silent.
"The best description OF a flower is
the flower itself" SO here the best we
write pales into nothing when we
think of u father.
On Thursday the funeral services
were held in the Baptist chapel, Rev.
Rowley officiating. The church, whose
founder now lay in death within its
walls, was most appropriately draped,
even the flowers seemed to bow in rev.
erence Of the sacred dead.
Rev. Rowley chose for his text parts
of the 25th and 26th verses in the 18th
chapter OF John. Though he we're
dead, yet shall he live: and whOsOver
liveth and believeth in me shall never
de-.
The sermon was the most appropriate
and comforting we have v g heard.
the words of the text were shown at
their best and the wonderful assurance
they give made the loss we have to
| bear seem like a blessing.
Truly, he lived and believed in his
Lord, teaching and showing by ex-
ample how to live this life, that we
know he is living in that bright and
| happy home across the river.
Revs. Coffey, VanDoran ..and Carhart
spoke q few words of comfort to the
! living and praise of the dead.
After the service the casket was
opened for q few moments and many
took their last look at the kindly face
| they knew and loved.
The time was very short and it was
necessary to turn hundreds away SO that
| the remains could be taken to the train,
and carried to Lake City, Mimi, to be
laid beside the wife Of his youth. The
services there were conducted by Rev.
J. v. Conklin who was associated with
the deceased more than half q century
ago.
Again the air gave its benediction tt
the dead and the falling n was h!f
mantle.
Sunday morning Rev. Coffey took for
! his text the thirteenth verse OF the
fourteenth chapter of Revelation
Grandpa Freeman used this same tex
when he preached the funeral Of M. d
Weston who passed away sixteen years
ago. After reading this text, Grandp,
turning to the mourners said, write
what shall I write" then repeating the
text said, .sblessed are the dead which
die in the Lore from herceforth."
Rev. Coney 3 remarks were full ofsym
patty and were greatly appreciated b.