Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-03
FUNERAL or Mns. A. u. coNAN7
The Services Last rhurstiay-Tho Remains
Taken to Laurel iiili.

OF Mrs. Augusta l.. GonAnt took place
last Thursday morning at the resi-
dence, No. sol West Fifth street. At
that time a large gathering Of friends
| had met. Many were from outside the |
city, some from distance having ar.
rived Thursday morning. The remains |
| lay IN the southern parlor surrounded |
| by floral memorials, Friends took charge |
/ OF the visitors as they arrived.
Principally at the hour appointed the
| Rev. Alexander L. Bowser, minister of
the Unitarian Church, extended AN in
visation for few moments OF silent
prayer.
Then he read selections from the
beautiful versicles, commencing, Lord
| Thou hast been our dwelling place in all
generations Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever Thou hadst
formed the earth and the world, even
fiom everlasting to everlasting, Thou
art Cod"
The minister's address was on the
topic, "Fhe Hope of Immortality" AT
the close of the address aud following
prayer Mr.. Bowscr read the following
memorial from the board of trustees OF
the Unitarian Church.
MEMORIAL.
1t seems but day or two ago that we
were called upon TO mourn the loss of one
of our members of the board of trustees,
and again we are met together to pay the
last tribute to Mrs. Augusta l.. Gonant, who
has always been associated with the Uni
tartan movement in this city, and who was
the first woman elected to the board of
trustees.
We recall her as we first knew her more
then % years ago rs an earnest worker
and n stanch defender OF the faith i'll
,TFaiA t1a1sa -
energy, devoted daughter, sister and
mother, the shadow of her widowhood
only added, the grace and dignity born of
sorrow, to nature already strong. We
follow her through her life of devotion to
every good worN both in and out of the
} church, her conscientious endeayor in the
Sunday-school, her hospitable spirit to all
that served the interest of the cause she
espoused, and we see her as one "Who
never turned her back. but marched breast
forward. neyerdoubted clouds would break;
never dreamed. though right was worsted,
, wrong would triumph" Aud with this
+ brave spirit she met the crushing blow
that took from her first her mother, and
then the SON in his young manhood, the
: son she idolized who was all that she
! desired, and in whom her ambition and
hope conferred. And still we see her
brayely taking up the burthen Of her life.
the burthen that had grown so heavy that
. her tired feet faltered by the way, the
[ silver cord of life was loosed, the golden
bowl broken, and gradually her strength
1 failed, the longing for "the touch of a
: vanished hand, the sound of voice that
was still" grew into such entreaty that on
: the eve of her sons birthday-the day we
4 celebrate with happiness and rejoicing as
s the birthday of Him who said: Come
r unto me all We that labor and are heavy
!. laden" she heard the summons to "comt
q up higher;n the 'long wonder" had ended
: and the tired heart was still
We shall miss her true, brave spirit hel
> determination and energy, but for her We
: can only rejoice, for, 'beleving i'll thu
midst OF our atliictions, that death is be-
ginning, not AN end, we can think of hel
freed spirit at rest, Joined to those she hat
" loved and lost. And so with bowed heat
:. and reyerent tread we cry, God speed the,
on!
The funeral party left for the B. & o
station, taking the 1.25 p, m. train TO
}, Philadelphia. Those accompanying TIN
IS remains were Daniel w. Taylor, Colone
II Benjamin Nields, A. d. Warner, JOSEPH
S. A. Richardson, William II. Hill, N. r
5 Benson. Interment was made at Laure
g. Hill cemetery.
G MEMOIR OF MRS. A. L. eoNANT.
10 In 1867 Mrs. Augusta l.. Conant be
~ came resident of this city, and the fol
lowing Sunday after her arrival here
y having ascertained Unitarian societ,
IL was in existence, she attended til
J. Sunday-school and promptly tendere
her services as one of Its helpers an
ia teachers. Such kindly offer wa
ei warmly accepted and her counectio
lie with it has continued with unusua
faithfulness and devotion to the presen
OIL time. For several years past she ha
IL acted as superintendent, and nothin
rs outside of her home life claimed her III
w failing love and unbounded hope as he
y, work among the young of her chose
IN religious faith. Those who have bee
~ privileged to be members of her elias
u have gone out into the world filled wit
y, her teachings of that faithful service |
rs. man, conscientious duty in life an
eS nobility of character are the essenti'
ISIS and acceptable offerings to bring uni
is' the Father and the true essence {
II; salvation. Such lessons of vital trut
aa cannot fail to leave their impress on IL
81, hearts and minds of those with who
lo she came in contact every Sunda
~ morning.
i. One of the many good works wit
ISIS which Mrs. Conant was connected is Il
rs. Home for Friendless and Destitute CHI
ne dren. She was elected u member of IL
= DOuTu VI uldHdEStIo III Au5 uStI lOuu, az
Ii. since that time has been closely indeni
ne fled with its interests. Serving for mar
lei years most acceptably on the commits
'h' of admission and dlsmission only
ty' become the president OF the boar
ISIS which position she filled at the time
~ ~, her death
O. The duties she assumed as chairmt
.le' of the committee We're very arduous, +
~ quiring one day Of every week to
Ihe spent at the Homeland with which 81
no allowed no other claim to interior
~ Added to personal interviews was va
.is II; amount Of correspondence and clio
.ro supervision OF the various accounts
IN, tendant on the children admitted or d
ny missed. A rare ability was fostered
LIS her position on the board of aGmissic
'er, Her love for children was such that ca
ihu claimant for the protecting care of t
~ Home was recognized and remember
~ always. She knew the history of eut
En- and felt it as n fresh claim upon her
~ IA terest, giving to each Of the little one
lsh' tender motherly care that was not to
lessened when they found other hon
or entered on life of sclf.suppc
-. Letters from the children who had be
ltes under the care of the Home were f
$50 quently addressed to her and w
ifty always welcome as from dear frien
lars This personal individual interest in ca