The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-05-09


In the Baltimore Christian Advocate
of April p, we find the following article
on the death Of Rev. Robert Roteler,
who was well known to large circle of
friends here:
Rev. John Wesley Boteer fell asleep
in Jesus on Sunday evening, April y,
1896, at I O'clock He had lived 81 wears
and one month.
In Brother Boteler the church loses
one Of her most LOYAL sons The con-
gregation in Epworth, in Washington
city, has lost its patriarch. Whoever
was second at Epworth, Brother Boz
teller was always first. Iethe was the
servant of all. He had his wishes
granted, If the congregation could in
any way find what those wishes were,
but the granting OF the same was done
as tribute of love, which the young
and old alike laid at his feet. 1t was a
delightful scene to watch him moving
among the people Who almost idolized
him, everyone wanting to take his hand
and hear from him somo pleasant word
often humOrous-whileh he, in turn,
was careful not 10 overlook any. He
was the bond that held the people to-
gether when the congregation was
smaller than it is now, and his influence
grew as he ripened for the grave.
lie was gentle, yet firm. He always
spoke III a low tone, and never seemed
to lose his eguableness. With all this,
he was in no sense a passive character
A Methodist through and through, and
q decided Southern Methodist, yet he
had the love and respect Of all Chris
tian people in the city, the Roman Ca
tholIc yieing with the PrOtestants in
paying him homage. So much for a
| man OF whom men know where he was
TO be found
In his methods of church work he
was painstaklng hand-plcker." If a
| certain amount of money was to be
raised he would often assume bulk of
it, and then with perseverance, in the
! face of all discouragements, he would
add little by little until he had accom-
| plshed what he set out to do. So in
| his labOrs with souls. He worked upon
| the individual. " hen he was in the
active ministry, he rode great way up
on one occasion to his appointment, and
! found one man as his congregation. He
| took text, preached, and then came
| down and shook hands with his audi
| encc. How many souls will greet him
on the other side whom he has thus i'm
|
! ais,
Asto generosity, Brother Boteler was
a kind of marvel. No one knows how
| much he gave. He had more little
! funds saved up from this and that
! source than anyone | have ever known.
| 1t IS putting the case mildly to say that,
! so far as human eyes can see, EpwOrth
| church as it now stands, in its beauty,
! could not have been built without his
self-sacrifice and counsel. His favorite
| expression in regard to church affairs
| in late years was: 81 want to see new
| church on that corner" referring to
| Seventh and A., n. f. He lived to see
| that wish gratified, and he was glad.
| From the time this browning work of
! his life was accomplished he began to
| fail pl ysically. A collapse occurred
| near the first Of this year He rallied
and came back to us, but We all saw he
was only walking with those he loved
! so we'll for little while. His talks, his
| songs, his prayers, were all about hea-
ven. He knew the end was not far off.
| But there was not the remotest sign of
| dread. His humOr was present to the
| last. His physician asked him a few
days before his death how he felt. He
smiled and held up both fingers. His
last words to me were words concern
! ing the church. | treasure the very
lat utterance, which was, The Lord
will provide"
The bells of Washington were ring
ing, calling the people ofthe church mill
itans to worship, when the music of
heaven burst upon him. Just as the
sun had set he turned his head and
breathed his last without struggle
The congregation at Epworth was en-
gagged IN young peoples service at the
time, unconscious of the loss the church
had sustained. But he still lives And
- ------~ 's-hA -Nr- 49, ~~--s-~s~>>:--- -
any time.
His funeral services we're conducted
IN the presence of large audience at
Epworth NJ. +. church, South, on Tues
day, April 18th, at 3 o'clock. The fol-
loving ministers were present and as
sisted The pastor in the services: Revs
Rumsey Smithson, |. W. Canter, j. r.
Williams, W. +. Locke, d. II. Kern and
Chaplain Isaacs of the T. : navy. The
remains were inferred in the Congre-
GatlOnal cemetery.
Brother Boteler leaves a widow and
five children. His children are all
grown and consistent members of the
Methodist church.
J. 0. KNOTT.
Washington, d. e.