The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-27
PRESS CLUBS TRIBUTE.
EuIogies sndResolutions Testi-
mony OF Regret for Departed Friend.

L
The Providence Press Club assembled
at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon TO pay
| tribute to the memory OF Alfred M. Will
Jams, its founder and first president
| The attendance was large, and much inter-
est was manifested In the proceedings.
President Salandri presided, and briefly
| stated the purpose OF the meeting. On
motion the President appointed ex-Presi-
| dents George Il. Mackinnon and Fred l..
| Hopkins and Treasurer w. A. Phillips
| committee 10 prepare resolutions and re-
| port at the meeting.
Eulogies were presented by friends OF
| the deceased and Mr.. Charles III. George
began this appropriate service by saying
| in substance the following:
| "Surely griSvous sorrow and aflliction
| have fallen upon us Dying far away
| from home and friends on a lonely island
| i'm the sea. seems an untimely death,
| which touches very deeply all our hearts,
| with pathetic tenderness. The dread sum-
| mons has been often answered.; but of all
| those who have been called to the better
| and higher life, none VIII be more sadly
missed and truly mourned than him
F, whose memory, we now commemorate.
| / cannot refrain from expressing, though
very inadequatSly IL Will be, the great
| loss which the Rress Club sustains In his
| death and my own personal bereavement.
| His constant and untiring interest In the
club was always apparent, and his love
| for ii was ever uppermost in his heart In
his chosen profession he achieved great
| success, enabling him to attain the posi-
tion of one OF the ablest and most bril-
! liant OF Journalists As citizen he was
! public spirited and intensely interested in
| everything which tended to the growth
| and prosperity of our city, i'm fact, every.
thing that had for It's object the advance
| ment of the people In their educational,
| moral and material welfare received bis
| earnest aid and heartiest cooperation. In
| his social relations and as a friend he
| was most lovable. His quiet, unassum-
| ing, retiring and modest nature re-
| stricted somewhat, as you know, his cir
| Gle OF acquaintance, but all those who
had the privilege OF close companion
ship will never forget his sincere and
warm brotherly affection. He was man
| in the hig hest and truest sense. Always
| loyal to his friends and faithful TO his
convictions, and never lacking courage TO
| plainly and frankly utter them. His
splendid qualities of heart and mind en-
deared him to everybody with whom
| be came in contact. You could not come
| in touch with him without being bene-
| fitted and uplifted. Always sympathetic
and kind, always unselhsh, always help
| full. God makes but few such men. i can
not close without word concerning the
| noble Christian character OF our dear
| friend. He did not boast OF this element
tions; he did not wear his religion on his
sleeve TO be observed by men; but he
was a religious man. His sense of justice,
his hatred of wrong, his love for his fell
lows, his sympathy for the poor, his tend
erness for the sorrowing, all attest to his
Christian character In many OF his
charming writings you see the beauty OF
his simple faith and the grounds of his
bright and assuring hopes. Mr.. Williams
will be greatly missed in this whole COM
munity, and especially here in this as
sociation. We shall never hear his word
of counsel and his wise admonitions.
"The trials and sorrows OF life are over;
its pains and disappointments ore ended.
He will find a warm welcome in heaven;
there will be many there who will be glad
10 meet him. The long procession which
has gone on before, some who departed
many years ago, and those who preceded
him but little while will find glorious fell
lowship again In the heavenly reunion. Let
us submissively bow to the will OF God, feel
ing and believing that lie who holds our
lives lin the hollow of His hand doeth
all things well. Let us take heart in the
midst OF our grief, and let us be CON-
forted with the hope that out OF this
fresh baptism of sorrow we may be quick
ened and.lifted up, and SO become more
useful in doing the work OF life. Ii Is
our privilege TO gather encouragement
from such a life as MIR. Williams, and
may we SO live tnat we, like him, may
leave behind us blessed and hallowed
memories. Thus living, the chastenings
of our Heavenly Father and the grievous
dispensations which fall from His hands
will not have been I'm vaiD."
After Mr.. George, Mr.. Ansel ID. Nicker-
son, formerly editor ot The Evening
Press, spoke of the sterling worth Of his
former associate.
Ex- President George II. Mack innon, oF
The News editorial staff, who was asso-
ciated with Mr.. Williams for about ten
years, dwelt upon the traits OF MIR. Will
Jams character which had made him be-
loved bv all with whom he had to do in
his profession, and the almost irreparable
loss which the club had suffered in his
early demise. Mr.. Williams was the fiyst
president of the Press Club and was thrice
re-eIee ted TO that office--a precedent not
equalleo by any Of his successors.
DIR. j. e. Rutherford sroke briefly upon
the standard set up by Mr.. Wilkins as
being SO notably worthy OF emulation by
the younger members OF the profession,
and Treasurer William A. Phillips con-
cluded the speeches hy stirring sum-
mary OF the noble qualities in Mr.. Will
iams' character, as shown In every phase
of his private and public life.
The committee 90 resolutions then sub
mitted the following which were unani-
mously adopted by the meeting:
wheroas. II has pleased Divine Providence,
III lts lnscIutdDlt WlSiOu, 10 remove from
among Us our beloved companion and late
associate, ex.President Alfred NJ. williams;
therefore be IL
Resolved. That In HIS death tho Providence
Press Club Is hereft of It's ablsst counsellor,
its most earnest and inter sted member ana
Jealous advocate OF all that pertained TO the
clubs welfare. From its inception this inter
est remained unhaseing TO the time Of his
death. he enioyed the well-merited distinc-
iion Of being the father of the club. It's pur-
puse and its motto found development in fis
generous and liberal mind. He was the clubs
nrst president, and the club uttostsd the ap-
probation OF bis sterling worth by re-electing
HIM as It's chief executive for three consecu.
tive years, precedent never reached by any
OF his SUCCESSORS. And be IL also
Resolved, That while we bumbly bow 10
the aisprnsation OF Providence, we will ever
hold IN sacred memory his many endearing
qualitirr. and we sincerely tender tho sym
pathies OF the club 20 these who mourn his
lott with us. And be 10 further
Resolved, That these resolutions be duly
engrossed and nnng in the rooms Of the Pro-
yidenco Press Club.