Middletown transcript., 1896-01-11
THE LESSONS OF A LIFE.

THE LESSONS OF A LIFE.
Verify good man has been takel
and those who have known and valued
Joseph Pyle will miss his warm-heartet
greetings. From his life there arr
valuable lessons to be learned, and il
pays, even amid the rush of business
to pause and consider them. For wha'
is life, and whence this restless long
! ing after these things that are just be
yond the power to reach
Joseph Pyle,was one of Gods noble
men. He was born on March IL, 1926
of that excellent Quaker stock which
has given to the world so many mer
and women of sterling qualities. He
began life as poor boy and was very
successful, doing good with his means
with liberal and yet discriminating
benevolence that made him hosts of
friends while he lived and that COW
cred his coffin with flowers and tears
when he lay peacefully in the repose OF
death. He was industrious. His for
tune did not come unsought nor un-
earned. He mastered the details of
bis business and he kreW what he was
doing.
EtJoseph Pyle was Christian, man
Of whom it can be said as truthfully as
Of any one, '.Behold! an Isrealite in
deed in whom there is no guile" He
was big-heartedC Christian and honored
the profession that he made since he
lived it. While he united himself with
the Methodist Church and was devoted
to that church he was generous and lib
eral towards all. His contributions
and gifts to churches have been more
than the average man saves in life
time.
JosephPylewas charitable and sympa-
thetic. 1t was these characteristics.that
made him 50 popular among fraternal
organizations, where his influence was
ever on the side of right, morality and
christianity. Men came from Boston,
fromProvidence from Binghanton from
Baltimore, from Trenton, from Phil
adelphia drawn by fraternal bonds,
to pay their respects to the memory of
one whom they had learned to love.
But there were undoubtedly in the
rank and file of those who acted as es-
corls of the remains to their resting
place, many men whose hearts burned
within them at the recollection of
timely aid extended them unostenta-
tiously by him in Pm hour of need. The
large concourse of people was proof
of this. He was in sympathy with
the young and his life was devoted to
Sunday-school work. He was engaged
in this work, literally "dying in the
harness." as he wished, when the final
stroke of paralysis came last Sabbath.
He made three Sunday-school addresses
during the day and was called away at
7:30 in the evening.
Joseph Pyle was patriotic. He loved
his country and was ever on the side
of honest and good government. He
served the people faithfully as repre-
sentative man in whatever capacity he
was called, and had the party Of his
choice been in power in this State he
would undoubtedly have been called to
higher stations, though he could not
have discharged the duties more faith
fully than he did those Of less distinct
ion, for be always did his best. In this
connection an incident is recalled which
he related to the writer at his home
some years since, characteristic Of the
man. No one can doubt Joseph Pyle's
republicanism, for it was his convic-
tion Of his duty to bis country, but he
believed thoroughly in the rights Of
every man. His father-in-law was a
Democrat and for some years made his
home with his daughter and Mr.. Pyle.
On one occasion Mr.. Pyle inquired Of
his father in-law il he had paid bis poll
tax, Mr.. Pyle having paid his with his
property taxes, and Mr.. Pyle promis-
ing to look after the tax, called upon
the collector to find that his father-in-
law had been returned delinquent"
the tax never having been called for.
Mr.. Pyle was indignant and SO en-
pressed himself but was told "that is
the law, and we abide by the law"
Mr.. Pyle gave the collector his opinion
of such a law and said that while his
father-in-law was a Democrat and bis
vote would kill his own, yet be resent
ed such a law and its workings as an
outrage. The collector thought "some-
thing might be done, it should be done
If possible - It was ound.possible and
something was donen and Mr.. Pyle
had the satisfaction Of seeing his
father-in-law vote. "He was Demo-
crat,n said Mr.. Pyle, ''and was suf-
fered to yote.n and the honesty and pa
triotism of Joseph Pyle shines out the
more brilliantly in this very act.
Joseph Pyle is dead but his influence
still lives. He left memorials In be-
neyolences and charities during bis life
In every direction, in beautiful
Chufvanadjoining his home property,
10 so many ways, but most Of all in the
helpfrl and hopeful daily life that he
lived. the memory Of which win en-