The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-06
FUNERAL OFv. r. FOSS.
A Crowded Congregation Pay Tribute to a
Good Mantle First Baptist Church
Filled With Mourners-Inspiring Ad-
dresses by Messrs. Ayres and Wright.


funeral Of one of her most preminent
mercharts, q man universally esteemed,
and the old First Parish church was
hardly large enough to accommodate the
many who desired to pay respect to his
memory. Yesterday afternoon gather
Ing no whit inferior in size, filled the
First Baptist church to pay tribute to
Mr.. V. Richard Foss, who was not only
weA-xnown business man, but one
who was identified with the church and
with religious work in both city and
state.
services were conducted at Mr. Foss's
residence prior to those at the church.
Owing to the illness of Mrs Foss, she
was unable to be present at the public
exercises. The Rev.s Mr.. Ayres, pastor
or the church, Rev. Mr.. Wright of the
St. Lawrence street church, and Rev.
Mr.. Lindsay of the Congress street Me-
thodist church, occupied the chancel.
The body pews were occupied by the
members OF the Young Mems Christian
Association. Life Underwriters Asso-
clatlon, Equitable Life, Board of Trade,
and members of the Masonic and Odd
Fellow lodges of which Mr.. Foss was a
member. The reading desk, comm union
table and space about the pulpit were
filed with most beautiful and fragrant
floral designs.
Ihe services began with an organ vol
untary by Mr.. Harry johnson, followed
by the arrival Of the funeral possession
which kwas preceded up the isle by the
pastor, Mr.. Ayres, reciting the passage
beginning: 81 am the Resurrection
and the Life and the pail bearers who
placed the oasket in front Of the pulpit.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr..
Ayres, after which he read several pas
sages of scripture. Then fol-
lowed the Crock of Ages"
sung by a quartette composed of Miss
Florence Knight, Mrs. Morrison, Messrs
A. B. Hall and Harry Merrill. Mr..
Ayres then spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
The most beautiful product Of earth is
consistent life. The life of Jesus has
| always been admired, because He not
only revealed eternity, but lived as If
eternity were real to Him. All that was
beautiful in His life was the product Of
His desire to make the kingdom Of God
| first. Whatever else may be said, one
sure thing there is, He strove to reach
his ideal, to live as if he expected asome
day to meet God He exalted the spir-
| itual to the place it has right to claim.
The value of life is not determined by
| what he does, but by what he is and the
spirit with which he works. This was
man who knew how to do business.
He had the art of making a success of
whatever he touched.
But he knew what Is far more how to
carry the consciousness OF God into bis
business. All praise is out of place be-
fore this life. The best thing which can
be said of man is that he needs no
praise; he speaks for himself. The
brother endeavored to do even more, and
built character which should speak for
God. He would have left his business
and devoted all his time to Christian
work If he had not believed he could
serve God better by witnessing for him
in commercial life. He entered into our
political life because he would stand for
righteousness there and do what he could
kingdom of God. The determination to
make Christ first led him into various
Christian activities throughout the state.
Many little churches owe their existence
to the inspiration which they received
from him, and there are few Baptist
Oh urches of the state where his voice
has not been heard.
He was especially interested in young
people, and as state president did much
to promote the growth of the Christian
Endeavor Society.
Many are the young men whom be has
inspired to better life and led into the
church. The Young Mems Christian AS.
ISOLATION Of our city never had better
supporter, or one to whom this work
was dearer.
The Good Will Farm found in him a
constant supporter and counsellor. A
native Telugu preacher on the other side
of the globe testifies that his heart was
larger than Maine. But In all this his
one desire and that which makes his
memory so valuable to us, was to hide
his life behind the cross Of Christ. He
would repudiate every word of praise
His desire for US today would be not that
We might honor him, but that as we look
into his face we might hear him say :"In
the Gross of Christ Glory" TO the
church his loss is irreparable, but he
should be in his memory a living epistle
read Of all men. He should show us out
of the dark wilderness of sin to God.
At the close of his address Mr.. Ayres
called upon Rev. Mr.. Wright, who said:
We who live on the Hill, where our
dear brother has resided, feel great per-
sonal loss of a good oiUizen and friend.
He was a very good friend. He never
failed me in sympathy, counsel or help
He lived to be helpful. If should
speak of what seemed to me his most
prominent characteristics it would be
helpfulness. He loved the wide world.
he loved the church of God. He loved
the churches on the Hill, and cannot
tell all that he did for lis. I last saw
him on Saturday evening. He could
not come down to his own church and SO
he came over to our vestTy, sat among
| US and, III the course Of the meeting
| offered a most hearty prayer that the
great work we had on hand might pros
per. 1.-The Joy of Service" was the sub.
| ject of the evenings discussion, and Mr..
| Foss said: cpd rather toll ten years in
the service of the Master than few DAYS
| in the business in which am now en-
gagged" We shall long remember our
| brother and miss him sadly.
Rev. Mr.. Lindsay then offered fervent
prayer, after which the quartette sang
beautifully ''In the Homeland" the