The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-03
and desperation, with the dreadful re.
suit which is now widely known.

Abram j. Moore, as fellow member
with Edison X eth in st. Paul's, knew
the dead merchant we'll for twenty
years or more. To reporter for the
Inter Ocean Mr.. Moore paid his tribute
to kindly remembrance.
"Mr. Keith" said he, twas one of the
noblest men ever knew. He had char
acter in the fullest sense. Unassuming,
totally lacking in the ostentation his
wealth and social position would have
excused if not warranted: the good he
did will never be known. His acts of
private charity were greater, believe.
than the benevolences that from their
nature could not be kept secret 1t is
we'll remembered by our members how
he contributed s25, 900 toward lifting the
debt of $4,000 on the church. He was
on terms of intimate friendship with the
late DR.. Ryder, and gave sympathy and
active support to the benevolent ideas
of that good man. In his friendship he
was sincere, helpful, and sympathetic.
In his relations with the generality Of
his fellows he was kindly. unostenta.
tious, and uniformly generous. His loss
will be deplored by many of whom his
circle has no knowledge"
Edison Keith's Funeral.
The funeral of the dead merchant was
held on Friday morning at II o'clock
from the Prairie Avenue home. The
service was simple but impressive as
conducted by Rev. DIR. Garfield, pastor
of st. Paurs Universalist Church. The
spacious home Of the mourned friend
and public benefactor was scarcely ade
quate to the host that came to be r
witness Of their sorrow. AS early as 10
o'clock the relatives and intimate friends
Of the family began to arrive and fifteen
minutes before DIR. Garfield began the
service at IL o'clock, the house was
crowded.
The arrangement was perfect. The
casket stood in the reception room to
the right of the entrance. was banked
with the floral offerings which were sent
from nearly every State in the Union. In
the East. the West and the South sor-
rowing and sympathizing friends sent
beautiful tributes to his memory, and
many cards came with the offerings
whose owners the relatives of Mr.. Keith
do not know.
In accordance with the wish of the
family and Mr.. Keith's well-known feel
ings upon such subject, DIR. Garfield
offered no formal eulogy. He read a
selection from the Scriptures and offered
prayer. In the prayer the pastor dwelt
upon the life of the deceased briefly,
referring to the home life and speaking
consoling words to the widow, children
and grandchildren. Everyone present
could hear DIR. Canfeld's voice. so full
OF sorrow for his dead friend. who not
longer ago than Sunday week attended
his church and listened to the last SER
mon that he was ever to hear.
At the conclusion of the service DR.
Garfield said that Mr.. Keith's friends
would understand how hard it was for
him to refrain from eulogy. 1--WE loved
him too well,' said DR.. Garfield "to need
any word of praise or eulogy."
The choir of st. Paul's church was
present and sang Lead Kindly Light
and the Home Land in a beautifully
subdued and artistic manner. The bur-
ial was private and at Graceland Gene
terry.
The honorary pallbearers were A. A.
Sprague, A. G. Bartlett, John M. Clark,
Charles L. Hutchinson. G. A. Seaverns,
George M. Pullman, T. B, Blackstone,
A. A. Carpenter, w. W. Kimball and
William Chisholm of Cleveland.
The active pallbearers we're William
X. Sidley. T. M. Caliger. Rufus N. Blk
by and Geo. M. Gerow of Keith Bros. &
Co., Floyd P. Gerow. James Wilson and
Edward p Springer of Edison Keith &
Co.. and Daniel L. Seymour of the Keith
Elevator Company.
Among those who we're present at the
funeral were p. d. Armour, Matthew
Latin, Colonel George r. Davis, John
A. Roche. Marshall Field, Huntington
w. jackson. Fernando Jones. H. N. Hig-
inbotham, and many other we'll known
citizens.
About forty members of the CONNER
cial Club attended in body, among
whom we're some of the warmest friends
of Mr.. Keith's lifetime. The house was
not only thronged by friends. but hun
dreds of people waited on the sidewalks
for the removal of the body to the
hearse. 1t was one of the largest private
funerals Chicago has seen as we'll as one
of the most touching and sorrowful.
The municipal engi neers of Paris