Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11
MEMORIAL SERVICES
At tho soldier.' Homo for "s1othern-He,
Final Tender Appeal TO "her Boys."

, At the Soldiers Home for "dother"-He
Final Tender Appeal to cher Boys"
At the soldiers home last Saturds,
at three o'clock p. M, services wer,
held in memory of Mrs. Lucas, VIII,
was buried that day at Waverly, Iowa
The homo chapel had been TASTEFUL,
decorated by the "boys" and presented
an appearance that indicated the low
they bore for the friend for whom theJ
mourned. Rev. Baker, of the Presby
terian church, preached the memorial
sermon and was assisted in the services
by Rev's. Swickard, Hancher and
Clough, the latter reading the final ad.
dress of Mrs. Lucas to her boys which
follows. The services were beautiful,
impressive and sad.
Sophronia (Lowe) Lucas was born in
Carroll county, Indiana, Dot. l3, 1895,
August II, 1856 she was married to w.
V. Lucas at Henry, Marshall county,
Illinois. They came west to waverly.
Iowa, Immediately, where they lived
twenty-three years, removing from
there to Mason City where they lived
seven years, and thence to South Da-
kota in 1888. In 1854 Mrs. Lucas was
converted and became a faithful fol-
lower of her Savior. All her life she
was worker in the cause of Christian
ity, temperance and helping the poor
and the needy. Wherever she lived
she was beloved by all classes of peo.
pie for her works. sake. She was a pill
lar in the church, never waverinp in
her faith or relaxing her efforts to do
good.
She was the mother of seven child
rem, four of whom preceded her in
childhood to the better land. Her two
sons who survive her reside in. .Charles
Mix county, this state, and her young
est child and only daughter resides at
Garner, Iowa.
In June of this year when it became
settled fact in her mind that death
was fast approaching. she decided to
go to Chicago for a brief visit and If
rellef did not come to her to return to
her daughters home to await the end
This decision was reached because she
desired to be buried beside her child
rem in the cemetery located on the old
farm which she and her husband set.
tled IN 1881 and where she remained
during his long absence as a soldier in
the war. She had a dread of being
transported from here there after
death, SO chose to go while able to
travel and await the end among old
time friends and in the midst of her
family.
She calmly disposed of all her keep
sakes, clothes, souvenirs and memen-
tos among her children and friends.
Every detail of her funeral was ar.
ranged by herself. She particularly
desired to be buried in a black silk
dress the boys of the home presented
her in 1898 to go to Washington.
AS she approached the murky waters
OF the river of death she lifted up her
voice and sang "Nearer Ny God to
Thee," in a clearer voice than for
months before. At. 11:45 a. m. Sept. 8,
her life went out as quietly as candle
burns out, not a struggle at the last.
Such is brief history ofa sweet,
usefuliand industrious life. She made
the world better by being in it. AS a
wife and mother she was idolized BY
her family. AS a neighbor and friend
few women had a stronger hold upon
those who knew her.
When very weak and scarcely able
to talk she dictated the following
greeting and farewell to tiny boysr at
the home:
10 my boys at the home, greeting:-s
AS lie upon my bed and look into
the promised land desire to say a few
words to you.
am gratified for the words of sym
pathy and the earnest prayers that
come to me from you. God in his wis
dom and mercy has heightened my
life for at least one year that I might
do some good among my fellow NOR
tails. Now that my work is done, my
life's history is near its close, 1 look
forward to the sweet rest that awaits
me in Jesus. He has promised it to
me, not to me only, but to all who will
adopt Him as their Savior. To me His
service has been pleasant one. Ionly
regret that I could not have done more
for Him and humanity. Iregret that
1 have not lived up to the full measure
of my privileges; but 1 am not only
willing, but glad to surrender my stew.
ardship, humble as it is, and ente,
upon the joys of that inheritance that
Jesus gives all His children.
To you old soldiers who SO faithful,
served your country 1 appeal and ask
you to serve God with the same fideli
ty and zeal. bear witness, as I lool
into the future, that death nor the
grave, have any terrors to the re-