The herald., 1896-11-23
ST. JOHNS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Pastor Pays High Tribute to a De-
ceased Vestryman

A large congregation assembled yes-
terday morning in st. Johns church.
and the seats were nearly all OCCUPIED.
Notwithstanding the threatening wealth
er The new organ was heard to great
advantage, Prof. Krebs, the organist
being thorough and skilled organist
me large vested choir of thirty voices
rendered the musical portion of the SER
vices with excellent devotional effect.
indeed, since building, the choir had to
De stlll further enlarged to make room
for the additional members The Rev.
IS. w. r. Tayler. the rector preached
from First Thessalonians, iva: "The
VIII of God, even your sanctifcation."
He dwelt upon the necessity of personal
holiness, without which no man shall see
the Lord. AT the close of his sermon
he paid an eloquent tribute to the men,
ory of the late F. p. LEROY, vestryman
of St Johns. He said:
Before closing this sermon, must de-
tain you for few moments longer, to
pay tribute of respect and affection to
the memory of one who was to me the
very personification of personal holiness
and true manliness. I allude to our
deceased brother, Francis Paul LEROY,
whose mortal remains 1 consigned to the
grave last Wednesday afternoon. Those
who knew him not only respected
him but loved him for those un-
mistakable qualities which are char
acteristic Qf the true Christian gentle
man. Over four years ago 1 had the
pleasure of first meeting him, and at
once saw that he was a man of rare
character and of a disposition so sweet
and amiable that it was vertable
means of grace to be in his company
AS member of our diocesan convention,
as learned and scholarly member of the
committee on canons, as the secretary
of the Church Extension society of the
diocese, and as a vestryman of this par
ish he ever showed himself the true
churchman, the earnest worker and the
perfect gentleman. l never had oc-
casion to differ from him, to my knowl-
edge, which was great comfort to me.
For 1 had already formed in my mind
the opinion that if ever we had occa-
sion to differ on any important subject
he would be right and 1 would be
wrong. 1t is very seldom that anyone
entertains such high esteem for an
other. Two months ago, on account of
failing health, which necessitated his
removal to Redlands, Mr.. LEROY re-
signed from the vestry with great regret
that his health compelled him to resign.
With equal regret the vestry accepted
that resignation, for we all felt that the
vestry had sustained a great loss. He
was progressive enough to wish the par
ish to provide for future contingencies
ana requirements. his NOBLE true ana
godly man, this perfect, sweet and un-
bemshed Christian character our dear
Lord has seen fit in his wise providence
to call home to himself. When people
doubt about a hereafter I should like
to point to such a character as Francis
Paul LEROY and ask them if they sin
cerely think that it is possible for such
character. such soul to die? No
brethren He that liveth and believeth
on me shall never die" Our brother
is not dead. He sleeps in peace. His
devotion to his family, his loyalty to
his church. his faith in his God are ideals
for us to copy. The world has been en-
riched by his presence in it. We thank
God for such a gift to us. We shall
miss him more than we know. But
while we sorrow with a widow and her
fatherless children, with an aged and
devoted mother, and with brothers and
sister who weep for him, let us think
of him in that blest paradise
Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light,
All rapture through and through,
In God's S most holy sight"