The Portland daily press., 1896-11-25
FUNERAL OF ". W. THOMAS
Large Attendance Of Representative
Men.
THE STERLING CHARACTER OF
THE DECEASED.

1t Was the Subject of Worthy EuIogy-
Rev. MIR. Hack and DR.. Dalton Make
Addresses.
The funeral services of tic late Hon.
William Widgery Thomas at the Second
Parish church yesterday afternoon, were
very impressive and largely attended.
The front pews in the left center of the
body Of the church W ere reserved for the
family of the deceased. The remaining
portions of the church were thrown open
to the represen tatives of various institu-
tions. societies and organizations. IL was
a thoroughly representati r emily.
The directors Of the banking 9hstitutions,
the physicians of the city in "a body, a
large delegations from the Board of
Trade, the city government, and other
representative citizens and friends of the
deceased, were in the assemblage. The
ushers were Messrs. E. D. Noyes. c. 4.
Leach, j. G. Allen, B. L. Donnel and
Wilbur Anderson.
The church was not draped, but a tine
portrait of the deceased stood on a
draped easel near the casket. A sheaf of
palm leaves hung over the portrait was
the tribute of the Maine W. 6. T. U.
Introductory to the services Mr.. Sang
lier at the organ rendered "Prayer in e.
Flat" by Guilmont the Meditation
in F." by Victor Cluppens, and the
uDead March in Saul -
Rev. Rollin Il. Hack, pastor of the
church, offered prayer as soon as the cas-
ket had been brought in attended by
these pail bearers: Hon. Thomas B. Reed,
Gov. Henry B. Cleaves, Mayor James P.
Baxter, Judge Nathan Webb, Hon.
James W. Bradbury, Hon. Neal Dow,
William g. Davis, W eston b. Milliken,
Gen Francis Fessenden and Lyman
Cousins.
Following the prayer Mr.. Hack read
the scriptures, beginning with the IA
miliar. BLESSED is tine man that
walketh not in the council of the un-
gedly" etc.
The regular choir of the Second Par
ish church 81 essrs. L. Gray tenor and
Charles e. Baker basso and Mrs. ]. W..
Kelley soprano and Miss l.. M. Jordan
alto, next rendered beautifully the
hymn Nearer my God to rhee.'
Mr.. Hack then spoke as follows:
Know ye not that there is prince and
great man fallen this day in Isreal?
II. Sam 8. 5S.
These were the natural and fitting
ynrda hof IN i'm S0. v.G
learned OF the death of Mr.. Thomas. A
long and honored life has rounded itself
out peacefully to its END. The eyes that
opened 10 the light of the first years OF
this century, close to the light in it's last
years. "And now his eyes see the King
in his beauty, they behold the land that
is very far of"
His life was not like that of stream
| flowing from the mountains and losing
| itself in the sands, dwindling into moth
| inRness.
| But like that of river beginning afar
among the hills, taking Oh new power
as 1t flows, bearing on its current many
a venture, carrying blessings to all on it's
way, widening, deepening to its end in
the great ocean of eternity.
| 1t ia altogether fitting that we should
gather here to express our sense of per-
sonal bereavement, our esteem for his
| high character and to recognize the good
ness or our God in the gift of such a
| life.
| We mourn the passing Of venerable
| presence, the ending Of u most useful
| and honorable career, the loss of a strong
and commanding influence for righteous
n ess, but in Dur sorrow there is a sense
of exultatiOn in his long and we'll round
Ell lie, in his achievements and in his
character.
William Widgery Thomas was singular
~ fortunate in his ancestry. Descended
from the hrst settler Of Portland, his an.
eestry holds long line of brave, incor
ruptable Cody men and women.
His mother lived to the age OF SO years.
and his father to more than full hun
dIed.
And in the devoted care AMI thought
full regard of this aon for his parents We
see the beginnings Of the character that
we honor today.
He was first of all good son. The
| fifth commandment was loyalty kept by
| him and its promise fulfilled in mis- long
life. But better than length of days,
was the tender affection of those he hon
| ored.
! had the stern discipline of those times,
long hours, few holidays and rigid &C
counta bility for every minute of time.
| At the age Of Is he began business fol
himself and going TO Boston to purchase
goods, he there made the acquaintance 0.
Abbott and Amos Lawrence, TIE famous
merchants and benefactors, and though
Mr. Thomas was at that time boy, hi'
note good for nothing at law, such wal
the stamp of nobility alreadysupon him
such his evident honor and honesty, that
| these men took his note for thOusahdi
of dollars and, Mr.. Thomas began hi
| business career which in many ways re
minds one of that of Amos Lawrence.
1t was at this time that he became al
attendant on the preaching of DR.. Pay
son and five years later he united with
the Second Parish church of which fol
saranfz years ha has been an earnest