The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-20
REV. B. F. FOSTER IS DEAD
PROMINENT ODD FELLOW AND UNI
yEESALIST PREACHER.
Grand Secretary L. O. o. f. Since 1871
His Career as an Editor and
Minister-The Funeral.

North Alabama street, with whom he mas
been making his home for some time. He
had been unconscious nearly a week, hav-
ing been confined to the house since March.
In the L. O. o. F. and among the Uni
versalists of the State there was not a
better-known man than Mr.. Foster. His
work in the ministry was during the Pc
riod when there were circuit riders, and
for the past quarter of a century he has
held the office of grand secretary of the or
der. with Office in this city. Mr.. Foster
was born in Cincinnati, Jan. %, 1920. His
parents were Thomas and Sarah Foster.
Mrs. Foster Gas a direct descendant of the
old Coffin family. and was born at Nam
tucket. Mr.. Fosters father died when he
was twelve years old. at that time he
went into a printing office and learned the
first steps of the business. Afterward he
went to the Woodward High School, which
is now Woodward College. He later studied
for the ministry and was ordained in the
Universalist Church, to which denomina-
ton he always belonged.
After entering the ministry he went to
Madison, this State, where he was pastor
of a church. 1t was while he was in Madi-
son that he became engaged in the pub
licatiCn of the Gospel Herald, which was
the best paper published in the interests
of the Universalists at that time, and was
1 sent all over the country. MI. L OSler was
married July 80, 1915, to Miss Ellen Doug
lass Reed. 1t is on record in the family
Bible that the ceremony was performed
by Rev. E. NJ. Pingree, assisted by Rev.
w. G. Brooks. Mr.. Fosters only sister was
an attendant at the wedding. She died
last week at her home in the East. Mr..
and Mrs. Foster continued to reside in
Madison until 1S47 or 1S4S, when they came
to this city and Mr.. Foster became the
pastor of the Universalist Church on South
Delaware street, where Arthur Jordan's
business house is. now. 1t was the old
Wallace property, and Mr.. Andrew Wal
lace was one of the pillars of the church.
Mr.. Foster kept on with his work here I'M
til 1861. He was a circuit rider and some
times went as far west as Terre Haute.
He preached for a short time in Terre
Haule, but there is no record eXtant of
his work in that field. as it was brief.
1t was on the breaking out of the war
that Mr.. Foster received and accep d IL
call to Richmond, Ind, where ne remained
two years. He returned to this city in 1868
and was elected State Librarian, defeating
Stephenson, a Democrat. He was re-elect-
ed in 1865, and 1868 W; ; beaten in the Re
ceived one more vote than Mr.. Foster. For
a time he resumed his ministerial labors
and travelled proIniScuously over the State.
a year later ne went to the Maln-street
Universalist Church at Dayton. o. He only
preached there one year, for he game back
John Reynolds, Fought the Odd Fellows
TaIisman:., Mr.. Foster became its editor.
and held that office until his death.
On Nov. Is, 1871, Mr.. Foster was elected
grand secretary of the L. O.. O.. F. and grand
scribe of the ~Encampment, and he was re-
elected each year thereafter. Next month
he would have completed his quarter of a
century in the same office. One year he
represented the Grand Lodge of lndianasat
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United
States.
call to a church in Philadelphia, but he
refused it, as he felt that the field for Uni
the East. During his Office as State Lii
brarian he was invited by the ministry of
Indianapolis to deliver the memorial ad-
dress on the assassination of Lincoln in
the old Wesley Chapel. where the Sentinel
building now stands. When Mr.. Lincoln's
body was brought here, it was the duty of
the Librarian to attend to all arrangements,
and he had charge of the body and of all
the ceremonies connected with it while
here. He was not only Librarian, but he
was custodian of all the State buildings
and possessions during the office of Govern
or Morton. Mr.. Fosters last years have
been serene and quiet with his family in
this city, until the death of his wife, Aug.
26, 1892. His was a long and honorable ca
reer. AT one time there was a compilation
of the deaths and marriages attended by
found that Mr.. Foster had officiated for
the two events more times than any other
minister In Indiana. He was a good news
circulation of a little more than 100, grew
under his administration to an increase of
Mr.. and Mrs. Foster had six children,
two of whom, Florence and Edward, died
Frank s., Charles B. and Grace Belle, of
this city, and Frederick c. Foster, who is
superintendent of the schools of Canton,
N. Y.
Mr.. Fosters sickness was caused by an
attack of grip, which he had two years ago.
in March he was obliged to give up to his
illness; He passed away quietly at the
last with all his family, ecept Mr.. Freder-
lex Foster, about him.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow,
both. at the home of the deceased and in
the hall of the Grand Lodge, L. o. o. F..
Rev. t. S. Guthrie, of the First Universal
list Church, assisted by Revs. M. l.. Haines
and George l.. Macintosh, will conduct
the services at the residence at 9 o'clock.
after which the remains will be removed
to !; the Grand Ledge hall. where they will
the order will be administered by Grand
Master c. F. Northern, of Greensburg.
conducted by the Odd Fellows. The follow
ing have been selected as pallbearers: On
behalf of the Grand Lodge. I. Q. o. +. of
J. B. Kimball, of Kendallville; c. E. Blink
ley, Richmond J. F.; Wallick, John Rey-
oils. On behalf of the family. E. McGet-
tigan and Oscar w. Sears, also of Indian
apolis.
Carriages for grand officers and post Off
GERS of the Grand Lodge will form on the
north side OF East Washington street. right
chanan in charge. Cantons and detached
members, Patriarch Militant, will form on
~NOAlH 4 CiiIlSS NdIl11 street, flgnt resting
on Market street, reporting to Gen. j. r.
Bodine. Members of the Grand Lodge will
form on North Pennsylvania street, right
resting on Court street, reporting to w.
A. Morris, grand marshal of the Grand
Lodge. City and suburban lodges will
form on South Pennsylvania street. right
resting on Washington, reporting to Jo-
seph w. Buchanan. Visiting lodges and
all members from out of the city will form
on west side of North Pennsylvania street.
right resting on Market street. reporting
to j. A. McCreevy. All Odd Fellows In
good standing have been invited to partici-
pate. The procession will move from Grand
Lodge Hall at 2 o'clock, marching north on
Pennsylvania street to Seventh and Illi-
nois streets, taking street cars from that
point to Crown Hill. On reaching the
cemetery the lodges and members will re-
form as before.
Funeral Of Samuel F. Galloway.
The funeral Of Samuel i. Galloway, OF
800 North Capitol avenue, who suddenly
expired Sunday evening, will be held at 2
o'clock this afternoon from the residence.
The interment will be at Crown Hill. Rep
resentative Charles l.. Henry, a brother
in-law of MIR. Galloway, came to the city
yesterday. Walter Galloway, of the New
York World, an only child of the deceased,
arrived from New York last night.
An Old Soldiers Death.
Henry Grottendick died at his residence,
1879 North Liberty street, Sunday morning.