The times., 1897-06-28
A Notable Tribute to the De-
parted Labor Leader.
CRAFTSMEN HONOR THE DEAD
Exercises at Congressional Cene-
tcry Attended by Delegations
From the Various Local OrGanlha-
tions-Friends Pay Warm Trib-
utes to The Deceased.

terday afternoon with appropriate cere-
monies at Congressional Cemetery in the
presence Of a vast gathering OF the mem-
bers of organized labor in the District.
The testimonial is beautiful broken
shaft of granite in the rough, typical OF
the rugged and shortened life OF the de-
ceased The Shaft was designed by Mr.
A NJ. Lawson, a brother member OF the
Eccentric Engineers, and is testimonial
contributed by the members OF all the or
ganiZations affiliated with District As
sembiy No. Sc, Knights of Labor, the local
Federation OF Labor, and the assembly
to which the deceased belonged.
The ldea Of erecting a monument TO the
memory of MI. Rea was conceived shortly
after his death on the tn of February,
1896, and all the labor oTganiZa tons
mentioned combined TO laise the necessary
funas by a Joint excursion to Marshall
Hall on Labor Day of that year. The ex-
cursion was In the hands of the following
delegates, Iepresen tin e the respective
organizations j.. a, No. Go, h. of l., VIII
liam stekels; Federation of Labor, Viii
liam Voikes; Eccentlic Association OF En-
yinecrs. a NJ Lawson. The occasion was
not only del ghtful outing for the mem
bers and friends of organized labor and the
ladies of their families, but was also de-
citIed success fIom a financial standpoint
The dedicatory exercises, which were
both interesting and impressive, were in
charge OF committee from the Engineers
Association, OF which Mr.. Lawson was
chairman, who also represented District
Assembly No. 66, X. OF l.. The ex-pTesident
OF the lccal Federation of Labor, as ell
as Mr.. j. f. +. McGee, the acting ptesi-
dent, were present. Besides these there
were scores of members from every labor
organization affiliated with the two CEN
tral bodies named. The lady members OF
the families of the members of organized
labor were also present in large numbers,
many of whom brought floral offerings
which they laid at the tomb.
Conspicuous among those who assem-
bled to participate in this last tribute of
respect to the DECEASED was Miss May,
the beautiful seven-year-oid daughter Of
Mr.. Rea, who unveiled the monument.
She was accompanied by her aunt, MIS-
James Jackson, sister of Mr.. Rea.
The exercises We're opened by Master OF
Ceremonies A. NJ. Lawson, who briefly ex-
planned the occasion He said:
1t has fallen to my lot to open the
lnitiaIory services on this solemn occasion
During all my connection with the labor
movement no duty imposed has confronted
Inc more keenly with my incumpetency as
this. / conscientiously feel my inability
to adequately y discharge the lofty function
I'VE are assembled today to pay to the
worthy dead our last tribute Of profound
esteem. A review OF our dear Brother
Rea's blaineIeSs life, public ana private,
would be words wasted. His sterling
worth in the cause Of organized labor in
this District needs no comment. He was
a Knight OF Labor in the fullest sense Of
the word An earnest advocate and con-
sistent friend in his unremitting zeal for
the amelioration of the hard lot OF the
workers generally.
''His fellow-feeiing was not confined to
the members of Ills own craft or to his
OWN organization alone. His sympathies
were with the workers of all callings as
testified by the records OF the local Fed
Grafton OF Labor. But il is in the sane
tuary OF his own beloved local assembly
that his familiar presence is sadly missed
and his wise counsel is heard no more.
To quote familiar axiom, He was man;
take him for all and all, we may not look
on his Ike again Assembled round his
and deed, and as a closing tribute TO this
glorious days work reaffirm our unswery-
ing loyalty and devotion to the noble and
holy order of which he was a worthy
ornament, and do everything that within
us lies 20 carry its sublime principles to
success, The parliament OF man and the
federation of the world
81 would be thoughtless, indeed, If 1
did not yaal,n rafa,-a rca m aur aaar
brothers. partner, whose faultless life
closed with his on the same day. She
was a genial wife and a model mother
Struck down in the prime of life and in
the midst of their labors, as this befiuting
monument testifies, and may 1 say in the
language Of the poet:
s''There let il stand fore yer
While this symbol doth impart.
To the mind one glorious vision:
Or one proud throb TO the heart
While the breast needeth rest,
May this memorial last,
Bright prophet OF the future,
A S preacher OF the past.
The Rev Dr. Alexander Kent, of the
Peoples Church, who asked the blessing,
paid a high tribute to the. memory of
the deceased He knew him only very
slightly, he said, but had heard a great
deal OF him, and all to his credit He
also referred TO the occasion OF Mr. Rea
bringing his little girl to his Sunday
school. On that occasion he asked that
the child be taught to do right for rights
sake
The dedicatory Grafton was by Mr. Paul
T Bowen, who gave a brief but graphic
account Of Mr.. Rea's interesting career.
He was intinlat te with him since he had
made Washington his home, about ten
years ago, and during all these years he
had devoted his best efforts to the bet
ter.ncnt Of the conditions Of his fellow
Workfnen- In fact, so closely was he
fdeatified with the labor movement in the
city that the story of his life and the
history or organized labor in the District
were inseparahle. Mr. Bowen also told
very interestingly the story of MFR. Rea's
shspwreck off the coast OF Scotland On
that occasion the first and second Officers
OF the ship Were washed overheard and
the captain became SO paralyzed with fear
as 10 tie unable TO manage the ship Mr.
Rea undertook the task, and succeeded
In saving the crew and passengers, num-
bering over fifty.
As testimonial of their gratitude, when
the passengers reached Edinburgh they
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