The Portland daily press., 1897-06-04
Funeral of MIR. Joseph r. Harrington.

no da mage done.
Funeral of MIR. Joseph r.. harrington
The funeral of Mr.. Joseph r. Earring
ton took place yesterday afternoon 1rom
the State Reform school at South Port-
land and there assembled large gather-
ing of friends from the city and 1mmeal-
ate vicinity to join the officers ana en-
ployes of the state institution In their las1
tribute of respect to the deceased superl u
tendent. Of the board of trustees, MI.
Mark P. Emery, its treasurer, was pres
ent, and the family was represented by
three sons from abroad, Prof Oliver Far
rington of Chicago, DIR. Arthur M Far
rington of Washington and Prof. Edward
H. Harrington of Madison, Wis-the re-
manning living son being now in Homo
lulu. Before the services the $50 boys be-
longing to the school were permitted to
take last glance at their former superin-
tendent and gave evidence of heartfelt
sorrow at the loss which they have sus-
tanned. The floral offerings were numer-
Gus and beautiful in design. Among
them, at the head of the casket, was a
pillow with the word Father" tasteful
ly inwrought, and at the foot simple
wreath deposited as token of respect
from the boys of the school. The services
began by the reading of appropriate Sc.
lections from the Scriptures by Rev.
Dwight M. Pratt, after which the Will
liston choir, composed of Mrs. Goudy,
Miss Tarbox, DIR. Nicl1erson and Mr.
Macy sang the impressive hymn, "Lead,
Kindly Light" Mr.. Pratt, in part, then
said: That in Mr.. Farrington's life was
reflected somewhat of the beauty of
Him who was all beauty, truth and
righteousness, and nothing afforded man
a greater stimulus than the example set
by such Christian character; that such
parentage is a child's noblest inheritance
better than the crown of an empire or the
wealth Of a Caesar; that sons should be
indeed proud of such father, for the
memory of life like Mr. Farrington's
suggested hallowing influences and shed
lustre worthy of being perpetuated.
He referred to Mr.. Harrington as a
gifted man who was specially fitted for
missionary work, and that his early
choice and training was for this particu-
lar sphere of activity, but the conditions
that forbade his going abroad gave to
our commonwealth a noble benefactor.
A redemptive purpose seemed to control
his entire life. No teacher has left the
institution, over which he presided for
more than Ia years, without being within
the circle of his sweet Chris
tian influence, and many of the boys ave
gone forth under the permanent impress
of his spirit to demonstrate that profound
purpose to live righteous lives. He was
a lover of boys and truly the boys friend,
and believed with Dr. Mann that money
spent by the state for their reformation
was not in vain, if only one boy was
changed in character, for, as the doctor
own.''
Mr.. Harrington had great native abili-
ty and was natural leader of men.
Mr.. Pratt thought that the trustees
would indeed be blind if they did not see
that the secret of Mr.. Farrington's power
lay. in his Christian character, which
imbued him with "a personality which
enabled him to rule the institution, not
by the force of iron law, but by the
warmth of affection. In his death the
state has sustained a great loss, and his
place will be very difficult to fill. In
prayer and remark it was specially be-
sought that the state might find worthy
successor of this noble man.
Rev. Ephrailn Cummings then followed
in a brief personal tribute to the merits
of the deceased and dwelt feelingly upon
the pleasant personal relations which he
had sustained for 40 years with Mr.. Far
rington, whose sudden death seemed more
like translation than an ordinary death,
for like Enoch of old she walked with
God and was not because God took him
away" And, after all, no death could
be sudden to such man of faith who
was always ready and in state for
sweet rest at any time when summoned
to the arms of Jesus.
The quartette then sang "Sweet Peace,
the Gift of Gods Love- after which
prayer was offered by Mr.. Cummings,
followed by "Abide With Me-" by the
| choir. A closing prayer and benediction
terminated the services and opportunity
was offered all to take farewell view
of their former friend and associate
Interment will take place at Brewer,
Me.
Funeral of Gavin Stevens.