The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-01
H0URNED BY His FLOCK
Last Honors to the Rev. ].
Lester Wells at the
Tabernacle Today.
Mr.. SCUDDER's EULOGY
Ministers of Other Denominations
Testify to the Dead Pastors
Character and Work.

= Few men have had such a tribute paid
to them either in life or in death as that
which was accorded to the late Rev. j.
Lester Wells in the Tabernacle this morn
ing. Every seat in that large edifice
was crowded with old and young repre-
senting all walks in life, while in the pull
pit sat clergymen of five denominations
Few if any were there out of morbid
curiosity, and every man, woman and
child in that vast throng sincerely
mourned the loss of the beloved pastor
who at some time had done them kind
Iess. The Rev. John L. Scudder, pastor
of the Tabernacle had charge of the fun
eral services. The pulpit was half hid
den by palms and potted plants. From
the reading desk pended a huge Chris
tian Endeavor badge of red and white
carnations, with wreath of roses on
one side and a cross of the same flower
on the other.
It was 10:45 o'clock when the Rev. Mr..
Scudder, with the Rev. Mr.. Cox, assist
ant pastor of the Tabernacle, appeared
at the door of the church and slowly
proceeded up the aisle, repeating the
burial service. Behind them came the
Revs. G. I. Woerz of the German M. E.
Church, George r. Garretson of the Clair
mont Presbyterian, Dr. Little of the
Hedding Methodist F. s. Goodman of
the Centenary Methodist, s. Edward
Young of Newark, David Mitchell, DR..
C. D. Crane of Maine, E. O. McFarlan
of Bethanay Presbyterian Church, New
ark, and J. F. Morgan of the Park Re-
formed Following them came the coffin,
containing the body of the deceased pas
tor, attended by these pail bearers
Deaeons Samuel Vance, William H.
Bunce, G. NJ. Craig, S. Gould, S. Hig-
genbotham, C. A. Crosby, F. NJ. Gerrow,
H. L. Trenton, c. H. Cooper, W.. J. Hunt,
T. L. Parker and Messrs. Griswold and
Gobisch. Behind the coffin walked Mrs.
Wells, on the arm of a relative, and her
two children.
The body was placed on a catafalque in
front of the pulpit and the clergymen
seated themselves upon the platform
After prayer by DR.. Scudder Mrs
Otto w. Schlerth sang Zone Severely
Solemn Thought and the Rev. Mr. Cox
read the latter portion of the fifteenth
chapter of ST. Paul, First Epistle, to the
Corinthians
The Rev. Mr.. Scudder then made a brief
address. 81 heard voice from Heaven"
he began, Saying Blessed are they
who die in the Lord believe that in
the death of our brother the entire COM
munfty has sustained great loss and
although the family has requested that
these services be brief, it is but right
that word be spoken of his life and
worth. AT instances like this 1t is impos-
sible to crowd into a few moments the
many incidents of such busy life, but>
when we feel the most we talk the least.
This crowded church shows the esteem
In which our brother was held In this
community. That was due to the peculiar
quality of his character. In the first place
he was a man of God, of faith and of
prayer. He carried his religion with him
at all times. He was remarkably pure
minded man. All the children knew and
loved him and the poor people of Jersey
City whom he has comforted will long
remember him. Everyone considered him
a friend and he has shown himself to have
been a friend to the entire community.
AS look upon his calm, sweet face feel
as though he has worn himself out for
humanity. That is Christ-like and Mr.
six years he has been with us and in that
time he so endeared himself to US that
it seemed he had been with US all our
lives. He always had a smile for every
one and I don't believe any one in this
congregation ever saw him frown. He was
greatly interested in the Peoples Palace
and its work absorbed his life. He be-
lieyed in the supplemental work to be
01 anlr daxr e all C.,v
In his home life he was a most loving
aszsband and father. There are great
@any men in this city who never went to
church but who would say Mr.. Wells is
our friend and go to him with all their
trouble. Mr.. Wells was looking forward
to the fall work and anxious to get at
1t. i am a sick man. he said to me
when talking of his coming work, and
If in the Providence of God 1 am taken
away / am content. l am resting in the
arms of my Savior I cannot fathom the
Providence that has taken him away. He
was conscious almost up to the time of
his death and made all the arrangements
for his funeral before he passed away
Only q few days before he died, while
speaking of the prospects of his recovery,
he said:-It is all right, whether I live
Or die.
''Mr. Wells was hard worker He was
up early in the morning and worked until
late at night. In fact he worked too
hard
Mr.. scudder then paid a warm tribute
to Mr.. Wells and continued: 3Let us
remember him and as far as he has fol-
lowed Jesus we will follow him. His ex-
ample lives though his body is dead"
Mr.. Scudder closed by extending the SYM
pathy of the church to the bereaved
family.
The Rev. S. Edward Young, who was
associated with Mr.. Wells in Christian
Endeavor work, next spoke. Mr.. Wells,
he said, was his dearest friend He met
him at a Christian Endeavor meeting five
the mans character and zeal for the
work. He said Mr.. Wells was man of
action and always at hard work for the
cause. Mr.. Young suggested that me-
mortal to the dead pastor be erected in
the Peoples Palace He then spoke of
Mr.. Wells pastorate in Newark and said
that he endeared himself to his people
gave many instances Of the good he did
young men while In Newark and the
highly commendable work he had done
among the life-saving crews of the State.
He could not be forgotten, Mr. Young
said, because he was enshrined in the
hearts of all he ever worked among. He
aought every ones honor before he did
The Rev. David Mitchell spoke in be-
half of the clergy of Jersey City, and
during his address said that the Peoples
Palace would always be worthy monu-
ment to Mr.. Wells. He also paid a high
tribute to Mr.. Wells labors for the people
mrs: sehisth sang Lead kindly
Light and the Rev. Mr.. Morgan pro-
nounced the Benediction
. At the close of the service the lid of the |
coffin was removed and for almost two |
hours steady stream OF people passed |
~