St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-03-23
MEMORIAL SERVICE.

the w. c. T.U. The pulpit was hand
somely decorated with ported plants, and
surrounded by American flags was a fine
portrait of Miss Willard with white
ribbons attached to the frame.
After Chopin's funeral march, played
by Miss Margaret S. Gorham, the church
choir sang Sullivan's Homeland" The
pastor of the South church gracefully
welcomed the people to the church and
then read the Scriptures and offered
prayer. This was followed by solo by
Mrs. P. F. Hazen, "Oh, Rest in the
Lord"
Rev. H. NJ. Douglas spoke OF Miss
Willard S early life and her connectionwith
Vermont. "Her ancestry was in our
state; her mothers birthplace Danvllle.'
Mr.. Douglas then spoke OF Miss Wizards
visit to her mothers birthplace in North
Dauvile last August and of the tender
scenes which occurred there. He spoke
OF her early life at Oberlin, her interest in
school life and of the vital gift that it
gave her--the gift OF religion.
Schnecker's Crossing the Bar" was
then sung by the church quartette. Miss
Sadie Batchelder playing a violin
obligato and Mrs. c. E. Peck and Miss
Alice Browne taking the solo parts.
Rev. DR.. A. II. Heath spoke of Miss
Willard as a teacher He said she was
not inaptly called the uncrowned
queen of America. "Her connection with
schools and colleges is not prominent
feature OF her work. She was for quite
a time an itinerant teacher, indicating
that the great soul had not yet found
its sphere. She became president OF
Evanston College in 1871 and in less
than four years resigned to take up her
life work. She learned in school and
college to be masteriul, to lead men and
women. Her short career as college
president is notable one and she was
the first woman who ever sat in a
professors char. She was master OF
the situation. and in her short career at
Evanston College she laid the tounda-
ton for future work. She was every
where the great reiormer, the great
leader of men,"
Rev. G. c. Waterman spoke OF Miss |
Willard as friend. He said it was his |
privilege to be AT Old Orchard when Miss |
Willard heard Gen. Neal Dow for the first
time. 'In her friendships she was trans
parently sincere. What she proiessed to |
be, that she was. She was a sympa-
thetic friend, sharing the joys and
sorrows OF her friends. She was cour-
ageous friend She would criticize the
faults OF her friends and give friendly
rebuke il necessary. Shewas tenacious
friend. Her friendships were not Tor a
day, but tor life. She was an inspiring
friend, stimulating force in the circle Of
her friends"
Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fairbanks spoke
of Miss Willard as an inspirer. "When
ones life is inspired by another it is not
something outward but something in.
ward" He then spoke Of the inspiration
of his first Sunday school teacher, of the
inspiration OF his mother and how diff.
cult it was 10 describe it. "The inspiring
power comes from God to the heart of
man. In Miss Willard we find fine
power OF inspiration. But her native
gifts did not make her an inspirer. She
declined Aattering and lucrative offer
TO teach in New York to accept the
position Of pr, sident Of the Chicago
Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
In that act became the source OF her in
spiration. The lesson Of the hour is for
each one of us to catch this spirit of in.
SEPARATION and pass it on"
Miss Willard as patriot was the
theme OF the tribute paid by Rev. M. II.
Mill. There are three institutions that
we cannot afford TO ignore, the family,
the church and the state. The work OF
great men and great women is not |
isolated but united Miss Willard de-
serves an honorable scat in this noble !
company who believe in good schools, |
good government and higher code of
morals. She was a true patriot. Her
work was done Tor Others, which is the
highest type oil a patriot. At the time OF
Miss Wizards death the city that
claimed her-Washington-had all their
flags at half mast. This was the first
time that the flags OF this city were
placed at half mast for a woman" In
closing MIR. Mill sugges ed that fund
be raised, the income to be given for
ESSAYS and orations to be given annually
at St. Johnsbury Academy.
The last speaker. Rev. Thomas TYRE,
spoke OF her public work. He said her
work was ordained BY God. "In all her
early lie she was being prepared Tor her
life work. In 1863 she read in Evanston
her first essay on temperance. She read
this by invitation OF Mr.. Greenleaf who
was at that time at the head of the
Chicago house OF E. & T. Fairbanks &
Co. But not until 10 years later does
she enter public life and she begun just at
the time OF the great woman's crusade
in Ohio. She had behind her grand old
mother, iul of sacrifice and good works.
She was elected corresponding secretary
of the National w. c. T. U. when it was
formed in 1874 and in 1879 was elected
president. This Office she held to the
time OF her death. Today there are 40
uiieIeHl uepai tHiVu'so TIC oiSdhiZdliOH
and all were worked out by her." He
spoke Of the departments that attracted
public notice especially woman's suffrage
and social purity. "All over the world
are men and women who have been so
conservative that they could not support
tie ideas that Miss Willard advanced.
Conservatism is good, but petriied con.
serva,ism has no place except in a
museum. When opposed she believed
they were honest in their opposition and
was always peacemaker. After the
Il L.. 4 !