Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10

uS ~ sDu NHIb Hn HrtlSb painting PIC /
ture; work out evory detail however
small for nothing is unimportant. "
liuudre6s Of presiding officers have baon
helped ny her to understand tho value
in organized life of tue moat careful
workmanship. To her PASSION for per
fection was added her belief in The
purity of purpose of her co-workers.
a Anything that might seem an indica
ti0n of tho contrary was always at
tributed by her to Ignorance never to
malice. have seen her come into a
great gathering icto heated discussion
whore there was vital divergence Of
opinion and perhaps some evidences of
bitterness and as she took tine place Of
the one presiding and stated once moro
tho question the bitterness seemed sud
denly to fnll away and all that was left
on the part of every one WINS the real
desire for tho uplifting of humanity.
Bitterness never seemed to reach her
personally but the slightest Indication
of injustice to others was rehuked by
a look Of loving Indignation and by firm
strokes with her gavbl.
iier patience was inexhaustible. On
the closing night OF national conpen
tinn when the clock rointed 10 mid
night aud still the discussion was going
on over tine resolutions ana amendments
Miss Willard'9 clear voice still rang out
the embodiment of perfect courtesy and
absolute fairness. do you know what
1t means to preside over convention
while resolution expressing that for
which you have given your ifu is bang
torn 10 piecea? such Tension trains the
soul TO q tolerance OF Judgment such
as Misa Willard had to an unequaled
degree.
But she had anothur great gift-her
sense Of humor. Something of tho
brsezes of her simnle country home
chung to her always and have seen the
fogs and misrs Of difficult situa-
| ton clear away when ahs told in her
inimitable way some bright story, or
| unique experience at which we all
| laughed together, and became one. She
was full of enthusiasm for tho great
cause she represented anil in her life she
embodied the motto, "Ihero is nothing
inexnrable but love. "
Miss Alice Il. sinyth described the
services heltl ia memory of Miss Viii
| lard on Sunday Hftetnonn, February
2cth, In the broadway Tabernacle, New
York. The rain and chill of the out
of-doOrs symbolIzcd the grief which
| filled the hearts of those who had felt
the touch of her lnrge life upon them,
who were inspired to courage by her
great spirit, and had been won to love
her. But the in duors Of the church
waa truer symbol of the fellowship we
might havo with her. There was
warmth and light and color every where,
and sense of eXaltation in the atmns
phere. Hands touched with love of her
and prompted by deep understanding
OF her spirit must have made that look
of brightness and beauty. The tall
palms that reached high under the
arches, and clustered around the organ
| pipes, seemed TO express her victorious
life, SO high and full Of grace. Flowers,
not in sat forms, hut growing flowers,
sent by those who loved her, formed a
screen along tine platform AMI desk. aud
everyone wore flower. There were
many men in tho gathering. from every
station Of life, and all wore look of
profound reverence; feeling OF peace
seemed TO pervade the church. A strong
young voice, full of hupp, repeated the
promise, ~ am the Resurrection and
the Life." as tbs ministers and white
ribbon women came rpvercntly down
the church following the casket, the
resting place for the tired body of her
whoae spirit bad SO completely com
manded it, Over the casket was thrown
tho beautiful white banner, studded
with stars. which WAS given to NJ ISIS
Willard at the temperance convention
in baltimore. Cloep following came
the faithful little woman, Anna Coercion,
whose services as secretary left Miss
Wizards mind free for her work.
The simple services WAS led by DIR.
Triple of the st. James Methodist
Church, dear young friend of ~ iss
Willard'a 1t was quite without the
usual words OF oratorical e,ilogy, and
was service of praise. Between the
einging Of her favorits hymns, prayers
were made by Dir. a. ID. Kitridge Of
the Madison Avenue Lutheran Church,
by Bishop Newman of the Methodist
Church. uuh by las Cassie Smita, an
organizer in the temperance work.
1t was hard to sing "Blest
he the tie that binds" for there were
hundreds OF women thers who had
joined hands at the close Of many great
conventions whom Miss Wizards own
voice had called them to sing that
hymn. But though there were no dry
eyes, there wefe bravo voices that diu
not falter to sing it for her sake. Mrs.
Stevens, who is vice president OF the
organ ization Miss Willard led so long,
! read to us the Goth Psalm, Her deep,
tender voice was strength, for we
know it is upon her TINT the work will
fall for the present. And then the
J young minister whu led all and whose
spirit perva,lsh the service. asked us Ia
] sing the hymn which Miss Willard
held dearest Of all, and which was sung
to her at tho very close by Miss Gordon
Gently, Lord, o, gently lead us,
Through this weary vale OF tears, F"
Here he said Miss Willard had long
ego changed it TO Through this vale
I of smiles and tears.' Tho last line oil
: the hymn is ''When we awake among
: the blest, !" and ne told ua that when
! NJ ss Gordon was singing sine thought
of the soul that was going and sang
when / awake;" and then that great
souled woman stopped her, saying No
not !, is is We. Never forget thai
a Christianity 10 always we. 1t Is ulwayt
: our Father
, In his beautiful benediction was the
! prayer that we all might feel the 'lifC
= here ia pnrt of and hound up in tbs
j., life there. Then the thousands who
:, made up the gathering, passed up tt
a take message from the quiet face, 81
a full of peace, and to lay their fiowel
near her 1t was hard to leave tha
: house of peace at the clogs of the day
: and 20 out into the raE and chill, bu
q the rain and chill were not the sam,
), and the comfort of those hours will
! I always be background Us VIZ feel our
= selves part of the whoio world who's,
4 possession Miss Wiilard's life is.
u Thuraday afternoon Miss Partridge O