The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01

we all love so we'll Personally / am n
hero worshiper. Nor as the most of you
are aware am noted for Iavishing en-
comiums upon any one. But, in the Ian
guage of the apostle, honor to whom honor
is due We may talk of heroic deeds done.
| We may speak of names immortal made
We may cherish fond memories past And
we may "a yea we o must perpetuete incalcu-
| in the least from the labors the services
or benefactions of others when we thus
eulogiZe him who now lies in the cold en-
brace of death. From the numerous ex-
pressions l have heard during the past
few days, from our staunchest and most
respected citizens, from those who have
known him, counseled with him and shared
in his efforts to elevate the town and com
munity in which ne lived to that plane that
would be a credit to its people. [ suppose
no one has done more than the late ex-
Governor Matthews. Well may we say with
the text, How are the mighty fallen?' A
mighty tower in our community has fallen
A trusted official in Clinton Presbyterian
Church has been removed A good man has
dropped from the marks of our most c,stt' hon
| ored citizens. faithful devotee TO all
the best interests of the State has been
called hence. Our friend and brother has
gcne-gone, as we humbly trust, to join
the general assembly and church of the
first born on high. Is it not fitting. there
fore. that we memorize him thus? Is he not
our own in a higher sense than ordinary
men? Should we not gratefully remember
him for invaluable services done? and do
Won wonder that our great State of Indians
which he served so faithfully and so we'll
joins the family and friends. the neighbors
HIS IDEAL HOME LIFE
at has been my privilege and pleasure to
meet many public men-men of talent. of
scholarship and of nigh position. But YOU
will PARDON me and count it no hattery
when | say that when 1t comes to geniality
in society, hospitality in his house and
cordiality with his friends / have found
none superior to the Hon Claude Matthews.
Of his home life l forbear to speak 1t
would seem like treading on hallowed
ground too sacred for outsider to inter-
NEEDLE with He understood and appre-
ciated what home meant. and suppose that
his has been as near the ideal as humanity
ever attainS here upon earth It was a home
in the truest and highest sense He was a
man of the strictest integrity, conscientious
in the discharge OF public trust, affable and
kind, even when crossing swords with his
opponent yet firm and infeXible to his con-
VictionS OF right Very few men in public
life have had so few critics; very few know
no personal and, we may also say, no po-
litical enemies. He was eminently a man
of the people, who to-day with one accord
are ready to bear testimony to the good he
has done, pass by any errors in judgment.
forgive ana forget little differences in opin-
len, and with bowed heads say farewell
friend and brother beloved dead.
Many men differed with him in their po-
litical views, yet they admired him as a
man and his conscientious performance of
duty. AS said by one: With all his affabi-
ity. Hon. Claude Matthews had as little of
the demagogue about him as any public Off
Ger that ever held office in Indiana He
never let party stand in the way of prnci-
pie or personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT in the way
of answering duty. His firm and decided
action when the laws of the State and great
commercial and social interest were i'm
periled won him laurels that will never
fade He was a never failing friend to the
labOring people. He was popular with the
masses, and as a consequence poled more
votes at his gubernatorial election than any
other man of his party ever polled in the
Sfnt Of Tn(io A- xrrlC u IL
ago by our present chief executive of state:
His administration will pass into history
one of the most faithful in the history of
the State and he Will be regarded as one
of the most popular executives the State
has ever had | do not mean by this to
say that the deceased was a perfect man,
there is none perfect no, not one But
where so many excellent qualities are dis
played, and where such a universal senti-
ment of approval prevails it is meet and
proper to note them with more than ord-
nary praise. that the living may profit by
them and aspire after those things which
make for peace and righteousness, and
which leave a fragrance and a halo around
the memory of the departed dead that shall
never fade away.
minated somewhat abruptly. God seemed
to think his work was done, and He took
him without any long. tedious. suffering
process, just as was in accord with his own
expressed wishes. He died in the harness
trying to inspire and encourage his fellow
man to grand and noble living. His last
Yes or amen, 10 the thought uttered in
prayer by his bedside, We acknowledge
deemer.' power surely given him of God.
for, as his attending physician declared,
| otherwise utterance by him was a physical
but l must desist dwelling longer. There
are so many things l would like to say, but
time forbds. We conclude, therefore by
urging upon all, whatever your occupation
or station in life, to emulate the virtues of
the deceased. So live that when the hour
comes for your departure, whether sudden
| ly expectedly, it may be said of you:
| He was a good man; full of faith and the
Holy Ghost and his works do follow him.
To the bereaved family we extend our sim
cerest tenderest sympathy and prayerfully
commend them to the God of all grace, who
will bind up the broken heart. heal the
wounded spirit and keep them in the love
of God through our Lord Jesus Christ The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all. Amen"
IN STATE 1T THE CHURCH.
A short biographical sketch of the ex
Governor was then read by the minister.
The quartet rendered ASLEEP in Jesus,
and the door was closed while the family
of the dead took their last look at the be-
loved face The pallbearers were sum
moned and everything was made ready TO
convey the remains to the church, where
they were to lay in state for two hours.
The door was again opened. and Charles
Kahlo stood AT the head of the coffin with
L. B. Martin and Judge Joshua Jump. both
of Terre Haute: Isaac Meharry, of Win
gate, in whose house the Governor died;
Dr. j. H. Bogert, of Clinton, and Albert
Gall at the sides and T. c. Groomes, of
Greencastle at the foot The honorary pail
bearers who followed were Governor James
A. Mount and Senator Turpie, Judge How
ard and State Treasurer Scholz. Mayor
Thomas Taggart. of Indianapolis; State
Auditor A. c. DAILY, Mortimer Nye, who
was Lieutenant Governor when Mr.. Mat
thews was Governor, and S. E. Morse The
remains were carried in a plain Spanish
state coffin. lined with copper. The cedar
was covered with rich black cloth, and was
trimmed with ebony. The ebony plate on
the top was inlaid with silver reading:
1St5.
CLAUDE MATTHEW'S.
1898
From the home the body was conveyed
to the church. where the lid was again re-
moved and fully two thousand people
marched through in single file to take last
look Only the palbearers accompanied the
hearse the family remaining at the home
stead until the time for the burial
During the trying day Mrs Matthews held
up remarkably well, and until the time for
the last look upon the dead father the two
daughters stood bravely by their mothers
side. But the ordeal proved too much for
Miss Helen Matthews She shook with sohs