The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-05
Mr.. PRESIDENT:

MR.. PRECEDENT:
BRETHREN AND FR1ENDs.-I esteem
1t privilege to present to his brethren
and mine a few thoughts inspired by
the character and the life work of the
lamented j. Fred Meyers, bat l APP
proach this labor of love in spirit of
misgiving founded in the fear that l
may not perform the same in fitting
manner. Mr.. Meyers came into possess
sion of the Denison REVIEW the same
year, and in the same month, believe,
in which began my editorial career.
Soon thereafter began an acquaintance
which ripened into very strong friend
ship. The influence of his cheering
words and practical counsel were to me
a source of much inspiration and con-
fdence. During our earlier relation
ship he had seen a great deal of two
continents; l knew little of one. He
had been in close relationship with men
who made the best chapters in our
national history, and in touch with
events of worldwide Importance. Born
and reared near the frontier | had
little personal knowledge of such men
and affairs. AS writer he was excel
lently equipped and widely known,
While l was feeling my way along in
the kindergarten of journalism. In his
friendship | had everything to gain.
When had all my reputation to make
and all my experience to acquire the
counsel of this strong and kindly man
was inestimable value; and early evil
dences of his confidence in me and INV |
work are among the bright recollections
OF period none too full of encourage |
ment. crave your pardon for inject |
ing myself into this memorial paper.
My purpose is simply to have under
stood the point of view from which | |
consider the character and the career
of our lamented brother.
The purposes this paper do not make
1T necessary to follow in detail the
biography which has been ably written |
and widely circulated; glimpses of this
will suffice. j. Fred Meyers began life
in little Bavarian village in 1888. For
fourteen years his lot was that of the
ordinary German peasant boy. Frugal
living, toll almost unremitting, strug-
gle for education and unalterable estab-
lishment in the sturdy faith of Martin
Luther, are the conspicuous features of
that period. The best possible idea as +
to the character of the boy and man is
conveyed in the following paragraph,
written by himself late in life:
During July we embarked on the
American sail ship 'Valparaiso,' and i
were ffty-four days on the water.
While the leave taking at home took |
place, we, youngster like, We're buoyed
up with the excitement and the novelty |
but when after three days at sea we saw
the shores of our native land slowly |
disappear, we realized for the first time
the fearful responsibility OF the depar-
ture for new continent, to encounter |
the vicissitudes and hardshjps of life |
among people OF strangers. who spoke |
to us in an unknown tongue. 1t was
then, reared as we were in the Luthern
church, that we poured out our heart
to the All Father, the ever living spirit
OF the universe. In sincerest thoughts |
and words we promised to be true to
our faith, and to lead lif of rectitude.
10 the very few, if any, mortals is
vouched safe the power to be always
true to their highest ideals, and we are
not among the infallible. But this
testimony we can bequeath to our
children and grandchildren that IN
proportion as we have kept the faith of |
disinterested service to humanity, have
we secured, if not wealth, at least
happiness.
Only those who have taken accurate
measure OF the manhood the impelling
motives, the breadth of soul, the depth
of character, the consistent conduct
of Mr.. Meyers can appreciate the full
force OF this paragraph, written from
the heart when the battle of life was
nearly over.
In the State OF Michigan the German
peasant boy bravely met the conditions
imposed upon the illy-equipped i'm.
migrant He was the oldest boy in the
family. A step-father was the nominal
head, but upon the slender shoulders of
Fred rested tie responsibility of man
agement. Wages we're very low. The
country was sparsely settled by people
of exceedingly limited means. There
were not enough TO go around among
the needy who wanted work. In after
life Mr.. Meyers said. Those days of
penury and priyation were not without
their compensation. Families lived
comfortably on incomes from $3.50 to
1925 year. Doing without things had
become a habit, and there was more
contentment, cheerfulness and hopeful
ness than is found today" On Sun
days the German families from far and