The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-19
IN MEMORY OF Mr.. WELLS
Jersey City People Attended
the dwelling Of His
Monument.

l Fully one hundred people. member Oh
| the Tabernacle and First congregational
IChurch and friends of the Rev. j. Lester
Wells, went to Paramount Cemetery
| South Orange, yesterday. to witness the
unwilling of the monument erected at Mr.
| Wells grave. The monument was erected
by the members of Bethany Presbyterian
Church of Newark. Of which Mr.. Wells
was pastor from 1878 till 1891. when he
came to Jersey City to act as assistant
pastor of the Tabernacle and secretary
of the Peoples Palace.
The friends Of Mr.. Wells and his family
began to gather at the grave as early as
three O'Clock. The grave was covered
with white flowers. The monument. which
was yelled, was surrounded with palms.
A tent awning was erected near the
grave and beneath this were the oficiat-
ing clergymen and Mrs. Wells ana her TWO
children, Clarence and Elsie.
When the services were begun at 43o
| there were several hundred people pres
| emit. The DR.. D. r. Frazer, pastor u
| Bethany Church, had charge OF the ser
| vices.
The Bethany Church quartette sang,
saThere's No More Pain or Sorrow. Dr.
Frazer then introduced the Rev. Lewis
Lampmann, who read the selection from
the Scriptures and the Rev. E. O. McFar-
land, who o~fferedkprayer.
DR.. Frazer said the monument had been
erected by Mr.. Wells many friends in
Bethany. Mr.. Wells, he said, was dearly
loved by all who knew him. His depar-
ture from Bethany Church was a sor-
row to all its members. On the occasion
of the farewell reception to Mr.. Wells
DIR. Fraser told the story of Rosa Bon
hours decoration of the Legion of Honor
by the Empress. Eugene. Mr.. Wells, HE
said, was decorated by no man. His high
dignity of purpose. his love for mankind,
his usefulness and goodness won for him
recognition by God as His servant.
"Mr. Wells followed as closely as he
could in the footsteps of Jesus Christ,
continued DIR. Frazer. Here, today, by
the side of this monument, erected in,
memory of this good man., I tell you
to follow the good example he set you.
This monument, erected by grateful peo-
pie, shows you that it pays to live a
good life. 1t is the good deed that lives
and is remembered"
The monument was unveiled by Mr..
Hazen, chairman of the committee in
charge of the monument. The quartette
sang Heaven Is My Home as the
monument was unveiled.
The Rev. ohm L. Scudder, of this city,
was the next speaker. He said:-"This
is not the place-nor is there time-for an
extended eulogoy of Mr., Wells. But I
wish to add my tribute to the work he
did, especially in Jersey City. In 1881 Mr..
yxyo1i- oo~eo n sc o,5 cold lo vyichod m
do a broader work ever than he was then
doing at Bethany. He soon convinced US
that he was. the man for the work we
were then doing. Mr.. Wells believed
firmly, as does our church, in not only
having services on Sunday but in afford
ing opportunities through the work for
employment of time in innocent ways.
He was with US six years. He did a
work that cannot be rated too highly.
We can never hope to fill his place. l
never knew a man who SO closely ex-
emplified the Christ life as did Mr.. Wells.
He was loved by everyone. not alone in
our church and the Peoples Palace, but
throughout the city. I never saw a
funeral so largely attended as Mr.. Wells.
Our large church was filled with. weeping
people. His memory lives with us. We
will never forget him."
The quartette sang God Be With You
Till We Meet Again" and at Mrs. Wells
request all present Joined in singing
Nearer My God to Thee"
The monument is a Doric shaft. The
plinth and pedestal are of polished
granite. The base and pyramidal top
are of unpublished granite. On each of
the four sides of the top is the letter w.
On the pedestal is the name Wells. On
the plinth is the inscription. Following
the name, REV. J. Lester Wells are
the date of Mr.. Wells birth and death.
Below these dates is:-s'Bethany Presby-
terrain Church, Newark, 1S73-1S91; Taber-
nacle Church, Jersey City, 1S91-1897.
Erected by his friends at Bethany.