The Worcester spy., 1899-06-01
Tragic End Of A. A.
Mclaughlin In
Union Church.
END CAME WITHOUT WARMING.
He Was the Founder Of
the Welcome
Mission.

81 am not feeling well tonight, and
it might have been better for me had
1 remained at home. But am so in
terested, heart and soul, in the work
of the Welcome Mission, that l could
not remain away"
With these words, the last that he
ever uttered, the president of the mis-
sion's board of directors, A. A. Nc
Laughlin, fell back into his seat in the
little chapel of Union Church last eve
ming, and ten minutes later his soul
winged its way to the reward that he
had pointed out only little while be-
before.
"It is the end of terrible tragedy"
said the Rev. DR.. Conrad as he gazed
upon the lifeless form of his friend,
''born of the noblest effort and the most
sublime self-sacrifice. But in the time
and circumstance it is a blessed end.
An hour before Mr.. Mclaughlin had
left the editorial rooms of The Spy, en-
thusiastic with hope and happiness
over the future prospects for the Wei
the mid-week meeting at the Union
Church to enlist the sympathies and
material assistance of its parishioners.
For nearly three quarters of an hour
he related to Rev DR.. Tuttle and his
people the detailed story of the work
that has been carried on by the great
charity that he helped to found, and at
the close of his remarks he answered
over a score of inquiries in relation to
1t.
He pleaded for help in it's mainten-
ance, alluding to it as one of the great
est of Christian charities, one that
would find it's full compensation in the
| conscience IF man and in the sight of
God
The story that he told was no less
pathetic than tI,s seems that 6oaowed.
The pictures that he painted, as only
he could paint them, of poor, unfortun-
ate humanity; the grand and noble
work of the mission that had led men
and women on to better and brighter
lives; the earnest efforts made for its
existence; the story of his own strug-
giles and self-sacrifce that could be
read between the lines, although they
came not from his lips!
And then the tragedy-the end, an
end as glorious as ever came to any
man with all the lack of pomp and
circumstance that ordinarily attach to
glorious death!
AS he fell into his seat the members
of the little congregation were hushed
as by magic. 1t was the hush of death.
One by one they gathered about with
awe stricken faces, unable for mo-
ment to understand what it all meant.
Rev. DR.. Tuttle, the pastor of the
church, was the first to realize the SER
iousness of the situation. Under his di-
rection the chapel windows were
thrown open, physicians were sum
moned, and every possible means were
taken to restore consciousness. With
in very few moments DR.. George H.
Hill, DR. Mann, DIR. f. H. Baker and
Dr. Walter T. Clark arrived at the
church, but their services were Of no
avail, and within ten minutes he had
breathed his last
Shortly after his death Rev. DR.. Con-
rad arrived at the church, and his
grief over the death of Mr. Mclaughlin
was so intense that he found himself
almost unable to express himself IN
words. HE has been member of my
church." said the doctor, for the past
nine years; indeed he began his serY-
ices with me when I began my pastor
age. He was one of the most loveable
men that l have ever known, and one
Of the hardest workers in every cause
that appealed for sympathy and assist
ance in relieving those in need or IN DIS
tress A man of limited means himself,
he was ever ready to give to others. Il
have known of needy cases that he has
maintained from his own scanty means,
and yet he has never made it known
to a single acquaintance. 1t has only
been by the merest accident that / have
learned of them. No man ever uttered
greater truth than Mr. Mclaughlin
when he said that his heart and his
soul were given UP to the work of the
Welcome Mission. His connection with
it has been marked by noble and her
ole self sacrifice such as one rarely
sees. His devotion and his energy were
absolutely tireless.
"Only a little while ago he told me
that within the preceding four months
ne ndQ IOllOWeu lOuf relatives " NbCAl
last resting place, and his very tone
and appearance would have led the
most ordinary observer into the belief
that it might not be improbable that
he might follow close behind. I was
opposed to his election as president Of
the board of directors upon the ground
of his health, and I told him so quite
frankly; but he seemed to be determined
to carry on the work that 1 had not
the heart to resist him. He has sacri-
feed his time and his business in the
establishment and maintenance Of this
great charity. and only today we have
formulated plans to carry on the work
during the coming year. He had Of
fered his services in soliciting contribu-
tions. absolutely refusing a compensa-
tion for his time, and, aside from the
hundred and one private generosities
he exercised, do not know how we
shall replace him in the mission work.
So far as that is concerned, Il can be
truly said that his loss is irreparable."
Mr.. Mclaughlin was engaged in the
shoe business at 137 Main street, and
resided with his wife at A. Wellington
street. Mrs. Mclaughlin left a few
DAYS ago for Brandon, Vt, on a visit
~.