The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-27
Dead Abolitionist Is
Honored by
Leicester.
MANY NOTABLES PRESENT.
Rev. A. S. Garver's Eloquent
Tribute to De-
ceased.

Leicester, Nov. 26-Such an assem-
blage Of notables as has rarely been
gathered together in Leicester met in
the Unitarian church this afternoon to
pay the last tribute of respect to the
first pastor of the church and champion
of the abolition movement, Rev. Samuel
May.
Before the public funeral services in
the home were conducted by Rev. Ma
thaniel Seaver, Jr., Mr. Mays pastor.
The service was very short. No eulogy
was pronounced, as that will be de-
ferred to next Sunday. The singing in
both places was by the choir consisting
Of Mrs. Warren Smith, Mrs. j. Sidney
Whittemore. Miss Susan E. Knight F.
d. Libby and George f. Marsh. By Mr.
Mays personal request, prayer from
Martineau's family collection which
had been read by Mr.. May the day
after his wifes DEATH was also used.
The church was crowded when the
service began at 245. Every seat was
taken and the hall was full also. Al
though by request of friends no flowers
were brought. the pulpit was decorated
with ferns arranged by William Disco.
single bunch of violets the gift of
the Sunday school. lay on the black
broadcloth casket. which was placed
in front of the pulpit,
The pastor, Rev. n. Seaver, spoke a
few words telling of Mr.. Mays last
words in the church spoken at the pre-
sentation of the Angel at the tomb -
drawn by Miss Mary E. Joslyn, which
stood al the left of the pulpit. He read
w. Gaskelrs hymn, Calmly, calmly lay
L. - nf q
book Hymns of the spirit. On the
margin was noted in Mr.. Mays hand
writing that the same hymn had been
read at the funeral of his cousin, Rev.
Samuel j. May, and at the funeral OF
| Wendell Phillips on July g. 1884, by MI.
MAY himself. Samuel LongfelloW select
ed the HYMN on that occasion. The choir
sang 20, draw me- Father, after thee,
1 a e1vorite of Mr.. Mays Then Kew. a
! 5. Carver of the First Unitarian church.
| Worcester. delivered a mastery por-
travail of the life and characteristics OF
| the deceased. He likened Mr.. May To
| Gladstone the grand old man of Eng
| land, of whom it was said that in pub
| lie it seemed as though such man
would never be happy except when en-
gagged in conflict and when seen at
| home as though he never would be con-
tent apart from his beloved books.
Even his very name stood for all that
was honorable; from his father, VINO as
| a merchant in Boston was the soul OF
honor he Inherited his sensitive con-
science. from his mother, who was a
champion for the oppressed and never
afraid to stand up for a cause she
deemed Just, however unpopular, his
apathy for wrong, and from contact
with that fiery warrior Rev. Samuel j.
Nav his spirit was moulded.
Following the address, Mrs. J. Sidi ~
Whittemore sang as solo, 10 tiny
pas+ures fair and large, accompanied
nv P. f. Denny. Mr.. May especially
requested that she sing at ms opse-
o1ies. Rev. G. w. Kent of the South
Unitarian church then offered prayer
and the hymn. Lord of all power and
might" was sung. Rev. Mr.. SeaYer Of
fered the benediction.
There were present many persons
from Worcester, Boston and New Eng
land. Among the number were Senator
George f. Hoar and wife, eX-Mayof
Henry A. Marsh and wife, e. F. Biscc,
John Disco and wife, e. j.. WATSON
and wife. ]. P. Stevens and wife, Bill
lings Mann and wife, Samuel S. Green,
CITY Clerk Enoch H. Towne, Edwin
Brown, Henry Sargent, Charles A.
Chase. Nathaniel Paine stephen c.
Earle and wife, Phillip Pfaffmann and
wife. Mrs. S. H. T. Bennett, John
Midgley, Mrs. Amos H. Coolidge
Frank NJ Lamb and wife, o. B. Had
wen and wife Charles A. Norman,
Worcester; Andrew II. Green, "a
Their of greater New York" and his
brother. Martin Green of Worcester;
Corwin F. Palmer and wife, North
boro; Mrs. Joseph Pyncheon, Spring
field: Frank Garrison of Boston, son
of William Lloyd Garrison; Leicester
selectmer, Messrs. e. j. McDermott,
H. E. Sargent and James e. Boardman,
attended in body.
The bearers were w. F. Whittemore,
H. E. Sargent, H. o. Smith, Henry
Disco, James J. Knight and Edward
Warren, all of Leicester. The casket
was taken to Boston today. 1t was re-
moved to the tolling of the church bell.
Monday afternoon a service will be
held in the Church of the Disciples in
Boston. William Lloyd Garrison. Jr.,
will take part. The body will be taken
eventually to the Forest Hills cerae-
terry.
Mr.. May was an honorary member of
the W. c. r. u, and the following res
olutions were passed at meeting last
Friday.
Resolved. THAT, in the death of Rev.
Samuel May, the Woman's Christian
Temperance union of Leicester has
lost a friend and honorary member
who has always proved loyal, and in
terested in all its efforts.
Resolved, That the cause of temper
ance has lost an advocate who was
sound in judgment, fearless in word
and timely in helpfulness.
Resolved That to the family we ex
tend our sympathy, and to Miss May,
cur vice president, we would express
our love and assure her that we, too,
mourn the loss of such a good ard no
BILE man.
Resolved, That copy of these reso-
lutions be sent to the family, to the
press, and be spread upon our records.
The following is Rev A. S. Garver's
sermon:
No single voice can express the feel
ings of our hearts, nor is this company
of neighbors and friends drawn to-
gether today to listen to the words of
studied eulogy Other occasions will
tell the story of the great work Sam
ue May did we are here to bless his
name, to rejoice in the inspiration of
the stainless memory he has left us,
and to bring our tribute of reverence
and affection for what he did and all
that he was.
If those who knew him in the days
of the anti-slavery conflict. that tried
(COntinuad On paUa 1NEro