Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-17

Memorial services in memorv of Rev.
s,I. n. Berry, former pastor of the
First Congregational church, whose
death occurred in Evanston, Tuesday
morning, were held at the church in
this city Sunday evening. Appropriate
resolutions were adopted touching the
death of the former minister, and
many were the outspoken expressions
of regret at his demise and tributes
paid to his nobility of character at
the meeting. Many members of the
CHURCH, as well as others who do not
belong, contributed an eulogy to the
memory OF the dead and testified to
the high esteem in which he was held.
AS congregation the church adopted
appropriate resolutions, which lead
this article. Hymns which were
known to be favorites of the deceased
during his pastorate in this city were
sung, and altogether the service show
ed the love of the parish for its for
mer pastor and regret at his untimely
death.
The Services.
The pastor, Rev. p. A. johnson,
4 read passages of scripture bearing up
on the work of minister, after which
he said that six gentlemen, members
of the congregation, had promised to
speak Of Rev. Berry and his work in
this parish, after which the meeting
would be thrown open and any who
wished might pay tribute to the
memory of the deceased.
william McNett.
Mr.. McNett was called upon, and
said:
When a good man comes to the end
of his days, it is only natural for those
lives frightened by his life, to render
to his memory tribute of tears. And
so we are assembled here this evening
to render our tribute Of love for the.
memory of one who ministered to us
IN spiritual things for nearly eight
years in this room-hallowed by SO
many tender and sacred memories.
Tho we shall never more i'll this place,
nor elsewhere in this world, hear his
audible voice, once SO familiar, yet /
trust and believe that the recollection
Iof his pure and noble life shall ever
remain among us, an inspiration and
stimulus to higher and better living,
as Individuals and as a church. It is
difficult to speak within bounds of So
her estimate and fitting praise of one
who combined within his own person
nlity so many of the cardinal virtues
which make up well-rounded and,
humanity by speaking, perfect human
life.
1t was my rare good fortune, tho in
"a very quiet way, to know DR.. Berry
with some degpee of intimacy, and /
found him ever a rare and lovable
man. His character, tho strong, ro-
bust and vigorous along all moral
lines, was yet very simple and trans
parent. In noble qualities it grew and
developed with advancing years, and
longer and better acquaintance. You
simply could not escape the conviction
when'in his company that you were in
the presence of a man of high ideals.
You instinctively knew when any NOR
al phrase of society or of human life
was involved, when any question of
right OF wrong was presented, on
which side he would openly range
himself.
His moral organization was such
! that it was simply impossible for him
TO speak or act except along the lines
of his honest convictions.
These convictions, upon questions
admitting of some difference of opin-
ion, were thoughtfully and deliberately
formed, but when once reached, the
course for him to pursue was definitely
settled. There was no longer any hest
tation upon debatable propositions,
involving no distinctive moral phase.
He was not disposed to be controver-
sial, and the gentleness of his nature
might lead him to yield the point even
when not fully convinced; but when
any question of right and wrong was
presented, no argument of policy or Of
expediency could swerve him from his
convictions or tempt him to compro-
mise, in the least, with what he be-
tlieyed to be wrong. He had but one
STANDARD OF action, and that was to
do what he thought was right under
sall circumstances and let the conse-
quences take care of themselves. His
intercourse with his friends in his
church and in society was marked by
a rare dignity and simplicity OF man
ners and bearing which won for him a
warm place in the hearts of those
who knew him well. These splendid
traits were but the outward NANTES
tations Of a tender and sympathetic
heart. Nature had endowed him
richly with the qualities which win,
and hold the affections OF men.
You could not be much in his society
and escape the contagion OF his good