The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-03
in LOVING
REMEMBRANCE
Mrs. Andrew ReOsOner Gives
Well Appointed Chapel

byterIan Church, East Orange.
Judge Fort Takes Presentation
Address, to Which President
George w. Fortmeyer Responded
Interesting Program on Sunday
Last.
The Andrew Reasoner Memorial
Chapel, an addition to the Mum
Avenue Presbyterian church, East
Orange, which was erected at cost
of $40, 600 by Mrs. Abby, the widow
of Former Superintendent Andrew
Reasoner of the Morris and Essex
division of the Lackawanna in his
memory, was dedicated Sunday af-
ternoon, when an elaborate program
was carried out. The interior of the
new building, which will be used for
Sunday School, church parlors and
young peoples meeting room, was
decorated with palms.
Tributes to the man in mep,ory of
whom the handsome structure was
constructed were made by Supreme
Court Justice J. Franklin Fort, the
Rev. DR.. James M. Ludlow, pastor
of the church; George W. Fortmeyer
and William G.. Thomas. Mr.. Reas-
oner, who removed from Morristown
to East Orange. was regular at
tendant at the Mum Avenue Church,
where, as in Morristown, he did a
great deal of good, always, however,
bearing in mind that his right hand
was not to know what the left hand
did"
The exercises were opened with an
anthem, after which the Rev. DIR.
Wilson Phraner, Associate Pastor of
the church, invoked the Divine bless
ing. Responsive Scripture reading
followed. and then Justice Fort made
the prin oipal address of the after
noon, as follows:
This commodious and beautiful
chapel building is, as you all know,
the gift of Mrs. Andrew Reasoner to
the trustees and congregation of the
First Presbyterian Church of East
Orange. 1t was spontaneous gift.
1t is doubtful if more than two per-
sons knew of Mrs. Reasoner's inten-
tion to give it before the gift was an
nounced. 1t was one of those good
acts which those of us who know
Mrs. Reasoner best know her to be so
we'll capable of doing Few people
know of the multitude of her benefac-
tions.
But, while this chapel was gift to
the church, it had larger signifi
canoe in Mrs. Reasoner' mind and
purpose. In the latter years of the
half century of the unusually happy
married life of Mr.. and Mrs. Reas-
oner they had lived in East Orange.
They had attended this church. Mr..
Reasoner greatly enjoyed its services.
He was always found in his pew.
When that happy married life ended,
from this church he was carried to
his last resting place. These were
the facts which led Mrs. Reasoner to
give this chapel to this church. This
building is an expression OF her love
for his memory and a recognition of
his attachment to this church and
its people. The generosity of the gift
is but another evidence of her devo-
tion to her husband. which was so
marked in his lifetime, and of her
affection for his memory. which she
SO tenderly cherishes today.
Andrew Reasonel was strong
character He was, in many respects,
a remarkable man. He WIS a typical
production of our American civiliza-
tion. He was of the class of men
who have made this country great.
1t is not the statesman, the orator,
the lawyer or the preacher who has
made this republic. Rather, il has
been the men who, by hard work and
their own energies, have made an i'm
press upon it through the develop
ment of its great transportation,
manufacturing and mercantile in
dustries. The great men in these
lines have been men who have
wrought out their own destiny.
Usually their educational advantages
have been limited. They have suc-
ceeded under difficulties. Andrew
Reasoner was of that class. All he
attained, he secured through his nat
ural ability, rugged integrity and
straightforward, manly purpose.
No one had to go to him twice to find
out what he meant to do. No one
ever left him in doubt as to whether
he would do what he said. No one
ever thought it worth while to try to
change his opinion after it was once
made up and expressed. There was
no vacoillation on his part; there
could be no evasion in the one who
was to carry out his order. He
would have made great soldier.
He had the qualities of silence and
invincible purpose which so exempli-
fed the greatness of General Grant.
But with all his firmness, he had a
heart that was tender to anyone in
trouble There was never man un-
der him who did not feel that his
rights we're safe in Mr.. Reasoner' s
hands. His men never struck. They
never went to him with a grievance
that was just that he did not right it.
He helped them when in trouble,
and, when he was not able, personal
ly, to aid them, Mrs. Reasoner would.
There was not man under him
who did not love him, notwithstand-
ing he was never familiar with any
one.
Thomas Mast, who is painting a
portrait of Mr.. Reasoner to hang in
the entrance way of this building,
said to me that the motto over this
chapel should be, "Do unto others ss
you would like to be done by. ("
That, he thought, exactly expressed
Mr. R0asouer' whole life And III