Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-21
TRIBUTE TO LATE DR.. HIRST
Dsngr,gation Of First Methodist Church at
Memorial Services.
SPEAKERS HONOR THEIR DEAD PASTOR
His Praises Sounded In sincere Praise
and Hymned I'm Music Arranged
Especially for the
'e Occasion.

"A. G. Hirst as a pastor and as a man gath
cred at the First Methodist Episcopal
church Sunday morning to pay a last
tender tribute TO his memory, and the edi-
nee was crowded with those who could
bear personal testimony to his kindly, I'M
selfish, Christian influence. The hymns,
the spoken words, the moist eyes, the
wreaths OF flowers. the Grape upon the
altar, all reflected the reverential spirit OF
the hour, and spoke of the loss sustained
by the church and the community.
els our pastor dead?' asked Charles A..
Goss. "The unreal part Of him-the change
full. fleeing evanescent, mortal parts
dead; but the ideal, the permanent, the
Immortal part shall abide with us for
ever"
Several pastors Of other congregations in
The city were present to participate In
the service. Rev. DR.. D.. X. Tindall OF
Trinity Methodist church led In the Lords
Prayer; Rev. c. N. Dawson OF the Seward
Street Methodist church and Rev. c. c.
Cissell OF the Hanscom Park Methodist
church read scripture lessons; Rev. Amos
Luce Of the Monmouth Park church READ
one of DR.. Hirst's favorite hymns. God
Moves in a Mysterious Way" Rev. ]. w..
Jennings, D.. D., presiding elder, read the
late pastors official record, and Rev. Ed
ward f. Trefz Of Kountze Memorial church
gave a brief talk on the subject, A Seen
by Other denominations" Charles A. Goss
delivered the principal address. his theme
being "Our Pastor" and J. o. Detweller
read several sets OF resolutions that had
been adopted by the trustees OF the church.
the Epworth league. the Sunday school, the
Ministers league and other bodies.
Music Unusually Impressive.
The choir gave a musical program Of un-
usual impressiveness including I'm Me-
moriam," written by Mr.. Thomas Kelly,
choirmaster especially for this service, In
loving memory of DR.. Hirst.' 1t opened
With a broad recitative, sung by Mrs.
Kelly as a soprano solo, and was followed
nv a tenor solo in which Mr.. McCreary's
ane lyric voice was displayed to the best
advantage. At the climax, with which the
anthem closed, the audience arose, and re-
manned standing, with bowed heads. A
number of well-known musicians VINO were
present, among them Mrs. Mabelle Craw-
ford. the %well-known concert contralto OF
Chicago. heartily congratulated Mr.. Kelly
upon the solemn and impressive grandeur
of the composition.
Among other notable numbers Of the mu-
aical program were the anthem, "Blest Are
the Departed" in which the work OF the
new contralto, Miss Nora McCabe, was es-
pecially excellent; the chant, DE Pro-
fundis," and the professional hymn 20.
Paradise" The closing number was one OF
Charles wesley's hymns:
Servant of God, well donel
Thy glorious warfares past:
The battles fought, the race is won.
And thou art crowned at last.
Mr.. Goss spoke in part as follows:
Our pastorl He came to US less than two
years ago with the sealed prospect OF q
decade Of useful work before him, and
with the ripe experience OF more man d
generation Of successful labor as soldier,
Teacher and preacher behind him. His
cordial reception into the hearts OF TINS
R RE entered eTe%e upon his work with the en-
fhusiasm Of a youth, steadied and con-
troiled BY the wisdom Of a veteran. He
w we a We're wor there S win eve ever forget the Inn
preston he made at the first, meeting with
spoke az length and outlined the work
for himself and for t the church hnlS and he w salS
9Srsom the start. Fit is beautiful" he de-
cisred' ito lie in the boat and float; but
st is glorious to take up the oars and pull.
Performance FuIhIIs Promise.
He exemplihed the sincerity of his prom
sse In speech by his performance OF deeS a.
place in the church life and daily life Of
bis people. old and young. lie soon got
not only a safe driver with a light hand,
but a sure leader with a strong purpose.
ali the departments Of the church work.
Probably never before have they all done
he came. He counted no effort too palms
taking and no. detail too small to deserve
his best thought and attention HIS large
to prepare In advance In his wi mind,
II not on paper, just what ought to be
attended, and he attended most OF them.
He was modest in his manner of sugges-
p pGG 90 Of O opinion tsst Was wa n hurt N Il his SifP plans
were. not adopted. He was one of that
ways % bBe s0 FReIIed on to pe carry out with WITH tact
and fidelity to plan anything entrusted to
And he loved his people. 1t was one of
his ~favorite fancies during the last few
days OF his life TO be so placed on his
from the western windows OF that Chi
cago home in which he dice toward Omaha,
whose people he had learned to love so
well His lips are sealed; his voice Is
stilled; his hands are folded; his eyes are
SSlT Ttte his s ns mas and eS SIs n mTm ns sha sdpO RS
main to bless us.
Pastor Trefk's Remarks.
Edward +. Trefz, pastor Of Kountze Me-
mortal church, spoke on DR.. Hirst as seen
by other denominations. He said:
Ours is one heart today. and that heart
aches with its burden of tears. Our good
Spinner sreS 81 n nrssha th hS i gone and t besut dfai
words viii weave no more fabrics for our
souls delight and uplift. Yet so nightly
did he impress US with his goodness and
sincerity and truth that long In the future
will his voice whisper TO us In our dreams
and his footsteps walk by our side. You,
who on each recurring Sabbath day, have
listened TO the charmed music OF his soul
win often hear the echo Of his voice within
these walls, like the far-sighing strain Of
q sweet and lingering melody. Henceforth
we take VI lfe's battle with our tombs and
our tasks more closely entangled Knowing
that death exalts life. and that our path
lies under the eternal s%unlighted gates OF
heaven.
Seeking words thai shall sufhoe for rose
mary TO strew upon DR.. Hirst's grave COM
peis US to go 10 the richest and choicest
poet of the Hebrews. that most poetic OF
nations, and proclaim this for our epitaph
OF him whom we do commemorate today:
How beautiful upon The mountains are
the feet OF him that bringeth GOOD things"
For US who were not under his minister
ing care ana who did not beiong TO the de-
nnuafna Hon which ha q uhly