The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-01-07
GREAT SERVICE HELD AT VA. c. A.
Bishop Fowler. of Buffalo. Expresses Deep
Sorrow for Himself and His Church
Over the Loss OF Good Men.

Of praise that are wont to be heard in
the churches of the city we're changed
to dirges for the dead.
The greatest service of the day was
held at the Park Avenue M. E. church
in the morning, when the members Of
the church gathered to pay tribute
to Willis and Charles Cooper, who had
formerly been leaders in the work Of
the church. The great organ ia the
front of the church was draped with
the symbol of mourning, while about
the walls the festoons of evergreen
which had been placed by the hands of
the dead men at the time of the Christ
mas celebration, bore a silent tribute
of grief.
The house was filled to the doors,
people coming from all the churches
in the city to pay their tribute Of grief.
The service opened with the choir,
Of which the late Charles f. Cooper
had been yuember, singing the beau
tiful words of 'sNearer My God to
Thee After the song the Rev. Sam
ue1 Plantz of Lawrence University
gave the invocation. The audience
joined in singing "Abide With Me-
and DR.. Plantz spoke of the personality
of Willis Cooper. He told of the vari-
Gus attributes that had been united in
him to make him worthy of the respect
and admiration of all. After the au-
dience sang "Lead Kindly Light"
DR.. J. S. Lean of Milwaukee, Presid-
ing Elder of the Milwaukee District of
the church, spoke of the great work
that Mr.. Cooper had done for the
church at Large. He spoke of his serv-
ices as a member of the Epworth
League and as member of the bust
ness counsels of the church.
DR.. w. r. Cheever spoke of the work
of Charles F. Cooper for the city of
Kenosha. He told of the great inter-
est he had taken in the Hospital Asso.
citation, and in other associations
formed for the betterment of the city
and of his work for the best interests
of the men of the city.
In closing the service Rev. w. w.
Stevens spoLeoi the relations that had
existed between the two men and the
church. He spoke of Willis as the
leader of the Official Board of the
church, and of the many things that
he had done. OF Charles Cooper as the
leader of the children in the church,
as the leader of the choir. He spoke
of the places that had been left vacant
by the grim messenger, and found no
consolation for the people who had
loved the brothers so well.
AT the Y. M G. "A.
No more heartfelt tribute nor more
memorial observance was
ever held in Kenosha than that which
found expression in the gathering of
the Young Mems Christian Associa.
ton in honor of the late Willis w.
Cooper and Chas. F. Cooper and
John and Ned VanIngen on Sunday
afternoon. Although the service did
not begin until 3 O'Clock, the crowd be-
gan to gather an hour earlier and when
the program began every nook and
corner Of the second floor was occupied
and many turned away unable to gain
admission. All classes of people were
represented in the audience, the rich
and poor, the young and old; all giving
evidence of the high esteem in which
the departed members were held by
the people of Kenosha.
The platform was decorated with
ferns and cut flowers, two vacant
chairs were draped il mourning, while
above them, like lowering spirits, hung
the undraped portraits of Willis and
Charles Cooper. The music for the oc
casion was furnished by the Arion
Male Quartet, four selections being
rendered ia the heartfelt manner in
which only Arions can sing, the quar-
tet being composed of Messrs. S. b
Anderson, E. E. Shippee, w. E. Hub
bard and F. Fl. Truax. President S.
c. Newman presided and the service
was carried out in the following
order:
Arion Quartet Zone Sweetly Solemn Thought
Scripture reading. 4. $50. Rev. e. 4. Farrill
60 AOAA 4N0A uOV kJn6A4 VIC XMCCu U0yUuQ UuG
River 4
Prayer. ............. ,..... Rev w. w. Stevens
memorial eaddr0SS. -. -. -.
@. s. Ward, International Y. M. G. A, Secy
Arion Quartet. ......... "Abide with Me" Macy
Tribute ......s.............. T.. =. Grant
Personal Fruits of Willis and Charles
Cooper .....A. e. Buckmaster
Resolutions. ..............S. G. Newman
Arion Quartet. Christians. Good Night,
B0ned1ct1Cn. Rev. e. g. Kunkle
In his remarks Mr.. C. S. Ward spoke
Of the manner in which Willis and
Charles Cooper embodied in themselves
the ideal for which the X. M. C. IA. is
striving. They were true to the spir-
itual and evangelical basis, broad and
liberal in their sympathies, enthusias
tic and optimistic, benevolent, with
nnlimitable capacity for hard work
and, above all, the climax of true and
eternal friendship.
E. L. Grant spoke feelingly of the
large place left vacant by the depart.
IRE of the brothers, Of the constant
stimulus and inspiration that Willis
Cooper has given the Board Of Direct
Sfs In every line Of activity. leaving