St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-03-02
Rev. Henry w. Jones'.

L
As announced in the CALIFORNIAN oil
Feb. II, Rev. Henry w. Jones died at his
home in Claremont, Cal, Feb. IA, after
| brief illness from pneumonia.
Mr.. Jones was born in Southampton,
| Mass, in 1880 and was graduate oil
Amherst College and Windsor theological
Seminary. After being ordained as a
Congregational minister he wascalled to
the pastorate of the church in Hadlyme,
Conn. Later he was pastor. of the chur CHI
in Swampscott, Mass, and on Oct. II,
1875, he accepted the call to the North
Congregational church, resigning on Ian.
21, 1885. During his ten years pastor
ate the church adopted the weekly offer
ing system, the new edifce was built and
a revival swept over the town which
greatly increased the membership of the
church. Mr.. Jones is lovingly remember
lowed him. After leaving St. Johnsbury
he went to central California, becoming
pastor of the little church at Vacaville,
where he remained for about half dozen
years. He then removed to Pasadena
and 10 years ago went to Claremont
where he has since resided. He leaves
wife and one son, Harry Foster, profess
sor OF English in Tabor College at Tabor,
La.
Of Mr. Jones life in Claremont no one
is better qualified to sbeak than Presi-
dent George A. Gates of Pomona college,
for some years a resident OF this town
and graduate of our Academy. In a
letter to the editor of the CALIFORNIAN,
under date OF Feb. 16, DIR. Gates says:
Ii is only to xpress to those who have
known Rev. Henry w Jones, for a num-
Der of years pastor OF the North church
in St. Iohnsbury. simple testimony to
the beauty and usefulness of his later life.
1t was an utter surprise to me on COM
ing to ClaremOnt to associate myself
with the work of Pomona College to be
greeted by Mr.. Jones. [ did not know
him intim atelv in his St. Johnsbury days
ar d should not have assumed that he
would remember me, but it is quite typi-
cal OF our Southern California life that
one finds many people anywhere in this
region whom he has known in other
parts of the United States. l received no
more cordial greeting from any former
acquaintance than did from this genial
man. He has been my nearest neighbor
many fine people in and about this sturdy
college there is no one whom l have
found more cordial and generously help
full than he. His old friends in ST. Johns
bury may be sure that MIR. Jones did not
come into this community merely to rust
out. To the limit of his strength he has
been a very active factor in the life of
college, church and community. No good
interest has lacked his sympathy. In
this genial CLINE he has found his some
what impaired health to a good degree
restored so that he has found rich enjoy
ment in the fairly active life. Holding no
formally official position he has, never
tbeless, used his time with hearty enthu-
siasm for every good cause.
S For many years he has been easily the
leading factor in the Cactus Club, one of
the distinctive organizations OF Clare
mont, which meets to discuss themes
associated under such terms as Litera
ture, History, Current Events, Sociology,
Politics, Local Interests. etc.
He has been in lively touch with the
college. The young men and women
have received much from him in many
WAYS.
He has been largely Instrumental in
establishing and carrying ON in this cor
ner of Los Angeles county a method, OF
civil governments closely analogous to
the old New England town meeting.
California has no towns. Public mat
tiers are either state, county or municipal.
So tar as any formal organization is con-
cerned Clar emOnt is corner OF Los
Angeles county. Nevertheless our affairs
are carried on almost exactly in that
form which has set it's mark on the adj
ministration of the public affairs OF the
nation, the town meeting. It is due more
than to any other one man to Mr.. Jones.
Last evening there was a concert by
our Choral Union OF rs voices, made upof
students and townspe ople. The concert
occurred after Mr. Jones' death before
the burial of his body. An empty chair
with wreath was on the platform and
brief word of recognition OF his absence
was spoken lest any should misunder-
stand the Choral Union going straight
forward with it's concert in spite of this
death OF one of its prominent members.
| Judge that it is not often that choral
society would have as one of its strong
tenors the voice of a man 70 years of
age. The piece de resistance was Dudley
Bucks THE Coming of the King" and
it seemed to the Choral Union that in
accordance with his own request that his
illness should not interfere with the regu-
lar on-going of events, and Mrs. Jones
expressed wish that the concert should be
given as planned, that such theme
would not in the least interfere with
prophecies. 1t was almost like tribute
to his noble Christian lite.
There is no man in this community of
fine strong men and women who was
more sincerely loved than he. That love
is no passing affection. It rests upon
the basis of highest respect. Sweetness
and light" have admirably characterized
his later years. The very joy and spring
of life have seemed to be his. Personally
I have had no more kindly friend than
he has been. In the work which is not
quite easy or light of college administra-
ton I have often counselled with him, to
be sure, not in an official way, but per-
haps in all the more friendly and helpful
way. think no one beyond his own
family can miss his genial presence
among as more than l. To have known
and loved such man is to add to ones
thought of dignity and beauty OF human
life and ones reverence for it. Such a