Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-10-14
In MamorfAm.

The late John Ambrose Clements was my
friend, and now that his voice 10 hushed in
the tOngu eless silence of the grave ! ask
permission to say a few words, as token Of
respect, In admiration of those traits Of heart
and mind that he ever exhibited through his
private, social and public life.
The deceased was the second son OF the
late Lenuel Clements, of this county, who
at the time of his death had reached the ripe
age of 70 years, and which occurred at Provi-
dence Hospital, Washington, D. D., on Thurs
day, October 9Th, 1904, whittier he had been
taken to undergo q delicate surgical opera
ton by reason Of a complication Of physical
maladies.
Born and reared IN this county, he received
his education at the Rockville Academy, then
under the tutelage Of the late John Braddock,
principal, and the late Rev. Chas II. Nourse,
vice-principal. In early boyhood he was con-
6rmed In the Catholic Church, and through
his after life remained q practical and con-
81 stent member. il was my privilege to have
m ade his acquaintance after he heard Mass
said at st. Roses Church, and Il seems sad
and striking coincidence that should have
seen him last only few weeks since, ct 81.
Mary's Church, In this town, when writhlng
under the agony Of pain and burdened with
the weight Of accumulated years, hobbling
" Nhu III iEVut VI tu0 hlkhT huu huuot-
ing in prayer.
In social life he was modest and retiring
and agreeable. In the company Of ladies he
was painfully bashful and sensitive, and Ii
was not until late In life that he married the
widow of the late James Clements, who lived
but few years after marriage, leaving no
issue by her second husband.
A loyal Democrat, In public life following
In the footsteps Of his hon0red father, with
whom the path Of duty was the post Of honor,
he was honest, truthful, manly, generous and
strictly reliable. Twice elected sheriff Of the
county by large popular majority, the
duties Of his two terms Of office were per-
formed with honor TO his county and credit
to himself. A member of the House Of Dele
gates at its session Of 1890, his straightfor-
ward and clean course met with the endorse
ment OF his constituents, whilst his uniform
courtesy, politeness and cordially, together
with that inimitable shake Of the hand, COM
manded the afNsctlonate respect Of every mem
Der OF the house as well as Of those with
whom he was thrown.
In the advanced Autumn Of life-in the
Autumn Of the year-the great mandate
came, and the ripened leaf which had glowed
under the mellow sunlight Of many gold
en- Indian Summers parted with Its branch ;
the light faded away rs softly as the foot
falls of an angels tread and the solitary
boAtman with his silent oar bore him over
the river.
With the gradual disappearance OF the
venerable landmarks around us, we are re-
minded that all things change and renew
themselves. There Is no death, only eternity.
The water hows to the great sea which covers
half the earth, II rises on the wings Of the
sunbeam, rides gloriously over the heavens
In cloud masses colored by purple sunset, de-
sends In rich rains and fragrant dews, aud
so on again In endless metamOrphosis. We,
too, have our time to rejoice and sorrow, TO
love and fear, to doubt and struggle, to
bloom and fade. But though generation sue
ceeds generation and the same willows hear
the whispering Of lovers and see their chill
dren and children's children, and the race 10
perpetually renewed 10 its eternal round,
there 10 difference unlike the water, man
has q choice between blessing and cursing
he does not pass and 'leave q wreck behind, !"
but mark and q memory. For each separ-
ate man, as we'll as the whole race, moves on
ward, though often with many back-fall, TO
one far-Of divine event, with certain power
for certain season TO retard or advance the
grand final contamination.
The funeral services were held at st. Mary 9
Catholic Church, this town, on Saturday last
Revs. Father Clements, step-s0n OF the de-
ceased, Fathers NEG and Mcdonald con-
Quoting the services. The remains were borne
to his grave In the adjoining cemetery, and /,
under the cloudless splendors Of a beautiful
October day, whilst the birds In every
piece of woodland we're rehearsing their grand
prelude to the approaching carnival Of color,
placed 10 rest beside those Of his wife.
Ny friend, companion Of many years, | Offer
this humble tribute TO your memory.
VIM. KLGoUR
Rockville, Md. October 10, 1904.