River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-05-18

lldIlQ dIlu llCld bAiAii A0ol WILL COtll-
pleted, often amid great pain he
thought out strong sermons. In
bodily anguish he uttered matchless
words of sympathy and comfort.
He held fast to his duty regardless
of the odds against him. Con-
science and persistency came mighty
near developing the master man.
He was man of Heart--great
hearted Tom Snodgrass. Does
that sound sacrilegious at his funeral?
We know some men by their pet
names, regardless of their station.
Bishop Haven was always "Gil'' to
his friends. Bishop Fowler is ssChar-
lie" to all his comrades, and Bishop
Berry will always be sJoe" to those
who love him. Thomas Snodgrass
was that type of man, the man of the
heart, the great brotherly soul that
touched you and helped you and
made you want to help him and
somebody else. This made him a
brotherly man, SO that about sixteen
years ago he joined the Masons in
Baraboo, both Blue Lodge and
Chapter. This was why he was an
Odd Fellow as we'll. Why, do you.
ask ? Because he wanted to know men.
He loved men as men. He enjoyed
being with them. He valued men
for their own sake. We having dis
cussed these things, | know that in
his heart he loved the friendly asso-
ciation'of the gatherings of men for
the furthering Of human brother
hood. To others these things may
not appeal, but they did SO to him
most remarkably. This brotherly
relation be used to the good of many
and the harm of none.
He was very sympathetic. Were
you wounded? He never went over
to the other side of the road. Were
you in aff1iction? He was at once
sharing the grief with you, only la
menting that he could not make it
all his own. He never slept while
you were praying in Gethsemane,
and none ever said to him, 'scan you
not watch with me one hour?" be-
cause he could not sleep until he had
done what he could to comfort or
help you. How he has spoken to
you when that father or mother of
yours was taken away you will new
er forget. How he went with you
to the cemetery as you wept because
you must leave your child there and
if he did not speak of it to you, he
remembered little Alice and grieved
with you. He had a great, brother
ly, plying heart that told the Lord
your story while you were dumb
with fear or indignation at the blow.
He had also great fund of hui
NOR. How his wit sparkled and
scintillated on occasion; never un-
kind, yet sharper than a Damascus
blade, but still as genial as the spring
sunshine, as fructifying as an April
shower. Brother Snodgrass with
out story as apropos to the &C.
casion as any of Lincoln's was
thing unheard of. Humor is not
foolishness but it is rather the genial
sunshine of the mind that somehow
finds an avenue to the hearts of all.
Who of us has not been lifted up by
it as we have seen the clouds roll
by? Few have such an endowment
as he yet it was never out of place
in his message of God to men. 1t
was this that carried him over so
many floods of suffering and made
of him the chivalrous knight of the
Almighty. In association with the
people he was always gentleman.
He was oblivious to petty annoy
ances, so not easily hurt.
In public affairs he was patriotic.
He loved his country and sought by
word and act to lift it up.
Of his life in his home / may not
say words that would in the least
seem to invade that sacred precinct;
but when | look upon this group of
young people who have come into
their estate as teachers of youth,
can speak of him as your father, you
knew him and he knew you. He
was no stranger in his own home as
the manner of some men is, but
there was always peculiar bond of
sympathy that bound you as parents
and children into one common
whole, most beautiful to behold.
His name will always be tower of
strength to you and in the years that
follow you will often learn what it
means to be the child of Thomas
Snodgrass. But yesterday you came
into new estate, that of companion
to and for your mother. How faith
full she has been, how vigilant and
devoted a wife, all who know her at
all recognize, and the very depend
ence of your father upon her care
will make his loss SO great her heart
will be slow in healing and to you
as companions will depend much of
the JOY that the Holy Spirit would
have her receive. Oh how she
needs heart ease and ! know that
you will understand.
Brothers of the Civic orders, he
was pattern to US all. He knew
the rituals, he carefully studied the
principles, he approved them and
their application and he lived them
all. His was blessed example to
nc all IN that he rested not In his