The Elbert County tribune., 1906-08-16
PARSON UzzELL
TwENTY-oNE YEARS PASTOR OF
PEOPLES TABERNACLE.
DENVER PEOPLE HONOR HIM
Great Gathering to Celebrate Twenty
First Anniversary of His Pastorate
-EuIogy by Ex-Governor Adams


Carrie Nation Leads the Shouting.
Denver-Fully 5000 men, women
and children testified to their love and
respect for Parson Tom Uzzell of the
Peoples Tabernacle last night by fill
ing every seat and every inch OF
standing room of the great auditorium
and gallery of the Tabernacle, to as
sist il remembering the parsons twen-
ty-one years of service as pastor of
the Tabernacle. Five hundred more
were turned away, the small army Of
ushers finding it impossible to crowd
in another person. Parson Uzzell him
self was absent.
Former Governor Alva Adams OF Pu-
eblo. Carry Nation, the Kansas joint
smasher and several others for over
two hours told of the good things they
knew personally of the parson, whose
name and fame are by no means con-
fined to the state lines of Colorado.
I'VE can tell 1t now. we can yell 1t
now" shouted Carry Nation, waving
her hand in the atmosphere, because
the good parson is absent
Parson Uzzell nearly broke down
physically several days ago, and is now
fishing on the Gunnison, taking the
rest cure and trying the simple life
SO often mentioned in books and news
papers.
"Yes, we can tell it now" said ex-
Governor Adams, not to be outdone by
"the lady from Kansas" because it is
the thing to do; tell of the good things
you know about man while he is yet
In the land of living
Mr.. Adams was the principal speak
er of the evening. He told one inter-
esting incident relating to Parson Tom,
that took especially well with the
crowd. "a matter of five years or SO
ago." he said, "at the reunion of Roose-
velt's rough riders in Las Vegas. New
Mexico, | was selected by the Gov
ernor to represent Colorado. There
were four or five Governors, as many
United States Senators, Mr.. Roosevelt,
who was then vice president, and
others on the platform.
1T was Sunday, in church, and Par
son Tom, your Parson Tom, our Farson
Tom, was preaching the sermon. He
took his text from one of the robber
exploits of David, and he repeatedly
said: 1.-THE man who stays home to
watch the stuff is entitled to as much
credit as the man who goes out to bat
tie; and is deserving of as much in the
division He emphasized this.
"At the finish the director of cere-
monies started to give out hymn
number, when Mr.. Roosevelt, In his
characteristic way, stood up and inter
rupted with: Here, | want to say a
word before the singing starts. nave
heard Beecher, l have heard Talmage
Hills, and other great preachers; but
| want to say, ladies and gentlemen,
that the greatest sermon | ever heard
in all my life l have just heard, by
Parson Tom Uzzell.'
"Mr. Roosevelt could have said moth
ing to please the congregation and
visitors better. 1t was Sunday, and in
church, but everybody applauded. Par
son Tom has seen fit to cast his lines
in the humber walks of life. He has
been pastor of this church twenty-one
years. He. holds his job better than
some of us.
81 have heard him talk often, but sell
dom have I heard him preach. Parson
Tom Uzzell is great, a good man.
He is not passively good; that would
mean nothing. A man is good in pro-
portion as he uses his abilities and op-
portunities to help his fellow men.
That is Tom.
Russell Sage was pious man. He
never got drunk, never played poker
but would rather take Toms chances
on the next world than Sage's. Only
the angels in heaven have kept rec
ord of the tears he has dried, the sick
he has healed, the unhappy to whom
he has carried consolation, the hungry
he has fed, the naked he has clothed
Personal service is the demand of
the true Christian. The ledger in the
city of God is not kept in dollars and
cents. Lots Of us are good Sunday
Christians; Tom is an every day Chris
tian; no difference in him on Sunday"
The Peoples Tabernacle was cstab-
lished twenty-five years ago by Charles
Uzzell, brother of Parson Tom Uzz
ell. In less than year poor health
forced his resignation. and a few
months later, in Los Angeles, he died