Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-02-23

AN IMPRESSIVE
FUNERAL SERMON

The funeral of James A. Jones, the
victim of the shooting affair which
took place Tuesday night, was held on
Saturday afternoon and was one of the
very largest that ever occurred in this
city, there being not only an outpour-
ing of townspeople who knew the de-
ceased, but large number of relatives
and friends from out of town were
present.
The services were held in the First
Baptist church at 2 o'clock, Rev. John
Sherman, pastor, officiating. The
auditorium was inadequate to hold
more than fraction of those which
assembled. Even the vestibule was
crowded and many among the Late ar
rivals, discouraged at the poor pros
poets of gaining admittance, did not
linger but at once turned away.
The pail bearers were George l..
Rowe, Seth Freeze, John J. Jones,
David Henrie, James Dougherty and
Alfred Mellin. The four first named
represented the employees of the Struc-
tural Tubing Works. James Dough-
erty and Alfred Mellin represented the
Maccabees, to which order the deceas-
ed belonged.
The flowers were conspicuous feat
ure of the funeral. Among the offer
ings were the following: A bed of
roses from 7. J. Price; pillow, from
the butt mill broken circle, Mac
cabees; broken circle, family of the
deceased; bed of roses, Johnny Meyer,
Hayes Bedea and James Henderson.
There were also beautiful floral trib-
utes from the Love family, Peter
Shut. John Ross, Mrs. Oscar Reilly,
Mrs. William Childs and Mrs. Mazie
Lynn.
Rev. John Sherman INDUCED in ex-
tended remarks called forth by the sad
and unfortunate circumstances. His
discourse was an able one, thoroughly
apropos in all its illusions and it made
deep impression on the large assem-
blage.
The discourse was founded on First
Samuel. goth chapter, 3rd verse:
"There is but step between me and
DEATH"
Following is a synopsis of the ser
mon: In all vocations we are exposed
to danger and death. In some call
ings, it is true, we are exposed to more
danger than in others. The soldier,
for instance, is more likely to be kill
ed than the man engaged in peaceful
pursuits, and the railroader is more
likely to fall victim to accident than
men following other vocations.
In all cases, however, it is only the
body that is killed; the soul lives on.
When the body is destroyed the soul
goes to meet its Judge and to receive
condemnation or reward.
Preparation for reward must be
made in this life, there being only one
way to gain reward, namely, by rec
onciliation with God through Jesus
Christ.
There are many agencies tending to
destroy the soul and probably the most
potent is strong drink. James A. Jones
had his weakness; his sins were mani
fest. There are many worse sinners,
however, whose sins are covered.
Let us turn from Jones, who has
passed hence, the speaker said, and
look upon the man who did the shoot
ing-the poor wreck languishing in
prison-nerve racked yaccording to re-
port) from his continued drinking SO
that, whether it was accidental or de-
liberate he could not help but take
the life of his friend
The speaker made an impassioned
appeal to men, with this terrible warn
ing before them, so fraught with sor-
row and so far reaching and grave in
its consequences, to pause and consid-
or before indulging further their ap-
petite for strong drink. He reminded
those who drink that they also are
taking human life.
"First of ALL" Rev. Sherman, said,
"you are taking your own life, be-
cause you are not men whenyou drink.
You are taking the life of your wife,
whom you swore to love and protect,
by killing the spirit and depriving her
of love and the necessities of life. You
are taking the lives of your children
by withholding from them that which
you ought to give them. You are TAX
ing the life of the community because
you do not sustain it in it's best in
terest."
In conclusion the speaker ventured
the assertion-begging pardon if the
remark seemed harsh-that if anything
that he could say on that occasion
would lead men to be sober-that if
they would heed this terrible warn
ing, then probably poor Jones' death
would not be too great a sacrifice. He
begged of them all ''when tempted to
drink to remember poor Jim Jones.
The following persons from out of
town attended the funeral: Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas Bevan, New Castle; Mrs.
Jennie Hughes and daughter. of New
castle; Mr.. and Mrs. James Rishel of
West Nanticoke Mr.. and Mrs. Peter
Shut and three children, of Milton !;
Mrs Emma Jones, of Catawissa; Mr..
and Mrs. Wesley DeShay and Mrs.
Yeager, of Shamokin, and Daniel Bedea
of Shenandoah.