Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-05-30
A,onzo cI,mons Memorial

H'o"~o Niefnons departure from edrtf
lie occurred May 9. 1907 He was "a
years. months and 2 days old.
he was born in Leroy. Genesee county
N. Y. July %. 1922. and spent but eight
short years in his childhood home. He
was then bound cut and no knowledge OF
MS parents could be learned. He re-
NAMED with his foster parents until he
was able to start life's journey alone.
he was married to Emily Newcomb al
Soottsvile. NJ Y, ia 1914. later moving
TO Ohio. where he found occupation on the
canal, running from Cleveland to Pitts
burg. During their early married life
three sons were born to them, two dying
IN mere infancy, and the oldest son, Hen
ry Clemens passed to the great beyond
Feb. Ia, 1886, the mother following May
IL, 1891.
he, with his wife and son, came to
Michigan So years ago and located in
Oakfleld, later moving to Grattan, where
the remainder of his life was spent.
He became firm believer in spiritual
ism in l848 and his final enjoyment
seemed based on the anticipation Of a
happy future. where loved ones we're
waiting to welcome him.
He was united in marriage to Frances
Manchester Nov. 1891 and this loved
companion passed to spirit life Jan S,
1907.
Mrs. L. K. Webster,s address:
We come again TO this house Of mourn
Ing 10 pay this last and loving tribute TO
TREND and nelghbor one who has lived a
Iong time with us. You who nave been
his closest friends have known him as a
worker IN this community, know his worth
and how much he has been associated
With the progress Of this part of the world.
your world IN which you live And as
you recall many kind acts, good words,
cheering words, perhaps, To old and young,
you will feel that his life and work here
mas not been IN vain. A few months ago,
when spoke The WORDS for the loving
companion who had been called, he placed
IN my hands some papers advocating his
oellet, or splritudllstlc doctrine, and asked
me to perform for him this service, tor
It will only be little time, he said, chat
! remain. That his work seemed done,
as he could no longer administer To the
loved companion, he was ready to 90
Therefore, my friends, | shall dgress a
little and give you few thoughts upon
this belief that brought satisfaction 70
MIN during more than fifty years OF his
Ilfe that he embraced the new religion.
which, too, brought comfort at Iife's close
Over fifty years ago he accepted the be-
lief in spirtualism and to HIM death was
out the passing from the tenement OF c ~
20 larger opportunities, to better llle,
10 meet again the loved ones passed be
fore. How serene, then, to this friend |
who had passed on lfe's highway the |
highest point, who lived more than his
allotted time, and having fulfilled life
he could trace in memory the
most of these 85 years of his life. and
With consciousness that these years
we're well spent pass calmly To his nome
beyond, that in his dim vision OF the last
lew days he seemed to see and realize,
Such belief as his softens the cruel
effect Of the Christian theology, in which
Tiled with torment, no night Of gloom; no
TGQ6GfleQ
are called thereto; no Christian hell that
awaits with yawnlng chasm the honest
souls who dare to say, i do not know
believe that next TO eternal joy, next to
being forever with those we love, next To
hat IS to be wrapped in the dreamless
iraperY Of eternal peace. Next to eternal
oy is eternal sleep. Upon the shadowy
shore OF death the sea of trouble casts no |,
wave: eyes that have been curtained by
he everlasting dark will never know
again the burning touch Of tears lips
ouched by eternal silence will never
speak again the broken words of grief:
within the tomb no yelled and weeping
orrow sits. and in the rayless gloom IS
rouched no shudderlng fear, The hope
4 immortality has like the sea ebbed and
lowed IN the human heart, with its count ,
ess waves of hope and fear beating
galnst the shores and rocks Of time and !;
ate; but II comes not to the heart through :
he teachings of any book, nor of any t,
ook, nor Of any creed, nor Of any religion
will ever be found where love kisses the i
ps OF death. Better to our friend Just .
one was the idea Of anrAhllatlon, tnan /,
ne orthodox idea of the future for on the J
ne hand we are taught there is heaven !,
nth ITS streets of gold, where countless
umoers sing and play while just below :
lelr loved ones perhaps are suffering the Z
OF the damned. Not pleasant :
cture, and TO the splrilualist or unbe- e.
aver the idea Of a dividing line between :
sayen and hell is utterly repugnant to :
imam IDEAS Of justice. The ma jority of =
a L. - /