Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-11

The Late william Holmes.
The funeral service over the remains Of
the late William Holmes was held in the
Methodist church Friday afternoon, Rev.
Homer White and Rev. Joseph Hamilton
officiating. Three faporits hymns OF
the deceased, -ssOne Sweetly solemn
Thought. " Nearer, My God, to Thee
and "Abide with Men-wers sung by
quartet composed Of o. J. Marcotf, Miss
Blanche Sparhawk, Miss Kate Howard
and A. Il. Beedle.
Rev. Mr.. Hamilton paid an appreclative
tribute to the usefulness and worth OF the
long life just ended and OF the faith that
had frightened and made happy the days
multiplied far beyond the allotted age Of
man. In his native country England
Mr.. Holmes was baptized and married in
the Episcopal church. On coming 20 this
country, he became connected with the
Bromdeld Methodist church OF Boston,
but during the anti-slsvery agitation that
bred many discussions, he chose the Park
Street Presbyterian church for his reIig-
ious home. In those days be taught q
Sunday school class OF 40 young men. to
whom be was a revered guide and in
structoF, and upon whom be made an in
delible impression. One OF his class was
Horace H. Howard Of this place, who was
then clerking in a boot and shoe store in
Boston and who has had the pleasure OF
close friendship and intercourse with his
former teacher in the closiDg years Of the
latter's life.
The bearers were Mr.. Howard, A. j.
Foster. Mr.. Marcort and Mr.. Beedle. The
remains were taken to Boston by Mrs. M.
E. Holmes, accompanied by her brother,
J. II. Fraser Of Holyoke, Mass, and Mr..
Howard, and were met there by the
daughters and other relatives and friends
OF the deceased. Interment was made In
Mount Auburn cemetery, Cambridge.
The Boston Transcript in its issue OF
last Thursday had this notice of the
strong individuality which made It's inn
press felt in days Of q national CRISIS
civilian H. Holmes, who, under the
name of "Semloh," (Holmes written
backward) contributed to the Notes and
Queries department OF the Transcript,
died yesterday (Feb. 81 at his home In
Randolph, VT, at the advanced age of
ninety-seven years and almost eight
months. Feeble all this winter. he had q
TALL Friday, resulting in a broken hip,
and from the effects Of this accident be
failed to rally. He was deeply interested
in the affairs OF the. day and one OF the
transcripts daily readers, until impaired
eyesight T1ade it necessary for some one
else to read to him, which was done every
day up to the time OF the accident last
week. Always deeply interested in the
anti-siavery cause. Mr.. Holmes became
associated with Wendell Phillips and
William Lloyd Garrison in their work in
behalf OF the negro and his house was 9
station for slaves who reached Boston to
be sent by the Underground railroad to
Canada
" A station of this mysterious rail
road, - says the Barre Times in an editori-
al on Mr.. Holmes, "was temporary
haven for the care of the fugitives until
they could be sent on to the next sta
ton, which might, perhaps, have been
. in Vermont. At any rate, Vermont was
a direct route for the fugitives to take ia
Canada. Mr.. Holmes lived to see his
principles triumph and be recognized le-
} eally as well as morally, and il must
have been one Of the happiest thoughts OF
his life that he should have been even In
q slight degree responsible for the great
change in the public conscience Of his
J adopted country"