The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-04-22
Tributes to A Noble Woman.

lIiUutcS " N NOUit NOIHdN.
In several issues of the st. Joe Ga
zette last week mention was made of
the death Of Mrs. Lyman w. Forgrave,
former we'll known resident of Leon,
and one of the leading club women of
st. Joe. She had been for three years
president of the Ready Helpers, and
one of the first members of the organi-
zation, which was formed for charitable
purposes. At the time of her death
Mrs. Forgrave was president of the
City Federation Of Women's Clubs of
st. Joe:
The following appreciation of Mrs
Forgrave and her work was written by
Mrs. Mary A. Owen:
SIN the death Of Mrs. Lyman w. For
grave this community has suffered an
irreparable loss. Always kindly, sympa-
thetic and charitable, her loving heart
was dominated by sensible brain, and
both were made of the highest use to
humanity by a vigorous executive abil-
ity. To feel for all those who are af-
tlicted and distressed in mind, body or
estate, was merely beginning of
better things with her. To sympathize
meant, to one of her temperament, to
console, to amend, to uplift. Whether
taking part in organized Improvement
and reform or acting alone, her aim was
never merely to bestow that desultory
charity of pleasure words or occasional
almsgiving which leaves the recipient
in no better case than before; realizing
the weakness as well as the universal
brotherhood of man, it was ever her
desire to comfort and help the weak
hearted and raise up those who fall,
and only heaven may know how far
reaching was her power and influence.
Like the pebble in the pool, wise deed
sends ripples to the outermost Shore
GAS the president of the City Feder-
alton of women's clubs, as the secretary
of the Union Benevolent association, as
an active church worker, as the pro-
moter of sensible philanthropies and
needed civil reform, as club woman
of culture and talent, the public will
look long for sometime to fiji the place
occupied by Mrs. Forgrave, but her
public activities were the least of her
life. Where her virtue shone most re-
splendently was in her home, and it is
there that she will be most poignantly
missed by the husband and children,
who, knowing her best, will grieve for
her, most deeply"
The following, under the head of "The
Influence of a Noble Woman on the
Community was written concerning
Mrs. L. w. Forgrave, by Rabbi Bernstein
of Temple Adath Joseph, at the request
of the City Federation of Women's
clubs:
"When good woman dies, they who
knew and loved her mourn; when a
noble woman, whose influence has
spread far beyond the portals of lter
home, passes on whole community
sorrows. Nancy Anna Forgrave is gone
to her eternal home and St. Joseph has
. iost@one of its noble workers in the
cause Of truth, a faithful servant, who
did the right as God gave her to see
the right a ready helper in every field
of philanthropic cndeavor. She was a
woman of exceptional attainments. A
keen mind and a ready understanding,
joined to genial sense of humor and a
sympathetic heart, made this woman
large-souled and gave her a broader
outlook than is vouchsafed to the ma
JOrity. There was no malice in her soul,
she worked for the common good. There
was no petty jealousy in her nature,
she labored for humanity. There was
no narrow prejudice in her heart, she
served the truth and God.
"The result of her life is not Dead
Sea Fruit but a living inspiration for
others to take up the work where she
left it. She is dead, but her love lives,
lives in the hearts of those who were
associated with her in her labors. She
is gone to her eternal reward, but her
influence fingers and will linger for
many year. To sum up her influence
we're impossible. Influence such as
hers was, is measured by heart throbs
and soul STRINGS and God alone weighs
these in the balance. In whatever
field she labored, at whatever post
Duty's Sentinel found her, she was
broad awake and ready for her task.
"At the time of her death she was
president of the City Federation of
Women's clubs, a member of the local
board of eleemosynary institutions, ap-
pointed by the governor; a member of
the directory of the St. Joseph Play
ground association and of the Union
Benevolent association, of which she
had been secretary. She also served
for nine years as president of the choir
and organ guild of the First NJ. e.
church. Nor were these Offices mere
empty titles. They spelled RESPONSE
bility and this responsibility she trans
lated into action.
"Of her home influence only those
who loved her most, her family circle,
on whom so much of the wealth of her
love and affection was expended, only
they can speak. Her children rise up
and call her blessed, her husband also
and he praiseth her. 1t is too sacred
a memory for her loved ones to mar it
by excess of words, too dear an in
fiuence to coin into clinking phrase and
glittering expression. Give her of the
fruit OF her hands, and let her own
works praise her in the gates
"Had she been able to express to this
family circle and to her friends her
last wishes, it would probably have
been with Elizabeth Barret Browning
in these beautiful words:
"And friend, dear friend, when it
shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And round my bier ye come to weep,
Let one most loving Of you all,
Say, mot a tear must DER her fall!
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