The Washington herald., 1909-08-09
MEMORIAL SERVICE
FORREV. DR. BUTLER
Sermon Preached by Rev. D. f.
Garland, of Dayton.
HAD BEEN LIFELONG FRIENDS
Large Congregation Gathered to
Pay Respects TO Departed Leader.
Message of Thanks Read from
Widow of Deceased Pastor - No
Address Heard by Separatists.

Memorial services for Rev DR.. John
George Butler. founder. and for thirty
six years pastor OF Luther Place Mem
orial Church, were held in the church
yesterday morning. There assembled
for this tribute Of respect TO the dead
leader, a congregation representative not
only Of DR.. Buffers own communion.
but OF the life OF the city generally.
Rev. Dr. d. Frank Garland, OF Dayton,
Ohio. a longtime friend OF DR.. Buffers,
who came to Washington for the funeral,
presided and preached the sermon. OF
Or. Buffers family, there were present:
Or. and Mrs. W. K Butler Rev. Charles
II. Butler. Miss Ella Butler. DIT. and
Mrs. II. A. PolkinhOrn. and an only sis
ter, Mrs. NJ. A. Shaw. The aged widow
was not present but sent a message IN
behalf OF herself and children. This
message was read by DR.. Garland.
Temple Builder.
Dr. Garland's text was: And thou
mayst add thereto" I Chronicles. 22:l4.
This sermon had been prepared for 8
similar occasion in DR.. Garland's home
church Just a week previous. BY way
Of introduction. the speaker said that
while David had wished 10 build the
temple. God had said, NO. you have
been a man OF war. and your son-Sol-
omon-shau build IT,"
Then David said TO Solomon, Il have
prepared for the house OF the Lord an
hundred thousand talents OF gold. and a
4
Of brass and iron without weight; for Il
Is In abundance; timber also and stone
have I prepared and thou mayst add
thereto"
The preacher said David was more Of
an empire builder than a temple builder,
and the text suggested two lines or
thought First the Incompetence or
human life The best and hOliest have
fallen far short OF their desire. There
is none Of whom we can say his life
was a completed whole" and none have
realized that more than the ones who
have striven the hardest 20 honor God
and serve their fellow-men
Secondly. he said. Notwithstanding the
fact that no human life IS complete, God
rewards and accepts the best that we
can give. Each man has his own pecu-
liar sphere to fill. David filed his. and
when about 10 depart said 20 his son:
you add 70 what have done"
We are the product OF the ages con-
tlnued the preacher Man differs from
the brute. especially IN this, that men,
bers OF the brute creation will live and
die as brutes Just as thousands OF pre-
vious brute generations have done. Man,
however, builds upon what his fore
fathers have accomplished, Our repub-
lie is the product or the life and labors
OF men during thousands Of years each
generation adding something 90 what al
ready had been secured. This Is all that
God asks, he ssid. that we accept what
has been done for us and that we strive
to add 10 II, building upon the founda-
ton laid by holy men. and adding. so far
as we are able. 70 the sum total Of right
eousness and love.
Long and Faithful Service.
DIT. Garland made feeling reference to
the faithful life and valuable service OF
him who had stood so long in the pulpit
OF Luther Place Memorial Church. DR..
Butler said he. realized HIS own INSULT
cheney in the great work OF preaching
the Gospel and saving a lost world but
he gave the full measure OF his strength
and devotion to his work
The message from Mrs Butler 70 the
was as follows: Mrs. But
Ter and the other members OF the family
OF the departed pastor wish TO make
grateful acknowledgment OF all that has
been done for them in their hour OF great
sorrow. They appreciate most deeply and
sincerely the many expressions OF love
and respect shown by the members OF
the church and the people Of the city for
him who went in and out before those
whom he so dearly loved for so many
years. May our Heavenly Father abun-
dainty bless these dear friends who have
ministered so lovingly in life and in death
10 him, whom we all loved. and who
served the cause OF our common Lord
so faithfully, and whose departure we
mourn"
While no memorial service was held IN
connection with the meeting OF the Sun
day school, the superintendent. W II.
Finckel, referred to the work OF the late
pastor. and the hymns sung. which In
cluded Holy, Holy. Holy" Saviour,
Again 10 Thy Dear Name We Raise. +"
and Il Love to Tell the Story" were fa-
vorites with DR.. Butler.
Mentioned I'm Prayer.
The usual services were held yesterday
at their quarters in Vermont
avenue by the dissenting faction of Dr.
Buffers church. In the opening prayer.
Rev. Dr.. George NJ. Slaybaugh. a retired
Lutheran clergyman, made an especial
petition for all in bereavement and
trouble.
The preacher for the Vermont avenue
Lutherans is Rev. DR.. S. V. Leach, a re-
tired Methodist clergyman. DR.. Leach Is
q native OF Washington, and was a life
long friend Of DR.. Butler. In the closing
prayer he asked a blessing for DR.. But
ler's family. and mentioned his long and
fruitful labors. No other word was spoken
OF the former pastor OF the Vermont ave-
nue. wOrshipers