Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-17

of Rev F. A. Pease, pastor of the
NJ E. church took place at the family
residence at nine o'clock Tuesday
morning. After which the remains
were taken to the Amusement Hall
at ten o'clock where they remained
in state until one o'clock, so that
the friends of the deceased could
view the remains prior to the service
which took place at one cIock sharp
The floral tributes from the county
bar and intimate friends of the fam
lily were beautiful and conveyed to
the family and friends a simple ex-
preston of the friendship and esteem
in which hte deceased was held.
The Amusement Hall, the largest
audience room in the city was crowd
ed to its capacity with admiring
friends of the deceased who were
anxious to pay their respects to a
friend and neighbor.
Rev. Francis A Pease, pastor
of the NJ E. church delivered the fol
lowing comforting address:
The circumstances which bring us
together this DAY, are of peculiar in
terest to all We stand in the pre-
sence of death. We have been there
oft before. Because of the commonal
ity of our humanity, sorrow makes US
akin. This event awaits us all, soon
or late. The presence of this bier
and the lesson of Holy Writ unite to
impress upon each one the fact that
life is very uncertain, very brief, and
no one l4nows when or how the end vii
be. Wise are they who, in time of
mental and physical strength, make
due and true preparation for both
worlds, for We belong to both
There are elements of greatness
and of goodness in every one, but the
development of these possibilities
is a personal matter. We need no of
necessity see things from the same
angle, but it is of the utmost import
that We perceive truth, and that tru-
tn has the right of way in our lives.
To speak of him who, for so many
years has gone in and out among the
citizens of this city, is an honor con-
fered upon one who has been intimate
ly associatde with him in the business
social and commercial life of the com
munity. Mine only to utter the word
of admOnition so much needed i'll
affairs, social life, fraternal interests,
and innumerabIe things press in up
on us and tend to crowd out of thot
and their rightful place, the more
important and eternal things.
There is a lesson for all here. Ties
are broken never to be united in
this life, wounds are made which
time and distance can never wholly
efface, though they do wonderfully
sooth and tenderly heal. Hopes are
oft blasted, plans fail to materialize,
strength fails, and at last the cur
tain drops, and the drama of life, for
US is over. There Is a better and
saner view of existence. We are not
victims of fate. We are not thrust
into a cold and heartless world to
work out our destiny, by our own
wisdom and strength. God is our
Maker God is our Benefactor. God
is our preserver If there thrills and
sings in our heart a responsive tone
of loving appreciation of the eternal
goodness of the Father, and our wills
bend in glad obedience to His, life
becomes one continual day of bright
ness and though storms may beat
upon, and the mad pillows dash a.
bout US in the delirium of fury, We
need fear no evil He who Gained
| the pillows of the sea of Galilee, will
still the tempests. Let the lesson Of
the hour teach Us to stay ourselves on
the strength of the Eternal. There
are some here to whom the going of
this citizen is a sad reminder indeed.
With him they marched, they sacri-
feed, they suffered, they gave them
selves as living sacrifices upon the
Nations altar in an hour. of great pei
il. Another comrade has fallen, and
the command has come once more,
"Close ranksi" Ye brave comrades
of this faiien brother, look not upon
this, simply as the thinning of the
ranks, but as the gathering of the
troups, not for war, but for the tri
umphs Of victories Won on ffe's gea'
battlefield. d. So too, Ehis citizen was
one OF a brotherhood, whose teaching
Einculcate the highest ideals OF man
hood. A fraternity of which none
need be ashamed, and by whose rit
ual that which is mortal is laid te
rest this day. To those Who knew
him best, who lived with him IN ths
home; those who knew him as husban
father, brother, there comes this hou
through this large assemblage OF ci
tiZens. these flowers, and the bright
ening presence of "Old Glory" th'
assurance, stronger than words cal
express. the heart throb of sympathy