Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-04
FINAL TRIBUTES PAID
TO JOHN B. SLEMAN, JR.
Services Held This Morning at
Mount Pleasant Congre-
gationaI Church.

Funeral services OF John r. Sleman,
jr., who died at Clifton Springs. y. Y.
last Saturday. were held this morning at
Mount Pleasant CONGREGATIONAL Church.
Columbia road near ltth street, the pas
tor, Rev. DR.. Frank J. Goodwin. assisted
by Rev. DR.. Samuel II. Woodrow of the
First Congregational Church. ofiiciating.
Relatives and immediate friends of the
family assembled at the residence, 3il4
10th streets. at $50 O'Clock. where DIR.
Goodwin offered prayer.
The church was completely filled with
representatives Of many organi cations
with which Mr.. Sleman had been affiii-
ated. and with a host OF personal friends
from all parts of the District and from
Baltimore and New York. The floral
tributes were elaborate and beautiful
Hymns which had been Mr. Sleman's
as q part of the service. and included
4 Love to Tell the Story" He Leadeth
Me" Safe In the Arms Of Jesus" as a
prelude; "The Strife Is Ger, the Victory
Won" 20 Master. May l Walk With
Thee The Crusaders Hymn" 20 Zion
Haste" and For All the Saints Who
From Their Labors Rest" DIR. Goodwin
read Tennyson's Crossing the Bar and
the ninetieth Psalm. and in the New
Testament the twelfth chapter of ST.
of which Mr.. Sleman was particularly
fond.
Life and Character Portrayed.
In his remarks touching the life and
character of John B. Sleman. jr., DIR.
Goodwin paid tribute to his organizing
ability and his royal optimism. and. ap-
propriate to Independence day. noted the
high type OF personal civic patriotism in
this young Washington business man,
who had identified his best life with the
promotion Of everything that made for
the city's good.
siasm." DIR. Goodwin said. Whatever
he did he did with his whole heart.
Whatever he accomplished that was
great, he accomplished through his en-
we all make mistakes. they came through
his strength--his beautiful enthusiasm.
1t was this that made him many friends.
1t was this openness of heart and splen-
did enthusiasm for anything that he un-
dertook 1t was this, also. associated
with unselhshness and kindness and a
spirit of brotheriiness, that made many
men and all kinds of people love him as
friend. And the same things that made
him dear to those who were his friends
made him dear to those In the closer do
nestle circle as son and as a brother.
We think Of him with his heart aglow.
and his loving interest l nall those that
were about him.
His Great Faith.
But / think that. above all these
things. we shall think Of Mr.. Sleman' s
great faith as the years go on. We
will think of that robust faith In God !;
we will think of that enthusiastic de-
votion to the kingdom OF God. To his
mind, and to his enthusiasm, more than
to any man, was due the great lay
mems missionary movement that has
done more to interest the men of the
churches of America. and through them
the churches in other parts of the
world, in the great cause of foreign
probably in our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in
the history of the church. To this
great cause he gave his interest and
his time and his money and his buoy
ant enthusiasm.
And now he has left this great work
but being dead he yet speaketh. and In
many a church Throughout this land.
and in other lands. there VIII have
been kindled an enthusiasm for the ex-
tension Of the Masters kingdom of
light and life which perhaps would
never have been kindled but for the
faith and for the power to see Things
far ahead, and for the Joyous conse-
Grafton of Mr. Sleman.
Work Will Not Stop.
Therefore, we feel that today his work
will 20 on, and in the years to come It
will 60 on.
His battle with frail body is over.
II has sometimes been said that when
the spirit is strong and the body is
weak the sword is too sharp for
the scabbard': the spirit is too keen for
the body that holds 1t. But let us think
and hope today that our brother in
fairer lands and under conditions more
favorable than on this earth will be able
to enter into the JOY and life OF that
great kingdom Of Christ, which he loved
and which he served"
Dr. Woodrow offered the concluding
prayer, voicing the thought of many-that
those who remain may reconsecrate them
selves with new enthusiasm to the work
and causes which commanded the life
interest Of Mr.. Sleman.
Interment in Rock Creek cemetery, was
private.
Among those to express their sincere re-
gret this morning at the death Of Mr..
Sleman was Henry B. F. mcfarland,
who has been out Of the city. at Erie
Pa, laying the corner stone OF the new
Y. NJ C. A. building. He arrived this
morning in time to attend the funeral
service.