The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-10-05

Mrs. Lillian Turner.
McGHEE As A CITIZEN.
BY Attorney w. T. Francis.
We, the colored citizens of st. Paul,
have met in many notable gatherings.
Gatherings similar to this in point of
interest. Gatherings having for their
purport the uplift Of the race; gather
ings of welcome and memorials. All
greatly similar to this but with one
exception, tall commanding figure
the central figure-will not rise
here today. There is one face that
will not shine with earnestness and
zeal and one voice that will not be
heard, for our friend has passed into
the great beyond.
Some months ago many of US
gathered in banquet hall to do honor
to our departed friend while yet he
lived. An occasion long to be re-
membered. Old friends were re-
united, sincere words of praise and
appreciation were spoken. Let US
thank God for and continue to have
such gatherings. Let us thank God
for reconcilliations and messengers
of peace.
Some one has said: IF yu have
flowers to bestow, give them to me
while I live" and many of us can re-
fleet with pardonable pride upon
that and other occasions when we
scattered the flowers of appreciation
and encouragement upon the pathway
of the busy life of our deceased friend
Frederick l.. McGhee.
Among the beautiful floral tributes
| which were sent as tokens of respect
and esteem upon the death of our
friend was one whose import i'm
pressed me deeply. The beauty Of
its design-a broken column-was en-.
HANGED by this glowing tribute
"He was like the rock of Gibraltar,
So earnest and devout,
And our pillar Of gprogress seems
broken
| When this dear life went out"
Few men have passed away in
recent years who will be more sim
cerely and deservedly regretted in
fhic oity thop Erodar;oy Morbaa
and none will lament his death with
deeper sorrow than his personal
frauds and the rank and file of his
race to whom the greater portion of
his life as a citizen was devoted.
Truly can 1t be said Of his, as a
citizen, that he lived a life of service
to his friends, service to his race and
to the community in which he lived.
He was one of the strongest and at the
characters our race had produced.
He had host of friends and at times
a few enemies, but no man through
whose veins flows the red blood Of
hope, ambition and curage can pass
through 81 years Of struggling, hust-
ling and successfully battling with
the difficulties of public life, and
for the rights of his people without
making few enemies.
Public-spirited in the highest de-
gree, his whole soul wrapped up in
the interests of this community and
of the race at large, he was born
to leadership, born to the purple, and
1t. was as natural for him to lead as
it was for most men to follow. The
greatest fighter have ever known;
he grew to know greatness but never
rest. Success was his, yes to a high
degree, but never ease. Power he
welded, yet he was as gentle as a
woman in the presence of trouble, in
sorrow, in hardships or distress.
Little children, all of whom he loved
and fondled-and even the dumb
animals-seemed to invite his caress-
es. His life was like that wonderful
portrayal by Joaquin Miller of the
sublime faith Of Columbus who gave
to us the lesson Sail on"
Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good mate said, Now must we
| pray,
For 10! the very stars are gone;
Speak Admiral, what shall l say"
Why say, Sail on; Sail on; Sail
ont"
|
McGhee az a Churchman.
Truly he has won for himself the
title of greatness. And Of all the
greatness that he has achieved and
won, the greatest is that attribute of
being a Christian, and his Christian
life began with the days of his child
hood. Beside being acquainted with