The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-10
Eloquent Tribute Was Paid Dead
Man BY Rev. 7. R.
Paden
From thursdays Daily.

edlfice was crowded to its capacity,
an evidence OF the high esteem In
which the deceased was held by his
fellow citizens. The floral offerings
were beautiful and i'm great profusion.
The last rites were conducted by
Rev. T. r. Paden, the pastor of the
church. He referred to Mr.. Brett In
a feeling and eloquent manner as fo!-
lows:
Let not kindness and truth forsake
thee
Bind them about thy neck
Write them upon the tablet Of thy
heart
So shalt thou find favor and good
understanding
In the sight OF God and man"
Proverbs 80.
We will not understand Mr.. Brett
nor appreciate fully the beauty OF
his life and how he was blessed of
God unless we understand the back
ground Of struggle when in early
years by hard. persistent work and
steadfast attention to his own line
OF business he laid the foundation OF
his real success. When a boy Of
seventeen he entered n dry goods
store at Winona. He was so diligent
and faithful that at nineteen he was
made manager OF a branch store OF
the firm at Faribault And old settlers
remember how throughout the long
day and late at night he was hard at
work in the store on Front street.
Whatever unexpected windfalls may
have come TO him in Gods good prov
idence the foundations of his sue
cessful career were laid In his own
capacity for steady persistent patient
work II is we'll to remember that
the man who understands his own
business we'll and tends to Il we'll
with joy and pride best serves his
community. The expert in his own
line not only does well by himself
but renders the most unselfish serv-
ice OF which he is capable to the
community.
Service 10 the Community.
But Mr.. Brett's service TO the COM
munity was not confined to his bust
ness. He was ready at every call of
the public welfare You knew before
asking that he could always be count
cd on to give generously of his time
and energy and money to S,lp any
WORTHY enterprise for the benefit OF
the church or community. He could
lie denended upon TO Cheerfully bear
his full share of every burden for the
common good Every good cause
needing assistance will sorely miss
this generous servant of God
"Hi5 straightforwardness and bust
ness integrity gained him the respect
Of his competitors and the confidence
OF all in a day when many say you
cannot succeed by fair dealing he built
up a large prosperous business on
principles of fairness that stood the
test of sunlight for nearly half a cen
fury.
Uniform Habit of Courtesy.
His uniform habit OF courtesy and
kindre9s made his presence I'm any
company a benediction. This kind
ness was deeply inbred in his nature
end made him friends everywhere.
He was friend In need. The worthy
poor did not 60 from his door empty
nor did the little child pass him with
out a kindly word and smile. These
little kindnesses. after ell bulk larger
in the worlds redemption that all
other gifts and graces combined.
1t would be ungrateful in this pull
pit not to mention the long years OF
faithful service in this church in many
ways, especially in his wise tactful
sympathetic management OF the mu-
sic of the sanctuary.
Mr. Brett lived while he lived He
never knew the pathetic dsappoint-
ment that come to many OF being
pushed aside neglected To the very
last he was active in his own business
and In the public enterprises of his
church and city.
He still Lives.
But this Is not all He still lives
Lives more really, more truly than he
ever lived. This Is the hope Of the
Gospel. This Is the promise of Christ.
This gives it's deepest significance to
this life-makes 1t worth while to la
Dor and love and make friends. This
hope Is not begotten of arguments Il
is born in US by a life of obedience
10 the will OF God as revealed in Christ
Jesus. Those who do his will know
his teaching TO Re true.
Our hearts 60 out in deepest SYM
patty and earnest prayer for the be-
itdNtu Htg VIII De
comforted of God by hallowed mem
cries OF the past and bright hope OF
the morning
And with the morn these angel faces
smile
Which We have loved long since and
lost awhile"
HE whose goodness and mercy fol-
lows us here has not neglected TO
provide for our greatest need. Moth
ing could be more reasonable than
that we should venture on the will OF
God as II Is revealed in Christ Jesus.
"oh that each in the day of his COM
ing may say
| have fought my way through
! have finished the work thou didst
give me TO do
Oh that each from his Lord may re-
ceive the glad word
Well and faithfully done
Enter into my JOY and sit down on my
throne"
Songs BY the Choir.
Preceding the sermon delivered by
Rev. Paden the church choir, COM
posed OF Miss Cornelia Mansfield.
soprano. Mrs. II. A. Patterson. alto,
Joseph Tallman. bass. and F.. E.
Crandall. tenor. sang the beautiful
HYMN Lead Kindly LIGHT" The