The Press., 1915-04-28

in his judgment. All of you know
 how dear to him was the welfare of
 this community, of his willingness to
 bear burdens financially and otherwise
 that the people might be benefited. He was a strong staff in his busi-
 ness relations. His associates trust in him was complete. His word was as good as his bond. When MT. Hall
 said he would do thing, all who
 knew hlm considered it as good as done. He was unusually clear in his judgment of enterprises. When he approved, men considered it & safe l investment. If he looked in doubt upon it and shook his head, no matter
 how alluring the promise, men turned
 aside afraid of it.
 He was strong staff in his social re-
 lations. If MT. Hall were your friend,
 you felt sure he would remain so to
 the end. Genial and kindhearted
 with an ever ready welcome for those
 whom he knew, he was one to whom
 you felt drawn when you needed help
 and advice and cheer and no one ever
 came to him for such help that did
 not go away comforted and encouraged. He was a friend to his workmen and no threat of strike ever marred rela-
 tions between the employer and the
 employed.
 MT. Hall was strong staff in the
 home It was here that he especially
 shone. A kind and loving husba nd :,
 a wise and affectionate father, the
 relationship which he sustained to | these dear ones seemed almost ideal. | One could not be in the home and | witness the peace and tranquility
 and love which pervaded the whole atmosphere without feeling strong desire to be such husband and such father as he. It is not strange that these friends are so bowed down with grief for never has a home been
 robbed of greater treasure than this | home.
 I wish to say one other word. So
 
 a public profession of religion. So far as have heard, he never identi- fled himself with any body of God s people. We may be sorry for this. We might wish that he had declared be- fore the world his faith. But these externalities aside, no one ever came to know him we'll that did not feel that he was deeply and fundamentally religious man. He was not an unbeliever. No one ever heard him speak slighteningly of the Christians s faith or the Christians hope. He had an old-fashioned belief in God and in the Bible as the word of God and in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of men and in the hope of immortality. and we may be assured that his whole life was fashioned with respect to these things. The words read by the pastor, words of faith and of hope and the prayer offered with its strong assur ance that it is we'll with the soul of this man and the Shepherd Psalm so beautifully sung are all fitting and appropriate on this occasion. No one feels any incongruity in looking into the quiet face of this dead man and thinking these large thoughts of life | to come.
 It is highly significant thing that when MT. Hall cast about for fitting
 memorial to that daughter whom he
 loved so tenderly and whose death
 he mourned so sincerely it should
 have taken the form not of useless
 monument or even of a school or a
 library or hospital, but of this beauti- full church in which we are now gathered. It is the expression of his profound conviction that beyond all other earthly things the church speaks of the things of greatest worth, that the deepest and highest things of life are the things that take hold upon God.
 The staff is broken, the life is ended but a very blessed heritage of memories remain. We cannot look upon this death as a defeat. This man has not been conquered. This is more day of victory than any thing else. The mightiest among men, the holiest one of all ages went down into death alone, made the mighty struggle there, broke the bonds that he might set free those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage, and in our faith in him we find comfort.
 It is wonderful thing after all to walk the pathway of long life and come out we'll at the end, to escape all the snares and the pitfalls which await unheeding feet, to fight the hard battles of life manfully, never to be discouraged. never to let up, never to let down the high ideals, but al- ways keep an eye fixed on the stars and make the life trend upward Such was the life of our friend and brother and so shall we think of him as the years go by, praying always that we too may have strength to make the journey though and come out in triumph on the other side.
 I bring to this mourning family my sincerest sympathy. I, too, am mourn ing with you, for have not also lost friend, always genial. always pleas ant. always kind? commend you to God and the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
 Pastor E. W. Darrow said that it was not his purpose to add to what had been said, but was impelled to speak of his relationship with MT. Hall during presant nastnrate of mora