Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-29
FIREMEN PAY
THEIR TRIBUTE
TO DEAD MATES
Mayor Raymond and Former
AssembIyman Matthews Speak
at Memorial Services.

Tribute to the memory Of the de-
parted dead of the Newark Fire De-
partment was paid yesterday after
noon at Keeney's Theater where the
third annual memorial service was
held under the auspices Of the Fire
mems Mutual Benevolent Assapeia-
lion. So much interest was mani
tested in the ceremonies that the
spacious theater was filled u
capacity. 1t was most impressive
gathering. where men who daily and
nightly serve their city as fire fight
prs were lauded for their praise
worthy work The memory Of the
departed was recalled with ringing
eloouenee.
IN all eighty-one members of the
Newark fire department have passed
away, seven within the past year.
When it came time for Chief Paul J.
Moore TO call the roll of honored
dead. seven electric lights were dis
tinguished in the darkened stage go
ing out one by one. There remained
lighted the insignia of the assoeia-
lion standing plainly and boldly out.
answered in response. When the
name was called and no response
came two strokes of a fire gong in
dicated back taps" 1t was peeull-
arly significant and deeply impress
aive.
Mayor Thomas J.. Raymond and
former Assemblyman John A. Mat
thews were the principal speakers.
Mr. Matthews asked to be excused
from making any extended eulogy oI
the dead men, but rather pointed out
TO the large audience the trials and
tribulations of a fireman. He told OF
the long hours the fire fighters put IN
and strongly limited that legislative
enactment should make ii possible
for the fremen to enjoy a two
platoon system. Mayor Raymond in
his address said that he was COM
pletely amazed at the hazardous
work of firemen, when he witnessed
them at work at the Triangle fire. He
said he had talked with the men on
their hospital cots and found them
all quite unconcerned.
musical and vocal program was
given Gerald A. Stoffs. president of
the Firemens Mutual Benevolent
Association, was chairman and intro
duced the speakers.
MIR. Matthews Appeals for Living.
Former Assemblyman Matthews |
made an appeal for the firemen, urg- |
ing that their tour of duty be short |
ened He said in part:
seThe heart, indeed, is cold; that
soul bereft of love which does not feel /
its innermost depths thrilled by the |
exercises which we have just wit
messed. What can | add to such |
wonderful eulogy, unless, indeed, II |
be to snoothe the memories of temporal +
grief with thoughts of Immortality, to |
accentuate the eternal reward of that |
sacrifice, for, my friends, little is the |
comfort, insignificant the consolation,
worthless the charity of these beauti- t
fuis exercises, If faith and hope in a |
life beyond be absent from our minds |
and hearts
ssBut, OIL for the touch of van
ished hand or the sound of voice
that is sti11ed! The spirit of these
words is the humanity proper and
properly human spirit of the world.
Death brings grief and memory is the |
only friend that grief can call its own. |
And, so 1t Is on occasions such as |
this; the memory of dear ones as |
they were tend to make us forget |
them as they are. That solemn roll |
call of the dead is heard not by them. |
But, you, devoted wife, fond parent, |
loving sister or brother, your pulse |
Quickens as that name is called and !
your grief-filled heart wells forth in |
tears.
"And now, firemen of the city of |
Newark, may the God of all goodness |
grant peaceful immortality to your
brave comrades who have gone, and |
may the coming year, with its sacri- |
flee that God only knows, hold in store /
for you what humanity owes you, |
more of life with your loved ones |
here, that you may better approach |
the great hereafter. May our great /
and good city of Newark inscribe in /
its memorial building of the two hun
dred and fiftieth celebration of its /
birth an act of the legislature which |
will make our wives and children hap
Dier. your lives sweeter and your SER
vice of sacrifice better merited by the |
citizens of Newark who grieve with I
you today and who hope with you for |
ultimate happiness in the eternal to-
morrow"
Invocation was offered by Rev. Dr. |
Howard. Following this came the /
rendition of Gounod's PRAISE Ye the |
Father" by st. Patrick's Cathedral /
ehanceI choir of boys consisting of
James Haynes, Walter Chadwick. An |
thony Dickson, William Kennedy, |
Walter Dietz, Vincent Enright, Harry
Reilly, Edward Henegan. Francis
Zinmer, James Dalton, Francis Su-
grue, Herbert KorsSi, Edward Har-
gan, Edward Flynn, James Stanton,
Raymond Fitzpatrick, William Nolan, |
John Jordan, John MeGill, Leroy
Fischer, Joseph Valentino, Walter
Murphy, Ambrose Stapleton, Thomas
Page. Howard Bronson and Edward
Glennon, accompanied by A. j. Holly
wood, organist.
The Church of the Redeener mixed
quartet and the cathedral male quar-
let of Orange rendered several selec-
tions and there were solos by Miss
F'rederica McHarg Sims, Mrs. Beth
Tragiskis, Albert Wurster and Henry
Merker. Rose Mary Smith, eight-year-
old daughter of Lieutenant Patrick
s. Smith, of Truck Company No. ].
and former Assemblyman Francis
Foley recited appropriate selections.