Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-31
MANY PAY TRIBUTE
TO THQS. D. FOSTER
REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING OF
CITIZENS ATTEND MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR MAN.
SPEAKERS EULOGIZE.
Friends and Fellow Citizens OF Late
Ottumwan Speak Feelingly Of
Their Associations With
Him.

Race, color or creed counted TOT
naught at the memorial service held
Sunday afternoon at the First Method
list church for the late Thomas ID. Eos
ter, who died at his home here on July
20. Representatives from every de.
partment of the great plant of which
for so many years he was the head, fel.
low associates around the directors
table of the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION, business men, professional
men and personal friends of the family
gathered to have part in what will
probably be the last public utterance
of the good qualities which ,Ottumwa's
greatest representative citizen pos
sessed
J. Royce Brown, general secretary
of the Y. M. C. A. opened the service
by reading selection from the sixth
CHAPTER of the gospel according to St
Matthew beginning, mo man can
serve two masters, ETC." which he stat
ed was Mr.. Fosters favorite verse of
the scriptures. Dr. John H. Cudlipp,
pastor Of the church said the prayer
and the mems chorus sang, "Still, Still
With Thee John Mahon was the first
speaker and he dwelt more especi-
ally upon the forcible factor that Mr..
Fosters life became for the young men
Of this community He defined the
three outstanding points of his life as
mastery, militant Christianity and JOY
Of sacrifice. In speaking of the valua,
tion placed upon human life by the
fellow citizens of a man, he said chat
that value which comes after death Is
placed because of what is learned from
the life and that then 1t counts for
more than when being lived; what 1t
accomplishes then being done so di.
rectly that is not really appreciated I'M
til after the grim reaper has called. He
defined Mr.. Foster as being,a man who
had an infinite understanding Of the
tasks before him, who possessed that
spirit Of militant Christianity which
gave him the persuasive power to use
in getting others to live Christian lives
and at the same time the strength to
stand immovable upon questions which
he believed involved the right and
wrong of a subject.
SpIIman Tells Experiences.
Major T. P. Spilman related some OF
his personal experiences with Mr.. Eos
ter in a business and in other ways
since he first entered his employee thir
ty-fve years ago last May. The speak
er said that often they differed but he
felt that through those differences he
came to know Mr.. Foster better and to
know him better was to like him bet.
ter. He related numerous incidents in
which the head of the great packing
plant had accomplished deeds Of per.
Not,A wit \ 10 y,1n
said that he believed the late citizen
OF Ottumwa was q most misunderstood
man. Many peop.e believed him to be
bitter and vindictive but he only stood
tremendously strong for the things
which he believed were right and with
all his power against those which he
thought were wrong. according to Ma
tor Spilnlan's version of the mans life.
The speaker went on to emphasize that
in spite of this he was always able to
make 1t an impersonal fight. II con.
slider it one of the greatest privileges
of my life." said the speaker, that
was permitted to know Mr.. Foster. His
hearts highest motive was duty and he
was delighted when he could give him
self to service. His life was just
chockful of service for the people and
the good Of the community.
Roberts Discusses Life.
NJ. A. Roberts summarized Mr.. Eos.
ter's greatest accomplishment as be-
ing the wonderful development Of his
soul power. THAT is what counts,
said the speaker. 1T is true many did
not agree with Mr.. Foster In every.
thing he did but no one can deny that
he was a great power in this commun.
ity. If ever there was time it Is now
that we want our fellows to see good
in us. Civilization has put all on a