The Alaska daily empire., 1916-03-22
OF MRS. M. [. BER6MANN BY
 REV. ). B. STEVENS

'Nho ul dNutAN NllieNAo lNNA aooNA Dled at a funeral service, yesterda afternoon Rev. John B. Stevens, a .he Presbyterian church, preached beautiful funeral sermon at the las services sor Mary E. Bergman
 "As announced iu the Frees. Mrs. Bcrgmonn came Co Alaska in l696. and for nearly the cnurc twenty years suc- ceeding she has been a resident of this city. or those years of residence nothing need be said today. for her lilo has been an open book which ail of us have read. and which, dur ing these last sad hours, we have read again surprised to find how many acts of sympathy and service the story tells.
 "ln her death she leaves a circle of ocQuointoncos and SO large num- bcr Of friends as few achieve in Che full measure of a long lic
 "The public generally did not know her serious Illness until the Press announced her critical condi- ton. and even thcn those i'm touch with her hoped thnl Q change for the better might stln take place in8ur- ing her recovery Her death was distinct shock to ail. and there has followed this common sense or loss A sense Of loss that ia more thnn personal It is communal. for her life had become part Of our com mon llfo It was of such nature and SO used that she Wove lt ln Che fabric of our social being. Such life is more than personal in ita inc nuencc. and such a delth is more than private in its loss.
 Death ln Midst of Succese.
 In careful and extensive plaus; it came In tho midst of success; ii came at Che primo of life.
 'How frail a hinc life isl How frail our hold upon it, How Impressive ly tho graveyard tells this story. Recording every age. from the aged pilgrim who t0rried here long after m tho friends of youth had passed away to the littlc child. who wrest- ied with mortality an hour or two and died: os though thc soul. with scarcely lighting had nuttcred across the landscape of our lives. aa a bird will fy across your window. How frai a thing life is.
 "Thc earthly home Of Che spirit ia a frall house So easily destroyed; so easily. SO soon out of repair The fire on the hearth dies out and In a moment Che houac is cold and ten- nantless.
 Midst tho constant wrcckoge Of hopes and the wreckogc of plans and the wreckagc of life. we arc seized with homcslckncss for on eternal dwelling place; where there shall be no more mourning or disappointment or separation; where thero shall not be orphan or widowed or ionelys where the pilgrim shall reach tho end of his Journey and lay aside hia staff; where the whole great family. ot length complete and rcconcileu. snoH take its place in the peace or Che heavenly home
 Earth Not Our Home.
 Earth is a frontier-land where we are pilgrims and strangers. lt is not our hcmc. Unfortunately many do not see it thus They settle down. Selashlv cultivate some portion Of its opportunities for their own acl- fish satisfaction and call earth Home. But now and then there ore hose. and here wos one. who see that earth is not our dwelling place and that we are pioneers. She gave herself, ap- parontiy without reserve or thought or comfort Co developc the resources of lho life about her.
 "Shc often trusted. where others did not. and developed honor.
 "She mnIstercd Co the lrlcndlesa and the stranger. and developed
 ssho comforted the anxious and the careworn. and developed peace;
 "Shc counsolcd the tmid and tho fearful and developed courage.
 "Our attention has been called Co our indebtedness aa a community to her because of the development Of material resources through the n- nancial nssiatonco which she furnish cd men in need. J call your atten- tion to a greater debt than this. A debt of gratitude because of char octer resources In our common ITO developed through the assistance which she supplied from her moral
 and spiritual reserve. Tho other debt does not compare with this
 Character is Permanent.
 ''How much is acquired Is not a proper estimate Of the value or a ilfc or how much. through it their lives acquire. How much is on5oyed ig not a true estimate of life's full- ness. How much one knows may be no index on ones wisdom. Only that which goes to make up chara ctor ls permanent. That which eniorgcs the fife ot others alone ensures fullness of life to oneself. The finest wisdom is evidenced where the world is look ed on in the llght Of spiritual and permanent values. whore life Is more than a matter of time and funds. and rlchos-thoEe things of which death cannot rob ua
 Mrs. Bergman wog very rich in this finer sense Hers was wealth no one onvicd which Injured no one. We loved her oll the more because of It. Tn fact her wealth was love. She storod it in our hearts.
 'eHcr material things win pass to others. but this is hers forever. Her mortal body we will lev away but not her life. She will Two on with us. @ loved and honored member of the aristrocrocy Of Christian hearts.
 All Glasses Represented.
 All classes of Juneau people-bui ness men. laboring men, profession ll men and craftsmen. men, womel md children-crowded the church anI .tt,,o-eo5 iho 1aaf ead rifae All a