The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-14
CHURCH FILLED
AT SILSBYY RITES
MANY FRIENDS HONOR MEMORY
OF DE;PARTED--PAST
PAYS TRIBUTE IN HIS
FUNERAL SERMON.

Dignity and simplicity marked the
final service held in memory of Mrs
George A. Silsby at TIE Congrega-
tional church at 0 O'Clock this morn
ing, Rev. C. S. Osgood presiding. De
spite the inclement weather, the
church was entirely filled with friends
of the deceased, marked recogni-
ton of the esteem in which she was
; always held.
The floral tributes were among
the most beautiful that have ever
been laid upon the casket of a resi-
dent of Mitchell. Splendid punches
and special pieces were banked upon
the platform and around the casket
Chrysanthemums, roses, lilies and
violets predominated.
Most of the special pieces were Civ
en- by the organizations to which Mrs
Silsby or the imme date family be-
longed. The Eastern Star, the Elks,
the w. r. c., the Twentieth Century
club, the Congregational church, the
Ladies Aid and Missionary society
these and other groups sent flowers
in token Of their respect for the de
parted member.
Preceding the service, Mrs. j. n
Grow played upon the pipe organ.
This was followed by the singing OF
Jesus, Thy Name / Love-" by quar-
tette consisting of Miss Nesta Muir
ray, Mrs. Chas. Entsminger. Prof. j
G. Lindsey and w. L. Wilson.
Rev. Mr.. Osgood read as a scrip
ture lesson the 10th and DIST Psalms
and part of Chapter % in Revela-
tions. He then delivered a message
of Christian comfort saying in part
All that Mrs. Silsby was, the sum
of good that was in her life, was
Gods gift to us. We are distressed
because her Immediate family is now
deprived of her earthly company
But what richness is in their lives
because they have possessed her We
feel the gap in our church life No
one else can quite take her place.
But are we not grateful for the years
of faithful service, the rare devotion
to duty, the thoughfulness which al
ways characterized her? We are the
richer for it and our church it the
richer.
There were few who had more sue
cessfully formed the habit of thinking
of other people than Mrs. Silsby. In
stead of mercy enjoying the many
friends which her long residence
here had brought her, she was the
first to call upon the stranger Instead
of merely attending the church SER
vices, she came here to help, to speak
word of kindness to some lonely
person and 70 encourage Others In
stead of making her last sickness a
time of reproach and repining, she
thought of those with whom she could
share the flowers that were sent he1
and followed with eager and tender
interest all that was going on in the
community, rejoicing with those tina,
rejoiced and weeping with those that
wept She has built her life into her
home. into the characters of her
children, into the church and into
the community in and enduring way
Surely this calls for gratitude.
Just as her Life calls for gratitude
SO the Christian thought of death
may bring comfort also. Death is not
the dread spectre we have sometimes
thought Tim. If this life is room,
where We dwell, we might think OF
the next lie as room just opening
out from it. and death as the door
through which we seem to see oul
friends. pass. But even when the door
is open, we do not see into the room
beyond. 1t is dark in there But il
we were there. and could switch or
the light, as our friends we leave u
can and do, how much more W.
would see and how differently w,
would feel about the door
Following the sermon. the pasto
offered a prayer of Thanksgiving fol
such noble life and asked God.
blessing upon the family and tho
community that they might be bet
ter able to bear their loss The ser
vice was closed by the quartet singing
ASLEEP in Jesus"
The .pallbearers were H. r. Kibbee
S. H. Scallin, c. w. Derr, o. l.
Branson, D. B. Miller and j. o. Wal
rath. Interment was made at Grace
land cemetery
The services at the grave We're read
in thep resence of few friends. The
regular Congregational burial ser.
vice was used.