The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-02-27
REV. J. G. ELY'S DEATH
AND FUNERAL
Passing of A Master Mind While
Yet Young. ...

let lOuIiS. saaExs.
The following account of the death
of the late Rev. John Calvin Ely, Jr.,
eldest son of DR.. and Mrs. j. C. Ely,
of Oakland, was published in the Lam
caster (Pa.) New Era under date of
February 18th, and is reproduced in
the columns of The Republican at the
request of the father of the deceased
young minister:
Members of the congregation of
Bethany Presbyterian church and a
large circle of friends outside of that
congregation were shocked today to
learn OF the death of Rev. John Calvin
Ely, Jr., which occurred at New York
about $3.50 o'clock on Thursday after
noon. Poignancy is added to the grief
of those who loved him by the fact
that he had died by his own hand,
undoubtedly while his mind was I'M
balanced from nervous breakdown,
which was apprehended when he was
mere recently on ten days furlough
from the U. S. S. Melville, now lying
in New York harbor, of which war
craft he was Chaplain.
Bethany congregation, to which he
came as pastor about two years ago,
having resigned last summer to ac-
cept chaplaincy in the Navy, held a
meeting on Thursday evening and
again unanimously elected him pas
tor, news Of his death not having been
received for some time after the
election. The deceased was a man of
strong personality, of winning man
ners and delightful social compan-
ION. He was fine pulpit orator and
of advanced liberal ideas. Quite re-
Gently Rev. Ely was asked whether
ne believed an American soldier who
had consecrated himself to God just
before going "over the top" would be
saved II killed, even if he had had no
previous religious inclination And
to this Rev. Ely replied most emphat-
ically that he believed such a man
would be saved, for God was very
near to a man on the battlefield.
A member of Bethany church and a
personal friend of Rev. Ely Harry Nc
Clure, who is in New York on bust
ness, had social engagement with
the Chaplain for Thursday evening,
and he did not know of his friends
death until he received a telephone
call late Thursday night directing
him to take charge of the body and
send it to Lancaster.
The deceased was son of John
Calvin and Flora A. B. Ely, and was
born at Xenia, Ohio, July II, 1889. He
was, therefore, only in his thirtieth
year. Besides his parents, he is sur
vlved by his wife, who was Miss Mar
garet Hawley, Of Pittsburgh, and two
children, Hawley Brooks and Warner
Chenoweth Ely, and by a brother,
Capt. Albert Ely, stationed at Camp
Sewer, S. c. Rev. Ely graduated
from the University of West Virginia
in 1909, and from Princeton Theolog-
ical Seminary in 1913. His first
charge was at Mineral, Wash, and
then he went to Mifilintown, Pa, from
which place he came to Bethany
church in January, 1917. He was
commissioned a chaplain in the NAVY
June Ia, 1918, and left Lancaster july
Is, having resigned his pastorate. He
sailed on August 8, 1918, for over
seas, where most of the time he was
on duty. He was greatly beloved by
the men to whom he was spiritual
guide. January 31st Rev. Ely came
home on ten days furlough. and
while here last Sunday spoke at the
Roosevelt memorial meeting. He re-
turned to his ship on Wednesday eff
this week.
He was a member of the Masonic
fraternity, having been indicted at
Princeton, N J.
No particulars of his death have as
yet been received, though it is sup
posed to have occurred on board his
ship us
From another source The RepubH-
can has learned that the body of the
deceased young Chaplain was sent to
Lancaster and on the 18th inst. in his
church in that city the funeral SER
wees were conducted, at which Rev.
DR.. Cline, of Franklin and Marshall
College, delivered the address. in
which he said
I'VE have met to pay tribute to
man OF nature, so genial of qualities.
so ardent, so instinct with vitality
that in connection with him the
thought of mortality seems incongru-
GUS.
"Now that he is with us no more
In the flesh, we know that we have