Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-09-29
OF REV.
R. N. WEBSTER
Former Pastor of CONGREGATIONAL
Church in Wisconsin Rapids
Passes On.

From letter received the past week
from his daughter, Mrs. Hazel Web
ster Spencer, of ga Cannon Street,
Sierre Madre, California, we learn
the following:
September II, 1921.
Mr.. Albert Fontaine, Editor of the
Wood County Reporter,
My eDar Mr.. Fontaine:-I am writ
ing to tell you of the death of my IA
ther and your old friend, R. NJ. Web
ster. Father passed aw"y early this
morning after many weeks of illness
throughout whose difficult and tedi-
Gus length he was a miracle of pa
tient sweetness and consideration for
others, never once complaining nor
| faltering in faith and courage and
slipping away at last-like the pro-
nouncement of one of his own benedic-
tions.
| 1t is so easy to preach; so natural
| to the human tongue to utter noble
| and praisworthy sentiments; but to
live the things we profess and to ex-
ample forth in our own every day
lives the high principles we believe in
is quite another matter Father did
both. And the sunset of his departure
leaves behind it those trailing clouds
Of glory of which Wordsworth speaks
and which somehow tighten and glori-
fly every memory We have of him.
For those of us who loved him
who still love him best, the surest
proof Of the value and reality of his
faith will forever be in the beauty of
the life it made him live and in the
sweetness and gentleness of his pass
ing. In the midst of pain that left
HIM breathless he never forgot to
smile or to whisper the tender word
of endearment and appreciation that
somehow hallows this memory of every
act of service
Eighty years of goodness, of un-
wavering faith in God and his fellow
men, of unselfshness that gave al
ways the best to others and kept lit
tie or nothing for himself, of devotion
to his family and friends and all good
causes,-well, they are ended so far
as we can see-herei But one cannot
have lived all ones life in his brave
and precious company and believe that
what we can see here is the endi 1t
is only faint, crude beginning. A
beginning father is done with, and has
left behind for the larger school to-
ward which we are all travelling. It
IS because of such as he that we know
that school exists and waits for u.s.
Thank you for all your kindness to
him and appreciation of him and be-
lieve me very
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Hazel Webster Spencer.
R. M. Webster, was greatly loved
and admired while pastor of the Con-
gregational church in this city, years
ago when he was in his prime. His
record was ideal, and the effects of his
labor, is still in evidence among the
business men who are still here. Those
who knew him personally remember
him as kindly sincere Christian man
with many virtues. He was a strong
consistent preacher of the gospel and
he lived the daily life of one, as he
mingled among men. He left his i'm
press upon his congregation and COM
munity which was lasting. They all
remember him with a kindly interest
and are deeply in sympathy with his
beloved family, who have been oblig-
ed to mourn his passing on. He has
simply gone on before to prepare the
way for the dear ones who come after.
His memory will ever remain fresh
in the minds of those who knew his
worth in Grand Rapids.