The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-04-29
Funeral Services OF A Well
Known Minister Occurs
On Monday, q -,
SERVICE ARRANGED SO
BY THE DECEASED
President OF The Ohio Con-
ference Takes Part In
The Services

Solemn and deeply Impressive was
the funeral service held on Monday
afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Gay st.
NJ. e. church for the late Rev. Steph-
en- I. Allen, we'll known and much
beloved> minister OF the Methodist
Protestant church who had been call
ed to receive his reward in the church
triumphant after many years of ser.
vice given to the Master in the earth
ly vineyard.
To the church came company of
those who had known and esteemed
the minister and who had been won
by him by those traits of character
that endeared him as pastor of a
people. With them came his minis
terial brethren of his own and of sis
ter denominations to testify also Of
their fraternal and personal apprecia-
tiOn.
The offerings Of flowers, those
sweet scented emblems of blessed
hope, were many and beautiful. In
silent language they bespoke the uni
versatility of the esteem in which the
beloved minister is held by those
among whom he had labored unself.
ishly, not sparing himself in any good
work. The sobbing of women and the
sorrowful countenances of men ex-
pressed far more than spoken or
printed words the love of people for
q man who has been taken from their
midst.
The service as it was held had been
arranged by the Rev. Mr.. Allen him.
self as he lay upon his bed of weak
ness and suffering waiting with joy
for the moment when he should hear
his Masters summons. Two songs,
"Saved by Grace" and There Will Be
No Dark Valley When Jesus Comes"
were sung by a quartet, Mrs. Howard
Thompson. Mrs. H. NJ. Patterson, Mr..
Fred Babbs and Mr.. Norman Turner
Mrs. Evelyn Carey, an intimate friend
and a member of the Friendship
church, which Mr.. Allen had served.
sang with sweetness indesdribable,
1.-THE Ringing of the Golden Bells"
The service was conducted by the
Rev. DIR. y. c. Coburn, pastor Of the
Mt. Vernon Methodist Protestant
church. The scripture lesson was
read by the Rev. DR.. w H. Shields,
pastor of the Presbyterian congrega-
tion and representing the local min
isterial association. DR.. Coburn
spoke from the texts, Proverbs 1922
IA good man leaveth an inheritance
to his children's children" and Acts
11:24-"He was good man and full
of the Holy Ghost and of faith" The
sermon was fitting tribute to the
life, character and services of the
good man as illustrated by the Rev.
S. T. Allen.
The Rev. S. w. Rosenberger, presi.
dent of the Ohio conference, read the
obituary and spoke tenderly and ap-
preciately of the traits of character
in the life and ministry of the deceas-
ed, paying also tribuate of love and
affection for the dead.
A beautiful and touching exposition
of the last days sickness and suffer-
ing of Mr.. Allen was given by the
Rev. A. E. Black, whose privilege it
was to visit and be with him much
in the hour of weakness and weari.
ness. He described in touching Ian
guage the triumphant death of this
humble servant of the Master.
Among those present sharing in the
grief and sorrow of the service were
two venerable, superannuated minis
ters of the church, the Revs. John
Cooper and s. S. Fleming, the latter
Offering the benediction.
The casket was carried from the
church by ministerial associates who
had labored with the dead in earth
ly ministry. They were with him
members of the Ohio conference and
were Rev. G. G. Shurtz, Tiffin, Rev. r.
C. Tolbert, Attica Rev. F. w. Obee,
Butler, Rev. H. w. Maier, Columbus,
Rev. r. I. Farmer GAINESVILLE, and
Rev. r. ID. Sheppard, Upper Sandusky.
The body was placed temporarily
in the vault in Mound View cemetery
and will be given burial later.