The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1921-05-26
/ alented MUSICIAN
MALCOLM K1Na GR1FFrrH.

Malcolm X. Griffith, first born child
of Rev. and Mrs. T. l.. Griffith was born
in Mickakinock, Mahaska county, Iowa
March 30, 1897. He died at the home of
his parents May Is, 1921 of some dis
ease of the brain. He had been in poor.
health for several months, but his fatal
illness was of four week s Duration.
He had lived with his parents during
the twenty7fcur years of his life except
the times when he was on vacation and
in the S. A. T. G. He had been in
school since he was five years old hav-
ing finished the grade schools in Des
Moines, the Topeka, (Kansas), High
school, studied two years in Washburn
college, Topeka, Kansas, and was Just
graduating with honors from the Drake
conservatory Of music as pianist. He
was pianist for the Drake University
Glee club and with this club had made
trips to several towns in Iowa. His
piano teacher, Mrs. Mourse was using
her influence to have him take further
studies with one of the greatest pianists
of the world. He was gifted musician
and had he lived would doubtless have
taken rank with the best in the coun-
try He had secured an appointment as
head of the music department Of the
Kansas Industrial and Educational In
stitute, Topeka, Kansas He had fat
tering offers for concerts for the sum-
mer time. He was music teacher and
several pupils came to him from week
to week.
During his last illness everything
that loving hands could think to do was
done. Friends remained at the house
day and night. Physicians, parents, rel
atives, friends from all the walks of life
n oil Sv,+ +hnSp ~ L.
did powers for the world but all to no
avail
He was Christian young man. He
united with the Corinthian Baptist
church when he was ten years old and
remained in Christian service until his
death. He was five years organist of
the Corinthian church. He worked in
the Second Baptist church choir in To-
peka, and also directed two church
choirs in that city. Returning to Des
Moines he united with the Union Bap-
tist church. He had often desired to go
with his father on evangelistic tours,
and hoped to help by organizing special
choirs. He was unconsci GUS for sew
eral days, but the parents will never
forget his uplifted finger pointed to-
ward heaven hours before the end came.
The funeral services were held from
the st. Paul's A. M. E. church for the
sake of the larger room. The funeral
services were as follows: Rev. ). H.
Reynolds, master of ceremonies. Song
by special choir, directed by Mr.. II.
R. Graves. Scripture lesson, read by
DR.. S. E. Wilcox. Song by the choir.
Prayer by Rev. S. Bates of Maple street
Baptist church. Resolutions and con-
dolences read by Rev. Reynolds Ser
mon by DR.. g. w. Robinson, pastor of
Corinthian Baptist church Song by
by DR.. W. FL. Griffin, pastor st. Paul s
Medbury, pastor University Place
Church Of Christ Solo, Dean Holmes
Cowper of Drake University. Prayer
by Rev. Wheeler of Asbury M. E.
church.
The members of Union Baptist church
were seated directly back of the family,
the Ushers Board of Corinthian church
assisted by ushers from st. Paul A. M.
E., Maple Street Baptist and Union
Baptist churches handled the i. large
crowd successfully.
The funeral services were very i'm
pressive and the floral offerings were
simply grand.
kilograms, special delivery letters,
and plain letters have been pouring
III upon the family expressing sympathy
and sorrow in his death. The names of
those who have so expressed them
selves are too many to mention. Per
mission will doubtless be given to men
ton a few: The officers Of the Iowa
Baptist convention; the faculty and
students of Drake conservatory of mu-
sic, the faculty and students of Kansas
Industrial and Educational Institute,
| the president of Western University
Quindaro, Kansas; the Calvary Baptist
church, Topeka, Kansas; the Union
Baptist church, Des Moines, Iowa; the
Ministers Alliance, Des Moines, Iowa;
| the ladies of the First Baptist church
| Des Moines, Iowa; the Usher IS Board
Corinthian Baptist church.
1 It would require whole column tc
mention the name of the individuals
who have shown their love for Malcolm
and their sympathy for the family il
this sad hour.
/ Words fail us to express to friends
lnear and far our thanks for the kind.
! ness shown to us during the illness ano
Ideath of our dear son, Malcolm. We
have been overwhelmed with the
j thought of the esteem in which he is
held, There is satisfaction in having
i reared a son whom so many loved. Ou,
s|loss is great, our sorrow is painful, but
our gratitude is without bounds. y. u