Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-12

OAkAVO NDOA4O
Of his business career. Thirteen
thousand Of his employees from both
the New York and Philadelphia stores
greeted him In his Philadelphia store
and presented him with the house in
which he was born, and a jubilee book
In which each of the thirteen thous-
and had written their names. A SINH
lar tribute was paid ut that time In
New York where q committee repre-
senting the merchants Of the United
States, including 100 of his business
associates n competitors, met to do
him honor at a luncheon. lie was
presented with a handsome silver lov-
Ing cup and heard his rivals laud him
as a merchant prince Of the country.
Political Worker.
In political life Mr.. Wanamaker was
prominent as an Independent Repub-
lican. In 1882 he was offered the Re-
publican nomination as congressman
at-large for the state Of Pennsylvania.
but declined It, and in 1886 he de-
clined to be an independent candidate
for mayor OF Philadelphia. He too
an active part in most of the presi-
Dental campaigns and ave a great
amount of work to the Republican Ma
tlonal Executive committee, of which
he was a member during the Harrison.
campaign. Upon the election of IIar-
rison, Mr.. Wanamaker was invited to
enter the cabinet, and although there
was much criticism to the effect that
a merchant was unfit for a cabinet po-
sition. Mr.. Wanamaker became post
master general and was acknowledged
later by his critics to have worked
many desirable reforms in the postal
system. Organization, system, method
and business mechanism so essential
in the postoffice department were all
III Mr.. Wanamaker's line. He spread
the fast mail service and opened sea
postofices in which foreign mails are
distributed n made up on tho sea,
and, among other things. advocated
the parcels post and postal savings
which were later realized. and also
urged government ownership of ttele-
graph lines.
, Formed Sunday School.
The religious side of Mr.. Wanna
makers life was one less known to
the general public than any other,
but one In which he was deeply inter-
ested. Very early in life he became q
member of the Rev. John Chambers
Presbyterian church in Philadelphia,
and 1t is related that when DR.. Cham
beEs appealed to his congregation for
la church suitable to its needs. Mr..
iWanamaker. then a boy, shouted en-
Enthusiastically: "Ill give a load Of
bricks from my fathers brick yard"
Later he gathered together a handful
jof boys in a shoenlaker's shop, and
formed A Sunday school, which was
the nucleus Of what is today the
Bethany Presbyterian church Of Phil
adelphia. The . Bethany Sunday
school, of which Mr.. Wanamaker was
superintendent, has 5000 members.
and is said to be the largest Sunday
school in the United States. Mr..
Wanamaker took particular pride in
this school. as well as the Brother
also formed, and it Is known that he
Icarrled about with him. constantly an
alphabetical index Of the members OF
1.-the school and brotherhood, and that,
when time permitted, he studied this
list to acquaint himself individually
with all the members. His attendance
at the Sunday school meetings kept
him on his feet almost continuously
I for eight hours every Sunday, for he
often conducted as many as twelve
meetings and made short addresses OF
short-time talks at all of them. Such
was his Sunday work the year round
for owe half a century.
Other public institutions which Mr..
Wanamaker established were E the
Presbyterian hospital Of Philadelphia
ana the First Penny Savings bank. He
alsA assisted in; erecting the many
!, Young Mems Christian association
buildings in various cities, and con-
, tributed toward college missionary.in in
situations in India, Chtna and Japan.
At the outbreak Of the World war he
was one of the first to assist in the re-
= lief Of the stricken BelgIans. supplying
, two ,shiploads of food for the invaded
, country.
81 Early in his career Mr.. Wanamaker
married Miss Mary B.. Brown. a sister
of his original partner, who co-operat-
. ed with him in much of his phil
anthropic work. She died in August.
1920. ,ss5 III X
. The second great tribute of his mer-
. camille career was conferred upon him
in 1921, to commorate the sixtieth an
~nivefsary of the founding of his bust
/ ness. In a ceremony at Independence
Hall, Philadelphia, he was presented
t was the guest Of honor at a luncheon
:. attended by prominent men from al
n parts of the country, Among the
tributes Of the day were a gift and 8
message from the emperor and EN-.
press OF Japan.
= Mr.. Wanamaker governed his life
I by many maxims; Every nndestak,
. sum OF past enceayors, plus ambition
= and the new visions"
: Business must rest upon the un'
crumbling foundation Of conaidenct
a in one another"
IL young rncn coming on"
y Keep up the old standards, Ant
6 day by day raise them higher"
y AS to his own life he once said