Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-13
MEMORIAL SERVICE
AT COLBY COLLEGE
FOR DIR. ]. NJ. FOSTER

train from Boston yesterday, profess
sors, students, and friends of Colby
college gathered in the Chapel for a
memorial service to DIR. John Mar
shall Foster who died in Buffalo, n.
Y, May 9th.
DR.. Parmenter presided and DR..
Whittemore, a friend Of college days,
spoke words of appreciation of the
eminent service rendered by DIR. Fos-
ter in his career in the Far East.
John NJ. Foster, son of Professor
John p. and Annie Doe Foster, was
born in Portland but came to Water
vile when his father assumed the
chair of Greek in Colby college. Edu-
Gated at the Institute and Colby, after
graduation in IT he went into busi-
ness in New Haven, Conn.
OF very sincere religious convic-
, tions, when the missionary passion
came upon him he gave up his bust
ness, went to Newton Theological In
stitution and was graduated there in
1887. He then went as a missionary
to SYatow, China, to which mission
in various capacities, as missionary,
preacher, teacher. and President of
the Theological Seminary, he gave
the strength of his life for about
twenty years and contributed not a
little to securing the place and power
that Christian missions hold, in the
development of the new China. In
positions of great responsibility he
showed a craftsmanship for humani-
| ty
Returning to this country for a re-
newal of health, he found small col
lege at Vashon, Washington, in great
need of resource and guidance and
served as it's president for four years
to the great advantage of the institu-
ton.
After one more period of service In
China his health failed and he return
ed to America.
He was married, after going to
China, to Miss Clara Hess, a mission
airy at Swallow. Six children were
born to them, Anna, teacher in the
mission school at South China, John
H., Colby '13, afterward connected
with the Yale Medical Mission in
China, Helen, living at home, Frank.
Colby '16, three years in China, who
after his graduation at Union Theo-
logical Seminary, will return to China
this fall, Clarence in business in Buff
falo. N. Y. and Grace, Colby '22, a
successful teacher in the public
schools of Buffalo.
Few families of America have such
missionary, record or promise.
The College did well to recognize
the eminent service of one of her
sons who has made her influence a
power on the other side of the world.
No college in the land can surpass
the record of Colby in giving Board
man, Bunker, Case, Cummings, and
many others to Burma; bearing to
Japan: Foster to China, and others of
her later classes who are carrying
the banners of humanity as well as
Christianity. Other Colby represen-
tatives in South China are Rev. Arr
thur II. Page, '9S, and Miss Abbie G..
Sanderson, 1914.
The ID. X. T.. Fraternity, of which
DIR. Foster and his sons were MEM
bers. attended in a bodya and furnish
ed the pail bearers. Mrs. John H.
Foster, formerly Miss Helen Thomas.
was a member of the Sigma Kappa
Sorority of the college while she was
q student at Colby and the members
of this organization attended in a
body.
A large number of the professors
OF the college sat in their regular
places beside the platform. The spirit
Of tho occasion was of proud rever-
ence and gratitude. honorable alike
to the college and to the man whom
the college mourned. 1t made all who
were present feel that the ideals of
self sacrifice for humanity and in
Christ fellowship had not lost their
power.
The trustees of Colby College were
represented by DIR. c. f.. Owen. DIR. I.
b. Mower and DIR. T.. G.. Whitemore.
Among those who came from out-of-
town were Rev. George Merriam of
Skowhegan. Miss Annie c. Foster
and Edmund W. Foster are the only
relatives of the family in this city.