The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-09-09

TWO close friends Delng present.
Rev. Walter Gigstad conducted
the service in a most feeling
manner. At the conclusion of
the services the body was also
taken to the Temple and placed
between those of Nh. Smiths
late employees and the Masonic
service was proceeded with. At.
the conclusion of this an oppor-
tunity was given friends to take
a last look upon those who have
gone before, and the procession
was then taken 10 the Beach GEM
etery, where all that was mortal
of James P. Smith was laid to
rest amid the tears of hundreds
who knew and loved him in life.
"At the Masonic Temple Sat-
urday afternoon, Worshipful Mas
ter A. E. HASTEN paid a high trib-
ute to the characters of the three
men whose bodies lay before him
empowered in the lovely floral
tokens of esteem from friends
and organizations, here and else
where, many of them being elab-
crate designs. While Ted Hors-
man and Peter Shylosky were not
Masons, the Master shared with
them the eulogy he had prepared
for ]. P. Smith.
Brother J. P. Smith was born
at Watson, Missouri, September
4, 1880, and died August %,
1926, his age being As years, II
months and 81 days. He was
united in marriage to Miss Kath-
ryn Conlon, of Chicago, April rs,
1905. Of this union two children
were born, James, aged 10, and
Dorothy, aged II, both of this
city. Those who remain, besides
his wife and children, to mourn
his loss are two brothers, C. F.
Smith, of Sentinel Butte, and
John Smith, of Nebraska City,
Nebraska.
E" Brother J. P. Smith wss one
of the earliest pioneers in this
part of the country, having set
tied on a homestead near Sentinel
Butte in 1908. He was raised to
he sublime degree of a Master
Mason February g., 1910, and
served as master of the lodge
during 1914 and 1915. In this
connection I want to say that
without exception Brother Smith
was the closest, most intimate,
most loyal friend I ever had. Of
ten when in doubt as to what
course I should pursue, l have
consulted Brother Smith, and in
every instance his advice was
sound and to the point. I regard
him as the Abraham Lincoln of
this community. He was a mem
Der of the Order of the Eastern
Star, of which he was Patron for
two years.
Brother Smith belonged toI
no church, but was ONE of the
most religious men I ever knew.
Not religious as we amalyze or
understand religion by creeds, but
religious in doing justice to his
fellow man. Let us be broad
enough today to forget creeds. 1t
matters not what church we be-
to-, or what we believe, but
it greatly matters what we do.
His sympathies were not confined
to the prison of creeds, but ran
over the wall like vines, hiding
the cruel rocks and rusted bars,
leaf and flowers. The
leartiness and justice with which
his generous man treated his fell
ow man, can never be excelled.
lie came here 23oyears ago, a
young homesteader; we
'art with him today, one of the
strongest and most beloved men
n the state. A man of courage,
man of great executive ability,
nd in his death, not only his
and community suffer an
r%reparable loss, but the entire
tate.
" 'In 1920 Brother Smith was
candidate for lieutenant gov
rnor, and it goes without saying
hat had he been chosen to that
Ugh office, or even been elected
,overnor, our ship of state would
ave been safely guided without
ear or favor.
" Brother Smith was a MEM
.er of the city council when the
'each city water works were in
tailed and gave the city sincere
nd honest service. He was one
f the mainstays in erecting this
Iasonic building. He was pro-
ressive and public spirited. He
RELY gave his services to the
ublic, the school, the Boy Scouts,
nd other organizations that stood
or the upbuilding of the com
4" TO these mourners it is vain
0 try and gild a grief with words.