The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-11
Affectionate Tributes
Paid Late Reu. DR.. Le1vis

was the friend Of the homeless,
the forgotten and the needy. He
gave lavishly of himself to his
church, his community and to the
church at large. His Sympathies
were as wide as the needs of all
men. He believed in Christian
unity. Like his Master before him
He went about doing good"
Rev. David p. Gaines, pastor
of the First Baptist church: ''Dr.
Lewis had in unusual degree
the gift Of friendliness. His first
interest was in people, and he
was never more himself than
when helping those in need.
None appealed to him in vain.
He was sympathetic and gener-
GUS, almost to a fault, If these
qualities can ever be said to be
excessive He ministered in Wa
terbury nearly 40 years. The
whole city was his parish. his
catholicity of spirit lifting him
above all the barriers of class
and creed. The loss we sustain
in his death is immeasurabIe,
as the contribution Of his min
istry has been in all that en-
riches and gives meaning to
life"
Rev. DR.. John c. Walker, pastor
of the Second Congregational
church: "A great man and a
mighty has passed from our midst
and sense OF sheer desolation
weighs heavy upon all our hearts
but We know that his spirit will
live in our churches and in our
city. Buoyant, broad-minded,
courageous, happy-hearted, he has
left an abiding witness to the
things In which he so firmly be-
we'd. The city at large was
his parish and every man, wo-
man and child his personal friend
with a claim on his affection ard
generosity. At the hospital he said
to me: I've had bully good life!'
And everyone of his great host
Of friends will add: You've lived
great life and wrought a great
work Mr.. Great-Heart has gone
hCme and we hear the trumpets
of victory sounding on the other
Side!"
-,.abbi william P. Greenfield,
Bethel synagogue: ''Dr. Lewis
was one of those clergymen who
lived as he preached. His love
for the weak and suffering was
not only a matter of word but in
his every action he gave hem
strength and SuStenance. His So
cial-mindedness called upon
him to seek employment for the
unemployed, to raise the stan
dards Of living among the poor
and to bring cheer and comfort
to those that were shut in. His
loss will be felt by the entire
community, especially by those
whose lives he encouraged and
helped. 1 want to express my
own sense of loss at the passing
Of a power Of strength for the
clergy in Waterbury,"
Miss Louise B. Dillingham;,
headmistress Of Westover school:
I'm the death OF DR.. Lewis, West
over school has sustained a great
loss which will be felt by each
'"dtv.s student, Of the past
and Of the present, and in its
whole organization. His ready
mpathy, his constructive kind
SIS and love for young people,
his manifest faith. and his in
vincible hope for the perfectib;lity
OF the human race, -iilder God,
have made for us a daily inter-
probation of the Christian spirit.
Yet in his departure from this
life We do not lose him, for there
Is 10 one Of us who can forget
his extraordinary gift for COM
bining true humility with con2lc-
ton and courage to preach and
to do what he considered right.
He lived what he asked of others
joyousness, full use of powers, I'M
sparing devotion to his neigli Dor.
What he has inspired in these as
ISOLATED with him continues his
Hfe of the spirit"
Herbert S. Smith, general Sec
rotary of the local Y.M.C.A.:
"The Y.M.C.A., and every other
worthwhile organization in Wa