The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-04-14

In an impressive tribute to the
life and work Of Rev. DR.. John N.
Lewis, late pastor Of st. Johns
church in Waterbury. who fulfilled
his mission on earth faithfully and
courageously before he entered into
eternal peace, Rev. Laurent b.
Davis, in n recent radio address
given quoted excerpts from blog-
raphy of the life OF the beloved
clergyman written by Bishop John
r. Dallas. Rev. Mr., Davis is present
curate ut st. Johns church,
An extreme example of social
courage" wherein ~. N. L." was not
afraid to let people know he liked
them and to what extent he valued
their frienship was shown when his
strong sense OF brotherhood brought
him to the death bed OF his Gear
friend, MSgr. Slocum, rector OF the
Church OF the Immaculate Concep-
ton to receive o blessing from the
dying Catholic preacher. The ges-
ture expressed to Msgr. Slocum and
all who heard OF II the tremendous
gift Of humility and understanding
which Rev. Mr.. Lewis possessed.
Returns From War
Other impressive incidents Of the
minister's life follow in part:
His aim in 1918 was to minister
to his men and boys and to their
families. He went across as Red
Cross chaplain with hospital unit,
He went away looking young and
vigorous, He came back looking like
an old man.
There is an old phrase which
describes such q pastor. He Is
spoken of as having n cure of
souls" st. Johns parish has been
fortunate in Its rectors who have
had the gift whereby they have
helped those In need Of health and
sanity. DR.. Lewis was rarely en-
dowed In this respect.
Out of what he found in the parish
habit Of distributing charity, and
out his experience throughout the
city, there was born the visiting
Nurse Association. II began with the
simplest equipment in the Old Par
ish House. Under the gracious APP
proach of Miss Asbury and Miss
Beard the work grew In extent and
even in the appreciation OF some of
the most old-fashioned doctors. II
could no longer be looked upon as a
parish affair and had TO be organ
led with rules and regulations like
the same kind OF work In other
cities. J. N. l.. was as happy in the
growth Of the v. N. A. us anything
he ever did.
A great Interpretation of ut
least one function of the Church of
God was his cooperation with the
Police and Fire Departments as
chaplain. Firemen. policemen. union
men, working men. lived where life
IS a struggle. That was where j. N.
L. lived and they remembered that
he did. Both departments were In
places paying silent
tribute at his funeral.
Up-Bullding Elements
DR.. Lewis had a theory that The
ought to work hand in glove
with all the up-building elements
in the community. He practised
his theory with marked cooperation
on the part of them all. 1t was the
same theory that made labor unions.
lodges. fraternities, and clubs want
him in their number. 1t was a
recognition on his part and theirs
Of the stuff that humankind is
made of. He saw how hard they
all had to work to keep a family to-
gether. and even during the hard
days of the depression his heart
was breaking as were the hearts OF
the manhood OF the city trying TO
keep hunger from the children.
There was a delicacy in some of
the things which J. N. L. did. From
his mother he must have inherited a
sense of the beautiful. Every now
and then he brought about some
thing filled with a rare beauty. Of
ten on the afternoon Of Christmas
day. with half dozen of the boys
from the choir, he would go to
the hospital on West Side Hill to
visit the wards and To LET the