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Eulogy
The following is the Eulogy delivered May 19, 1907, by the Rev. William J. Day, and the text was taken from an 8 page "copy" of the hand written and signed Eulogy of the Rev. William J. Day. ( * ) - Could not read the word.
Rueben Daniel Washburn-
Asleep May 15th 1907-
( * ) Trucksville Cemetery - May 19th, 1907
Rueben Daniel Washburn, Born Dec. 19th, 1867 - Passed over the river Wednesday May 15, 1907 - 39 yrs., 4 months & 27 days old.
When Mrs. Sallie Johnson was at Miss Clara Rishop's funeral she remarked "who will be the next?" And already the silver cord of her own heart was ready to snap, and the music of her earthly life to be ended. She was the next. When brother Alliger met his untimely death, in the strength and glory of his manhood, no one thought of him leaving us so soon. And now today, a brother of the Knights of Malta, a member of the Junior American Mechanics, a fellow workman among the million toilers, who lay up the walls and build the splendid edifices that beautify our streets and add prosperity and enterprise to our great nation, he has laid aside the trowel and the level, and has finished the 100/K of his earthly toil, we can well ask who will be the next.
But, brothers, as he lay here on his sick-bed, he realized that while he was working with the tools of a Mason and laying up walls, he was also building up a character that would stand, like the buildings he had erected, for many years after he had ceased to toil among the fellow craftsmen of earth.--- And as he looked at his character, the divine temple he had been building, he realized he needed to build on the rock of ages--Jesus Christ the Savior of Men. And as he looked at what blinders he had worn, and how some parts were noble and (******), (***) others were not such as for the Great Master Builder would accept and command, he turned his face to Jesus Christ as the one who could build a perfect manhood, who could correct our errors, who could build us up a holy temple in the Lord, " in whom ye also are builded together for an Imitation of God through the Spirit"-- So before his mind lost it's clearness, and with his mind set upon heavenly things he grasped my hand and told me that he had accepted Christ and was purposed to lead a new life. To his wife, he said later on, " It is Well".
Humming the hymns of hope and faith, he murmurred, Remember Me----
We trust " it is well " with him forever and forever.
Another pillow is added to the list of those who need to look to God as their helper, to Christ and their All in All for every trial and need, God says " Leave the Fatherless Children to me, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me ". Like my own dear Mother left alone with five small children, let her hide herself under the shadow of the Rock of Ages. Like Ruth may she come to Bethlehem--- the house of bread--- and find like her the wings of the Almighty over her loved ones to shield , depend, guide and comfort, and bring them at last to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
The Lord God Bless this home built by the honest toil of our brother Washburn. God Bless the little ones that our brother has brought with him again and again to the House of God--- and may they all be gathered to the Mansions above, not one left on the wilderness to perish without God and without hope. He lost his Mother when an infant; but two years old this step-Mother took the Mothers place, and raised and trained him to manhood. God Bless her and the aged Father who has found a shelter under this Son's roof.
Our Lord speaks to us all: -- " Be ye also ready ; for in such a time as ye think not, the son of man cometh ". There are two that come for us, and we can take our choice. One is the Grim Monster, the King of Terrors, an unwelcome visitor, whose entrance we cannot bar (ban?) out. The other is the Prince of Life and Glory who comes from our Fathers palace of blessedness, and has in his hand the golden key of Hope of Heaven; and who said, " I give unto you eternal life, and you shall never ( perish? )--- I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again, and (******) you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also " --- I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me ". we shall not pass this way again, let duty be a pleasure; nor think it hard to bear the cross for him who bore it for us. Each duty done, each victory won, the crown will be the brighter, for soon we'll enter into rest Within the heavenly city.
Yours in His Name,
Luzerne,
May 19th, 1907 William J. Day
Obituary from a photocopy.
Hand written above the obituary is Wilkes-Barre Record, May 17th, 1907.
Obituary reads as follows;
Death at Luzerne Borough.
On Wednesday evening Reuben Daniel Washburn of Luzerne Borough passed from the seen to the unseen. He was laid up for six weeks with erysipelas and seemed at first to be improving, but blood poisoning set in and put a period to his life. He was born in Beaver Meadows, Dec. 19, 1867, and at his decease was 39 years, 4 months and 27 days old. He was married Oct. 8, 1895, to Miss Dora Cleveland of Huntsville. His wife survives him, with the following four children,: Ruby, aged 10 years: William 9 years: Freda, 6 years, and Russel, 1 year old. His father and his step mother , who took the mother's place when he was 2 years old: one brother, James Washburn, residing near Carbondale: one half -brother, Asher Washburn, Blairsville, PA., and two half-sisters, Mattie, Mrs. Edward Klutz, Weatherly, PA., and Mary, Mrs. Sanford Cleveland, Elizabeth, NJ, mourn his lose. He won the esteem of all who knew him by his life of industry, sobriety, honesty and integrity, and at home was a devoted husband and kind father. He was an honored member of the Knights of Malta, Prince of Peace Commandery: the Junior American Mechanics and the Bricklayers and Stone Masons Union of Wyoming. The funeral will take place on Sunday afternoon at his late residence on Hughes street, Luzerne Borough.
Burial Notice from a photocopy.
No name of newspaper or date is written above the notice but was stapled to the photocopy of the obituary. Note that Reuben's middle initial is D., not W., as the following shows.
Notice reads as follows;
BURIAL AT TRUCKSVILLE.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LARGE NUMBER OF LODGE MEN ATTEND FUNERAL OF REUBEN W. WASHBURN.
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The funeral of the late Reuben W. Washburn was held from the family residence on Hughes street, Luzerne Borough, yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended.
Prince of Peace Commandery, Knights of Malta, of Wilkes-Barre, attended the services in a body, as did the Willow Grove Council of the Jr. O. U. A. M., of Luzerne Borough. The floral tributes were numerous and beautiful, including special designs from the Knights of Malta, Jr. O. U. A. M., Bricklayers and Masons' Union and many others were received from friends and relatives.
The services at the house at 2 o'clock were conducted by Rev. W. J. Day, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, at Luzerne Borough and the Knights of Malta services were also conducted at the house by commander I. D. Hague and prelate T. L. Rogers.
Interment was made at the Trucksville Cemetery and here the beautiful Malta service for interment was given by the commandery and the service of the Jr. O. U. A. M. was also given with Nathaniel Williams as chaplain.
From the Prince of Peace Commandery Charles B. Parrish, Samuel Williamson, J. A. Briggs, L. L. Newhart, A. E. Moore, M. R. Tyrrell and H. M. Meixell were pall bearers; Wayne Canfield, B. E. Snyder, Harry Hammill and Zack Kellar were carriers and C. C. Lloyd and J. P. Oberrender were flower bearers. For the Jr. O. U. A. M. the carriers were: John Weidner, Winfield Hewitt, (D*****) Evans, William Rowett, Harry Koup and John Knarr. The flower bearers were David Atherholt, John Bryden and George Hewitt. The Knights of Malta and Jr. O. U. A. M. attended the funeral in special cars and the Dames of Malta were also largely represented.
