He bore up until she died, January 23. When they took her remains away from the Nelson House to the cemetery at Rhinebeck, he was not able to accompany them, but remained in his apartments with some of the members of his congregation. Before the bearers of the funeral returned he was very ill, his strength seemed to have entirely failed, he seemed crushed and heart-broken. He asked to be taken to Vassar Brothers' hospital, away from the excitement of the hotel. They said he was suffering from grip; after he had been at the hospital a day or two they said he was extremely ill with heart trouble. It was soon that word was on every lip everywhere that the beloved clergyman was dangerously ill, and each day and each hour brought additional proof of how widely he was known and loved in Poughkeepsie. The only information given out concerning him for several days past was to the effect that he was getting better, so that the anxious feeling among his friends was beginning to subside, when like a disastrous blow came the news last night that he was dead, accompanied by the suggestive statement from the superintendent of the hospital. "In tears will the whole city take leave of him," are the first words of the closing paragraph of the account from which we have quoted and quote again below. The universal sorrow which was felt throughout Poughkeepsie, Duchess County, and wherever Dr. Ziegenfuss was known, had its adequate cause in his character and life, as will be seen by this further extract: His There was, perhaps, no better friend of humanity in all of Duchess county than Rev. Henry L. Ziegenfuss. In the church he was the Venerable Henry L. Ziegenfuss, D. D., Archdeacon of Duchess. In the world he was an ideal man among men. character was a living expression of democracy and liberality in their truest meaning; his presence was as the sunshine wherever he went; a student of human nature he forgot not its infirmities in the application of his theology, and charity in its purest ray gleamed beneath the daily work of his life. He was modest, he was earnest, he was sincere; pride entered not into his life, and distinction in the church, honor among his fellow citizens, or praise from the world caused not so much as a pause in his career that would indicate a selfish or personal gratification. It was the blessing of any day to have met Rev. Dr. Ziegenfuss. He always had a smile and greeting in which what the world calls courtesy could have no meaning; they were more than courteous, more than polite; they were the reflections of a clear mind and an affectionate heart. He always had a word of encouragement for the weary friend, a welcome for the stranger, a coin for the poor one who found him at his hotel, his study, or in the street. To have known him well, to have felt the benign influence of his friendship, was to have a rare favor in this world, to know the depth of genuine sorrow, and to experience the flood of earnest tears, now that he is dead. In the pulpit Rev. Dr. Ziegenfuss was a power for good. He was eloquent in the deepest meaning of that greatly misused word. His sermons were as food for the learned, satisfaction for the doubtful, consolation for the trusting christian. His religion was the light of his friendship; his devotion to his friends and to that side of life which needs help, was but the eloquence of a character in which were blended the beauties of that christianity to the teaching of which his life was devoted. *** In tears will the whole city take leave of him. The gifts given him by his creator have been returned in developed perfection; we can but weep at his bier, our philosophy is unsubstantial in the sorrow that we feel when such a loss befalls us, we can but stand at the edge of the fresh grave and look through tears to the hope beyond. As has been noted, Dr. Ziegenfuss died on Thursday evening, February 8, 1894, at 10 o'clock. On Friday, at 6 p. m., the remains were conveyed from Vassar Hospital to the study in Christ Church, where they were placed in the shadow of the book-lined shelves, having been attired in the robes of his office and reclined upon a bier. The study was draped in mourning and the remains were guarded by members of the St. Andrew's Brotherhood of Christ and St. Paul's churches. The following Monday, February 12, the funeral occurred from Christ. Church. Rev. John C. S. Weills and Rev. S. A. Weikert, who are mentioned in the subjoined extract from the News-Press of Tuesday, February 13, are alumni of original Nu and Theta respectively. Bro. Weills is to write a biographical sketch of Dr. Ziegenfuss for the May number of the QUARTERLY, and at his request the extracts from the funeral discourse of Bishop Potter, and other features of the life and burial of the dead are reserved for his pen. "It was an impressive service, worthy of the church and worthy of her dead son." These words were spoken by Bishop Henry C. Potter in the study at Christ church immediately after the close of the service Monday, February 12, 1894. The bishop referred to the funeral service over the remains of the Venerable Henry L. Ziegenfuss, D. D., Archdeacon of Duchess, the dead pastor of the church to which went representatives of every creed, every color and every race composing the population of Poughkeepsie, to honor the memory and to mourn the loss of a clergyman, a citizen, a friend. During the morning hundreds of Poughkeepsians, young and old, acquaintance and stranger, visited the church to look upon the face of the dead-and the edifice was filled at the service, the hour of which was 1:30 P. M. It was the funeral service of the Episcopal church, so solemn, so full of meaning, so complete as to be ever new. It was made still more impressive by the arrangements which reflected the thought, the reverence and the toil of him whose lifeless form rested in the chancel with flowers strewn about and placed upon the casket. The procession entered in silence, save only the plaintive melody of the organ. It was headed by the members of the vested choir of fifty voices, the little boys in their white surplices, walking in front. Silently the procession turned towards the altar, and the robed figures passed on either side of the casket as the choristers held their closed books partially hidden by their surplices, until they took their places to sing, for the last time, their part in the beloved service with which their dead friend's name and memory must ever mean so much to them. A sweet little boy led this procession carrying in his tiny hands the precious cross, the emblem of the hope of the ages-and without a word being spoken, without a note being sung, the scene was indescribably touching. Next came the wardens and vestries of the Episcopal churches of Poughkeepsie. The honorary pall-bearers were Mr. Irving Grinnell of New Hamburg, and Mr. Nicholson Kane of New York, representing the archdeaconry, and the clergymen who were pall-bearers, the Rev. Dr. Applegate of Newburg, Archdeacon Thomas of Orange, Archdeacon Van Kleeck of Westchester, Rev. George C. Cox of St. Paul's, Poughkeepsie; Rev. Dr. Olssen, of St. Stephen's College, Annandale; Rev. Dr. James Starr Clarke, of Tivoli; Rev. Dr. Gallaudet of St. Ann's, New York; and Rev. Dr. Harris, secretary of the diocesan convention. Next came the clergymen who were colaborers with Rev. Dr. Ziegenfuss in religion in Poughkeepsie. They walked together in the procession. Among the ministers were Rev. Francis B. Wheeler, of the Presbyterian church; Rev. A. P. Van Gieson, of the First Reformed church; Rev. James Nilan, of St. Peter's church; Rev. Wayland Spaulding, of the Congregational church; Rev. G. Bruder, of the church of Nativity; Rev. C. H. Snedeker, of the Washington street M. E. church; Rev. James M. Taylor, of Vassar College; Rev. W. Bancroft Hill, of the Second Reformed church; Rev. R. E. Farrier, of the Baptist church; Rev. D. Russ Judd, of St. Paul's church, Poughkeepsie; Rev. Mr. Abbott, of Zion M. E. church; and the Rev. Mr. Ferriess, of the Ebenezer Baptist congregation. Then came the officiating clergymen, who were the Rev. Dr. Olmstead, of Rhinebeck; Rev. Robert F. Crary, of the church of the Holy Comforter, Poughkeepsie; Rev. Dr. Tiffany, of Zion and Timothy church, New York City; Rev. Mr. Weills, chaplain of Sing Sing prison; Rev. Mr. Weikert, of Pine Plains, and the Rev. Mr. Evarts, of Wappingers Falls, son of ex-United States Senator William M. Evarts. Seats were reserved for the very numerous visiting clergymen directly in front of the chancel. pal ministers wore the robes of office. Among those present were: ** The Episco + The opening sentence of the service was spoken by Bishop Henry C. Potter. He stood at the entrance to the chancel, the casket, the flowers, the crape and the dead immediately before him, and impressively fell from his lips the words, "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can take nothing away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." The lesson, so appropriately a part of the funeral service, from St. Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, was read by the Rev. Dr. Tiffany of New York. The words of the hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light," were read, by many present, through tears, so sweetly in keeping were they with the occasion. Bishop Potter stood upon the chancel step and spoke with true eloquence of the dead clergyman, his departed friend. The Bishop said: * * * Following the Bishop's words, Rev. Robert F. Crary read the creed and collects. Then the officiating clergymen gathered about the casket and the sentences were read by the Rev. Dr. Olmstead, and the Lord's prayer was said by the Rev. Mr. Weills, after which the bishop pronounced the benediction. The choir sang the Nunc Dimittis, and slowly the procession left the chancel, the choir singing recessional hymn No. 509. As the sound of the choristers' voices became fainter and still more faint, it seemed, from the body of the church, as a distant echo lingering, dying among the hills. For several moments after the door had closed and the last strain of music had died away the throng in the large edifice remained motionless and silent, as if hoping to longer postpone the time when they should leave the beloved dead forever. If there were tears and aching hearts among those bound to the departed one by the ties of religion, citizenship and friendship, what must have been the feelings of one aged woman who sat in the front pew during the service. Her head was bowed in sorrow, and her troubled face was only partially visible through the habiliments of grief which she wore. She was the mother of him for whom a whole city wept. She is seventythree years of age, but she came on that winter day from Bethel, Pennsylvania, to be present at the funeral of her precious boy, arriving about noon. It was a perilous journey for Mrs. Ziegenfuss, but she seemed quite strong, although her heart was breaking in the midst of that imposing scene which served, after all, to deepen her sorrow and to emphasize the melancholy fact that the strong, noble, manly son was no longer by her side, and that the remainder of her own journey through the shadows must be made without him. Somebody has said, "Flowers are so appropriate, whether at the cradle, the marriage altar or the tomb." It seemed, indeed, as if flowers were never more in place, never sweeter, or more fragrant than at this funeral. The chair near the altar, in which the pastor used to sit, was covered with black, upon which were arranged palms, lilies and roses. The New York alumni chapter of the Sigma Chi sent a cross representing the badge of the fraternity, which was placed against the rest which supported the foot of the casket. Rev. Dr. Ziegenfuss was very much interested in this chapter which was represented at the funeral by Dr. Scratchley, formerly of the state hospital in this town, now of New York. Among the other floral tributes were: There were many flowers and an abundance of green which clung to the pulpit, the lecturn and the many places so dear to him in life. * ACTION OF THETA CHAPTER. * * At a meeting of Theta chapter, held on February 17, 1894, the following action was adopted on the death of Archdeacon Henry LaFayette Ziegenfuss, S. T. D., who died at his home in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on Thursday, February 8: Again the members of Theta stand as a band of mourners at the portal of a brother's tomb. The decease of Henry La Fayette Ziegenfuss has filled our hearts with a sense of lasting and irreparable loss. Known to us all by his genial manners and unfailing loyalty, he has ever been among those whom we most loved and honored; and now that he lies among our fallen ones it is well that our benediction of peace should follow him into the life eternal. Thirty and one years he bore our sacred emblem, and to-day it shines brighter and lovelier in the beauty of his life. The first to fall of those whom we revere as our fathers, we feel that an integral portion of our life has ceased to be. His constant readiness to serve the cause he had espoused gained for him honor and respect far beyond the limits of his native chapter, and many brothers in circles other than our own will miss and mourn him. His character was pure, noble, irreproachable; his personality gentle and kind, yet strong and magnetic. His professional career was one of signal success, and the church in whose interests he labored will not leave him unwept and unsung. But his life stands as its own best memorial, and our words, however earnest, only mar its symmetry. In the silence of each heart let his eulogy be spoken, and in our increased devotion to all the interests of Sigma Chi let his memory be perpetuated. days. Resolved, That our chapter hall be draped and a badge of mourning worn for ten Resolved, That this action be recorded in the minutes of the chapter and published in the SIGMA CHI QUARTERLY. WALTER S. MONATH, MEMORIAL OF THE NEW YORK ALUMNI CHAPTER. Committee. Soon after the announcement of the death of Archdeacon Ziegenfuss at Poughkeepsie, a number of members of the New York Alumni Chapter of Sigma Chi, overwhelmed with a sense of their great loss in the death of one of the chapter's founders, its staunch friend and brightest ornament, gathered together to appoint representatives at the funeral, and to express to the Fraternity at large, through the SIGMA CHI QUARTERLY, to his bereaved townsmen, through the Poughkeepsie press, and especially to his grief-stricken mother, their high esteem of the sincerity, nobility, modesty and gentleness of soul impressed upon all with whom he came into fellowship. Especially did the wholesome and happy side of his character appeal to the Fraternity. He was no ascetic. Mingling in the pleasures of existence, through them all he wore unsullied "the white flower of a blameless life." With this thought of Tennyson as a text, the following tribute from one who loved him well may serve in place of the garlands others were privileged to lay at his feet: HENRY L. ZIEGENFUSS. The doctor's gown that robed him, young in years, With honors high, the surplice Anglican, The parson's coat, that oft a man endears, To us could neither grace nor cloak the man. The badge of brotherhood upon his breast, Clean lips, abrim with many a hearty jest. So with Love's flower may ours a while endure. The white carnation of Fraternity. THEODORE A. K. GESSLER, ALFRED TAYLOR, SAMUEL A. WEIKERT, FRANCIS A. SCRATCHLEY, MARION M. MILLER, STEPHEN T. MATHER, EDWARD F. HAAS, Committee on Resolutions. [The beautiful poetic tribute in the foregoing resolutions is from the pen of Marion M. Miller, Lit. D., editor of the University Review.-ED.] |