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ISAAC COOPER SLATER 





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IN MEMORIAM 


ISAAC COOPER SLATER 


FEBRUARY 25, 1843 
APRIL 8, 1907 
































Transferred tram 

Reading; Room 

FEB 23 *2? 





FUNERAL SERVICE 


HELD IN THE CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION 


THURSDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 11, 1907 


HYMN 


“LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT.” 

Lead, kindly Light! amid th’ encircling gloom, 
Lead Thou me on ; 

The night is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead Thou me on ; 

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see 

The distant scene ; one step enough for me. 

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou 
Shouldst lead me on ; 

I loved to choose and see my path ; but now 
Lead Thou me on ; 

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, 

Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. 

So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still 
Will lead me on 

O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till 
The night is gone ; 

And with the morn those angel faces smile 

Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile ! 



ADDRESS BY REV. JOHN WEIDLEY 


PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION 


“For he was a Good Man.”— Acts xi, 24. 

Mr. Isaac Cooper Slater was born near Lovettsville, 
Loudoun County, Virginia, February 25th, 1843. He de- 
parted this mortal life April 8th, 1907, aged sixty-four 
years, one month and thirteen days. 

In 1870 he was married to Miss Edith S. Harris, who 
died February 21st, 1903. 

His son, Harris W. Slater, of New York, his daughter, 
Miss Helen Slater, of this city, his grandson, William 
House Slater, his sister, Mrs. Luther W. Slater, and his 
brother, William F. Slater, survive. 

In early life he became a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church. He was identified for a time with St. 
Paul’s congregation, Eleventh Street, N. W.; transferred 
his membership, in 1869, to the mission on Capitol Hill, 
to which he gave his best service, and which developed 
into what is now the Church of the Reformation. His 
name appears first on the roll of membership. 

Many years and to the time of his death he was Superin¬ 
tendent of the Sunday School. For this position he was 
endowed by nature and grace and study. In this, of all 
his public works, he will be most missed. He was gener¬ 
ous and philanthropic in his thought for others ; charitable 
in his disposition ; ready to honor the views of his as¬ 
sociates, whether officers, teachers or pupils, greatly con¬ 
cerned that all should have an equal chance. Truly, he 
was a good man ! 



He was a member of the Church Council and a Trustee 
of the congregation from the time of its organization. It 
was by his solicitation Dr. Parson, who was then employed 
as teacher in Japan, returned to this congregation, and 
ministered to it to the time of his home-going, a period of 
twenty-seven years. 

It was his belief that a man’s duty was to work for the 
larger interest of the Church and community. He served 
as a member and Treasurer of the Board of Home Missions 
of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; 
was a Director of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, 
Pa., and a Trustee of the National Lutheran Home for the 
Aged, Washington, D. C. To this latter institution he 
freely gave his energy, his counsel and his time. The last 
work he did in an official capacity was for it. Verily, he 
was a good man ! 

As a diligent workman and public-spirited citizen he 
also excelled. For many years he was employed by the 
Government. The results of his wisdom in improved 
methods are yet in vogue, though it is many years since 
he left the service. 

He voluntarily resigned his office to enter into partner¬ 
ship with the former second assistant to the Postmaster 
General, William B. Thompson, to do business before the 
several Departments of the Government. For twenty-three 
years this partnership was maintained under pleasantest 
auspices and with increasing success, so that partner and 
employee and those for whom business was transacted 
could always certify to the words of the text, He was a good 
man. 

Through the sacred portals of the Christian home we 
must go with careful step. There it was he exercised those 
finer qualities and reflected those diviner traits that make a 
man really great. From it as a center radiated his tender- 
est affections. The community in which he lived felt the 


force of his Christian conduct, and grieves as bitterly be¬ 
cause of his sudden death as the members and relatives of 
his family. Who can estimate their loss ? He was a priest 
of God, presiding in his family in such a manner as to 
make even the material things appear to be joyful. No 
note of pessimism rang from his lips. His heart was warm 
with love ; his face reflected it as a mirror. Every one of 
the members believes it when we say, truly, he was a 
good man. 

He had many secrets that were deep as the hidden soul, 
and they were gradually increasing every day. These 
were the treasures he laid up in Heaven. What were 
they ? His many acts of kindness; his gifts in money ; 
his fatherly advice to those who needed a helper and 
friend. He blew no trumpet. What he did for others was 
prompted by his love for them. There shall be many to 
rise up and call him blessed. They, too, will say, He was 
a good man! 

Friends, we are in the presence of death ! What can we 
do ? It has robbed us of a father and friend. In this sense 
it is hateful. It is our great enemy. To destroy it God 
sent His Son, Jesus, who also had to pass through its rav¬ 
ages and lay in the silent tomb. But the glad Easter 
anthems are yet echoing, Christ is risen from the dead ; 
Hallelujah ! It is possible for us now to stand on the 
brink of the grave and triumphantly declare the Christian’s 
challenge, Oh, death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, 
where is thy victory ? Death is swallowed up in victory. 
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believeth 
in Him shall never die. We have hope in immortality. 

“Like clouds that rake the mountain summits, 

Or waves that own no curbing hand,” 

so generation follows generation into the land of the de¬ 
parted. We are hastening after the great multitude which 


has passed on forever. Nothing rests here. “Nothing 
abides here. Change, decay, death are stamped upon all 
earthly things. Yet we crave the permanent and the im¬ 
mutable. Oh ! for some rock amid the surging sea ! Oh ! 
for a refuge in the storm in which to find shelter and rest! 
God is our refuge and strength ! The Lord has been our 
dwelling place in all generations.” 

Under the magic touch of Jesus’ love it is possible for 
the human soul to accept its grave responsibility, no longer 
considering death as a titan specter robbing us of hope, but 
as a messenger of kindly though solemn mien, with trowel 
and plummet building up the temple of God. 

We are not inclined to look upon man as a rogue. There 
is, let us hope, more good in the world than evil. But 
there is great demand for good men, everywhere, all the 
time; men who take life and living things at their worth, 
and, steadily yet resolutely, with malice toward none and 
charity for all, pursue an unquestioned course under the 
guidance of Almighty God ! Such are missed and greatly 
mourned when called away from the field of their activity. 
It is these who write in unfading letters the language of 
our text, He was a good man ! 

Our hearts are troubled, and our lips tremble as we ask 
the question, What shall we do? or, Who can take his 
place ? or, How can we hope to succeed without him ? But 
our deepest sorrow may be tremulous with praises to our 
Heavenly Father for having granted unto us and the world 
a little while a life so helpful and grand as was Mr. Slater’s! 
Thine be the glory, O righteous God ! The workman dies. 
The work goes on! We will honor the dead best by 
emulating their virtues, and keeping alive the fires they 
kindled that shall make warm and generous the society in 
which we move even down to remotest generations ! We 
sorrow not as those who have no hope. Let not your heart 
be troubled. In my Father’s house are many mansions. 


Because I live ye shall live also. Sorrow must ennoble 
duty, not end it. The death of a friend exalts those who 
remain to weep. 

“ So live that when thy summons comes to join 
The innumerable caravan that moves 
To that mysterious realm where each shall take 
His chamber in the silent halls of death, 

Thou go not like the quarry slave at night, 

Scourged to his dungeon ; but, sustained and soothed 
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave 
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.” 


HYMN 


CONSOLATION. 

Come unto me, when shadows darkly gather. 

When the sad heart is weary and distressed, 
Seeking for comfort from your Heavenly Father, 
Come unto me, and I will give you rest. 

Large are the mansions in thy Father’s dwelling, 
Glad are the homes that sorrows never dim, 

Sweet are the harps in holy music swelling, 

Soft are the tones which raise the heavenly hymn. 

There like an Eden blossoming in gladness, 

Bloom the fair flowers the earth too rudely pressed; 
Come unto me, all ye who droop in sadness, 

Come unto me, and I will give you rest. 



A TRIBUTE TO ISAAC COOPER SLATER 


When a beautiful and useful life has closed, it is a duty 
and a melancholy pleasure for those who remain to bear 
testimony to the worth of the loved one who has gone, and 
the writer undertakes the task the more willingly because, 
from early boyhood all through life, this beloved uncle was 
one of his closest and dearest friends, to whose wise counsel 
and helping hand he owes a debt of gratitude, and in whose 
company were passed many of his happiest moments. 

As usually understood, Mr. Slater was a self-made man, 
that is, he made his own way with little help and despite 
the lack of many early advantages, such as a college edu¬ 
cation and the ease which comes from abundant means ; 
and yet, in another and very true sense, he was the direct 
product of his descent and his environment. His father 
and mother were both people of remarkably fine character 
and of decidedly marked intellectual ability. To one who 
is a grandson and who has known and studied their traits, 
it is very evident that Mr. Slater possessed in a high de¬ 
gree the best qualities of his parents—an unbending in¬ 
tegrity, a kind and cheerful disposition, marked unselfishness 
and thoughtfulness for others, and a fine mind with a thor¬ 
ough grasp of affairs. Such an equipment meant success 
when opportunity offered. Although deprived of his 
mother while yet a little boy, he had the rare privilege of 
the fostering care of an older sister, the writer’s own 
mother, who was one of God’s saints upon earth, and whose 
influence for good in the implanting of high character and 



noble ideals has been very marked upon all who came 
within its beneficent reach. 

While yet a mere lad Mr. Slater began a business life as 
a clerk in a country store near his birthplace in Virginia. 
With increased years he embarked in business for himself 
at the town now known as Brunswick, Md., as a partner in 
a store there. This was in 1864. He and all his people 
were loyal to the Union, and so were marked in Loudoun 
County, where many of his relatives still lived. He was 
too young to enter the army, but, notwithstanding the fact 
of his being a civilian, he was, in company with other 
civilians, seized while on the way to visit a sister across 
the Potomac, and taken to Libby Prison, where he was 
detained for nearly a year. Owing to his youth and deli¬ 
cate physique, he was employed in the prison hospital } 
which somewhat mitigated the rigors of imprisonment, but 
his health was seriously impaired, and he felt the effects 
for many years. 

Not long after the close of the Civil War, he entered 
the Post Office Department, where he spent nearly twenty 
years of his life. Although in those days position and ad¬ 
vancement depended largely on influence, there was some 
reward for ability and industry, and Mr. Slater’s efficiency, 
ability and thorough grasp of affairs soon attracted the at¬ 
tention of his chiefs, who advanced him from time to time 
until he became the Chief of the Railway Adjustment Di¬ 
vision, a very important office, having purview of the com¬ 
pensation of the railways for carrying the mails. He made 
himself a master of the whole subject of mail transporta¬ 
tion, not only at home but in foreign countries, and he was 
probably the foremost expert on this subject in our country. 
It was during his incumbency, and largely through his 
efforts, that a Commission, of which he was a member, was 
appointed in the early 8o’s to examine the whole subject 
of railway mail transportation and devise an equitable sys- 


tem of compensation. On this Commission his complete 
knowledge of all the details made him an invaluable 
member. 

In the performance of his duties he had been brought in 
close touch with many of the foremost railroad men, and 
his experience led him to believe that it would save them 
time and money to be represented by an expert in these, as 
they already were in other, lines of work. Accordingly, 
he resigned in December, 1884, and opened an office in 
Washington as an attorney for railroad work, at first for 
practicing before the Post Office Department. In March 
of 1885, his old friend and colleague, Col. Wm. B. Thomp¬ 
son, U. S. V., resigned from the Post Office Department, 
where he had been Second Assistant Postmaster General, 
and a partnership, Thompson & Slater, was formed which 
lasted, unbroken, until Mr. Slater’s death. Col. Thompson, 
with tears in eyes, told the writer, on the day of the 
funeral, that in the twenty-two years of their association 
there had never been a disagreement or a harsh word be¬ 
tween them. Surely a fine testimony to both of them ! 
The members of the firm so fully enjoyed the confidence of 
their clients that their practice was gradually extended to 
all the Government Departments. They represented a 
large number of railroads and built up a prosperous busi¬ 
ness. 

This is a brief account of one side of Mr. Slater’s life, as 
a successful man of affairs, and with many men there 
would be little else to tell, but it was only a part of his 
life, the rest being far nobler because it represents working 
for others, the sacrifice of self, and working for the Master. 
He came from a family which, while entirely free from 
bigotry, has been noted for its strong religious feeling. His 
parents and every one of his brothers and sisters have been 
active in church work, but the same qualities which made 
him successful in worldly affairs brought him to the front 


in church work. He was born and brought up a Lutheran, 
and spent his whole life in the church. At first, on his 
return to Washington, he was a member of old St. Paul’s, 
but when the mission of that church on Capitol Hill was 
started, he became an active member. This was in the 
early 70’s, so that he had been a member of the Church of 
the Reformation (which grew from the mission) for more 
than thirty-five years. 

His affection for children led to his most important 
work being in the Sunday School, in which he held nearly 
every office, but of which, for more than a score of years, 
he had been Superintendent continuously. His heart was 
in the work, and he gave unstintingly of his time, his 
talents and his means to its success. No one knows all he 
did, for he was modest in the extreme, but all knew that a 
rare soul was doing his Master’s work with a rare efficiency. 
Under his faithful guardianship the school had grown from 
a few score to more than three hundred pupils. It was 
most fitting that the last sad tribute of affection and re¬ 
spect should be paid in the room of the Sunday School 
where his presence had been such a power for good. 

His church work was not confined to the Sunday School) 
for he was from the beginning a member of the church 
council, and he was a member of many of the general 
boards of the church, where his business ability was of 
greater value than even his benefactions, although his lib¬ 
erality was very great. One of his associates on these 
boards spoke of the great loss to them all. 

This tells a little of what he did, but what of the man 
himself ? He was one of the finest and most lovable of men. 
He never seemed so happy as when helping others, and 
this he did on a very large scale. It would be a multitude 
that could “ rise up and call him blessed” if all to whom 
he had lent a helping hand gave their testimony. He had 
a cheerful, sunny disposition, and was a most companion- 


able man. But his home life was his greatest enjoyment. 
He married in 1870 Miss Edith S. Harris, and their home 
life was almost ideal. Two children came to bless them, 
Harris W. Slater and Helen Slater (now Mrs. Wm. J. Mal¬ 
lory). The last years of his life brought heavy trials in 
the prolonged illness and death of his wife and in painful 
personal sickness, which finally culminated in his death. 

He was only sixty-four when he died, and it seemed that 
life still had much for him in the way of work and of 
enjoyment. His children were a great credit to him, and 
he had a little grandson, to whom he was devoted. It 
seemed that he could not be spared. Yet his life had been 
a busy and most useful one, and he could think, as we can, 
that, having been given many talents, he had brought 
them back to the Master multiplied, and, when he passed 
through the gates, received the joyful welcome, “ Well done, 
good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
L,ord.” 

Walter M. McFarland. 

September , 7907. 


































































MEMORIAL EXERCISES 


OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OF THE CHURCH 
OF THE REFORMATION 







ADDRESS BY MRS. MONROE 


IN BEHALF OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE 
REFORMATION 


My acquaintance with Mr. Slater began some time before 
I saw him, as I had considerable business with him as 
treasurer of the Board of Home Missions of the General 
Synod. I met him first in 1901, and at once recognized 
the same kindly, Christian spirit which pervaded his let¬ 
ters as correspondent. 

Mr. Slater was recognized as the official leader of this 
church, not alone because he was the largest contributor, 
but because he gave of his time and talent to the interests 
of this church. His judgment was the final court of ap¬ 
peals in all disputed matters. 

His genial spirit, his heartfelt prayers, his simple, child¬ 
like piety, his rare good judgment, his learning, his simple 
trust in God, these were the qualities which made him the 
chief support of this church. Concerning the important 
interests of this congregation, his brain was ever active. 
When he directed a forward movement, he did it in such 
an inspiring manner that each member was anxious to do 
his best. 

He was cultured, charitable, courteous, humble, social, 
reverent and devout, having those qualities of mind and 
heart in such proportions as to make him useful in society 
and in his church. 

“His life was gentle, and the elements 
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up 
And say to all the world, ‘ This was a man.' “ 



SUMMARY OF ADDRESS MADE BY MR. UNGER 


Our lives are a mixture of pleasure and sorrow. In this 
church we have suffered the loss of good men, such as Mr. 
John C. Parker and our pastor, Dr. W. E. Parson. In the 
time of grief Mr. Slater was the one to whom we looked 
for leadership. We had just begun to rejoice in our pros¬ 
perity and to know that we had grown, numerically, finan¬ 
cially and spiritually, when we were called upon to sustain 
another great loss in the death of our Superintendent, Mr. 
I. C. Slater. 

His work in this school was a labor of love. Nearly all 
of the present officers and teachers have grown to be what 
they are and where they are under his guidance and direc¬ 
tion as Superintendent. We miss him now, but the pass¬ 
ing of the days and years will bring us to a full realization 
of our great loss. 

He gave as liberally of his money as of his time. He 
placed his treasures where they will endure. He ruled not 
by command, but by sympathy. We are thankful for the 
many years of his useful life. It was a pleasure to know 
him and to be privileged to work with him. Eet us imi¬ 
tate his example as we look to God for guidance and direc¬ 
tion. 



ADDRESS BY MR. D. N. HOOVER, JR. 


This is the most fitting place for memorial exercises in 
honor of our late Superintendent, Mr. Isaac C. Slater, be¬ 
cause here memories crowd upon us. As we are gathered 
here today, it is not difficult for our mind’s eye to see him 
as he stood in various portions of this room, in council with 
some, greeting others, directing others, but always the same 
kindly Christian gentleman. I say this is the place of all 
places where it is proper to have a memorial service of the 
man, who stood so long before us, and who here did the 
most important part of his great life work. 

As he stood at this desk Sunday after Sunday he gained, 
unconsciously to ourselves, a place in our hearts, which we 
did not know was so large until he was taken from us. 
No one ever stopped to think that some day he would be 
taken from us, because he had always stood at his place 
Sunday after Sunday. 

Had I been told, as I sat as a boy in Miss Yount’s class, 
about where Miss Hinckle’s class now is, that some day I 
should assist in carrying Mr. Slater to his last resting 
place, I would not have believed the person who told me; 
yet, the very fact that there were men among those who 
were to carry him to his last resting place, who had been 
reared in this Sunday School under his ministrations, is 
the very best proof that his work here was a success. He 
had entered the work of this School a young man, and he 
lived to see children grow to man and womanhood, and 
engage in this same great enterprize to which he had so 
unselfishly given of his time and means. 



It is a significant fact that the greatest men are the most 
simple and easy of approach. You have had the honor of 
looking Sunday after Sunday at a great man, a man who 
moved among men of affairs, and yet he was greater still, 
because with his prosperity and business cares he had not 
forgotten those of more humble merit, and he had found time 
to be a trainer of those in whom the future of this country 
is most vitally wrapped up—the children. 

But why do great men live ? Are they given to the world 
simply for themselves and for their families ? Are they given 
to the world simply to head gigantic financial enterprizes, or 
command armies, or to sit in the halls of state? Or is there 
not a greater reason for the life of a great man ? I submit to 
you that great, good men are given to the world that their 
lives may be imitated and emulated. We cannot do better 
than to consciously imitate the sterling qualities possessed by 
our former superintendent. If we can have the quiet effect¬ 
ive manner of work that he possessed ; if we can have the 
strength to stand as faithful to a trust as he has stood ; if we 
can have the kindly, gracious manner that he possessed, we 
will, all of us, be the better for possessing those qualities. 
But to emulate Mr. Slater’s life most successfully we 
must, as did he, look to the life of the Great Teacher. We 
must look at Christ, the perfect One, and in so doing, we 
shall come to be more like Him, for it was to Jesus Christ 
of Nazareth that Mr. Slater looked, and by his looking 
reflected as much as a human being may, His great glory. 


ADDRESS BY MISS MCNALLY 


Thinking of Mr. Slater’s relations with the children, 
there comes the thought that he, himself, had the heart of 
a little child. His character was simple and direct, his 
personal life pure and sweet, and his faith in God as 
unquestioning as that of a little child. He was a most 
lovable man. 

Mr. Slater has left the children of our Sunday School a 
beautiful heritage in the example of his good life. 

For many years he had labored in this school, with un¬ 
selfish devotion and untiring generosity. He truly loved 
the work, and when last winter during the critical period 
following the death of our dear pastor, Dr. Parson, so many 
of us were discouraged, Mr. Slater led us wisely through 
the difficulties. 

Now, again, with the loss of this dear friend and wise 
counsellor, it may seem that the good work must halt. On 
the contrary, I know of no better way to show our appre¬ 
ciation of this man’s work than to continue it. We can in 
this manner raise a monument to the memory of our 
beloved superintendent, more beautiful than flowers, more 
fitting than words and more lasting than tablets of stone, 
and at the same time serve the God whom he loved and 
served so faithfully in this house. 



A Letter from his Early Pastor and Life¬ 
long Friend 


Rev. John Weidley, 

138 C Street, Southeast, 

Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Doctor : 

I am so shocked and distressed by the death of my dear 
friend and brother Slater that words cannot express my 
grief. I have known and esteemed and loved and trusted 
him ever since he came to the city. He was a true man, 
a genuine Christian, one of God’s noblemen. Will you 
convey my tenderest sympathy to his sorely bereft family ? 
Your loss as pastor, and the loss of the church which he 
loved so wisely and well, appears irreparable. God’s ways 
are past finding out. He will give you grace sufficient for 
this overwhelming sorrow. 

Yours, very truly, 

J. G. Butler. 



Berespord, Pr., 
CITY OP WASHINGTON, 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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