A TRIBUTE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 59, 1 July 1914, Page 5

A TRIBUTE.

(By Adjutant Tatton.) The unexpected often comes upon us. The call to 'come up higher" came to our aged friend, Mr Collingwood, while occupying the chair at our monthly social last night. A good programme had been arranged, Mr Collingwood having been asked to take the chair, and there were a good number of people present. Our opening song was "Come Let us Join our Cheerful Song With Angels Round the Throne." How little we thought that it would be the last time he would sing the praises of God on earth and that before the meeting closed he would join the Heavenly choir. After the opening song, Mr Lile prayed and asked God's blessing upon us. Then I handed Mr Collingwood the programme. In his remarks he said he counted it an honor to occupy the chair on this occasion. He spoke of his conversion, and said that he had been a Christian for nigh upon fifty years, and he stated that he loved the hearty singing of the Army people. The first item on the programme was a quartette by the Misses Everiss, Mr Everiss and Mr Russ. The second was a pianoforte solo by Mr Russ. Then unexpectedly and without a struggle Mr Collingwood quietly leaned back and passed away. During my short stay in Stratford I have met Mr Collingwood a number of times and found in him a friend, a true Christian, one who ever seemed interested in the work of God, and one always delighted to hear of any advance to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He has now entered into that rest that remains to the people of God. And we, the Salvation Army, tend our deepest sympathy to all the bereaved ones ; we pray that God will sustain them in the sorrow by His Grace; and we hope that good may come out of this sudden trial and warning of the uncertainty of life.