Dr. Thomas Easton Fleming 1850-1917

FLEMING, NYE, COOPER, CLINTON, MCINTOSH, HAMPTON, BILLINGSLEY, LEAMON, BRETNALL, HEISERMAN, LEHMAN, SUCKOW, MONTGOMERY, CURRAN, BEYER, HUDSON, ROBINSON, MERSHOM, WAGNER, HURIBURT, CROWDER, ATCHISON, CURREN

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 8/28/2019 at 09:48:54

DOCTOR THOMAS EASTON FLEMING ANSWERS SUMMONS

Dr. Thomas Easton Fleming, who since retiring from the ministry, has been associated with the American Mortgage and Securities company of this city, passed away suddenly while walking on the streets of Cedar Rapids, last Friday evening between the hours of seven and eight o'clock , heart trouble causing his death. Dr. Fleming, although not in the best of health, kept about his work for the company, and it was while on a business trip to Cedar Rapids that the unexpected summons came to him. The body was brought to his home here on Saturday morning, and funeral services held at the Methodist church on Monday afternoon, at 3:30 o'clock. Interment was made in Oakland cemetery. Rev. D. K. Hudson had charge of the services, and was assisted by Dr. J. E. Wagner of Mason City, Dr. M. A. Mershom of New Hampton; Dr. R. F. Huriburt, district superintendent of the Davenport district; Dr. G. W. Crowder of Marshalltown, and Dr. H. D. Atchison of Dubuque, Dr. A. B. Curren, district superintendent of the Dubuque district, was unable to attend the services.

Among the ministers and lay members present at the funeral were Dr. C. L. Nye of Independence; Rev. R. W. Cooper of Masonville; Rev. D. W. Clinton of Hampton; Rev. A. M. McIntosh of Earlville; Dr. A. M. Billingsley of Mt. Vernon; Rev. W. M. Leamon of Dubuque; S. T. Bretnall of Edgewood; G. L. Heiserman of Lamont; Rev. E. A. Lehman, Rev. W. J. Suckow and Rev. W. A. Montgomery of this city; Mrs. A. B. Curran of Fayette; H. F. Beyer and Mr. Fleming of Edgewood; Mr. T. E. B. Hudson and Mr. T. J. Robinson of Hampton, Iowa. The family and friends of Dr. Fleming were wholly unprepared for the sad news of his sudden passing, and the sorrow that death has brought to district superintendent on the Davenport, Decorah, Dubuque and Marshalltown districts.

Four times he has represented the conference as a delegate to the General Conference. At. Minneapolis in 1912 he led the delegation and received a number of votes for the office of bishop. He has been for many years a trustee of Upper Iowa University; and general Methodism has felt the influence of this master workman. He was a member of the General Conference Commission of Missions, Church Extension and Freedman's Aid society from 1892 to 1896; and a member of the Ecumenical conference from 1908 until 1911.

He carried the burden of the ministers and of the churches in his heart of love. He knew the heart aches to the parsonage homes and tired to relieve them. He knew the trials and burdens of a pastor and tried to lighten them for those who came under his supervision. Never can they forget his loving kindness and helpfulness. And the church was dearer to him than life. Given to it from his birth by that sainted Presbyterian mother in far-away Scotland, the land of his birth, or of America, the land of his adoption he walks with that mother in the "City of Light."

His influence in the ministry can never die. He pointed to Heavenly worlds. Standing as he did between the pioneer and the modern ministry he lost not the fervor of the one and attained to the scholarship and high thinking of the other. He was abreast of the times, a moulder of thought and a director of destiny.

Like a benediction he has moved among us in these days of his retirement, but they have been days of increasing activity.

He was one of the boys in the office which has been his headquarters since 1914. He was a loving companion and a pal of all of them. He was a joy and inspiration to them all and to us all. He was a favorite of the men on the street. Never was a minister or layman more beloved in this city than he.

Dr. Fleming was interested in all that interested men. He came up through the Scottish Rites to the 32d degree in Masonry and found great pleasure and satisfaction in the fellowship of the fraternity.

He came to America, as he said, when the grass had grown green over the graves of the soldiers of the Civil war. The boys who have answered the call of their county feel that they go with his blessing upon them. The interest was a little more tender because of a personal loss. His nephew and namesake, Easton Fleming, has laid down his life in the trenches fighting for what he believed to be the cause of justice and humanity.

He was interested in the affairs of state and nation and was a profound student of the age in which he lived.

He was a ripe scholar, "bearing all that weight of learning as lightly as a flower." He ever wore within his heart the pure white flower of a blameless life.

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."

The rich experience of the years of fellowship with God poured itself out as a living stream of life, deep and abundant, proving the promise of the Master; "He that drinketh of this water, it shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

On the evening of April 20th, 1917, he entered into rest for he had ceased both to labor and to live. Truly of him it can be said as of Enoch of old; "He walked with God and was not, for God Took him."

Manchester Democrat - Manchester, Iowa - April 25, 1917