PROVO, AUG. 24. - - The funeral of Peter Madsen, held yesterday in the stake tabernacle, was attended by a large congregation of relatives and friends. Among those who came from a distance to attend were President Joseph F. Smith, President John Henry Smith, and Patriarch W. W. Cluff, the latter a missionary companion of the deceased 40 years ago in Denmark.
The opening prayer was offered by President L. Holbrook. Bishop L. L. Nelson, who presided, read a sketch of the life of the deceased. Bishop John Johnson spoke briefly of the useful life of the departed, urging all to so live that they would meet with him in the hereafter. President John Henry Smith spoke of the high esteem he felt for Peter Madsen, whom he considered one of the gems of humanity; he knew of no man he held in higher esteem and felt honored in being permitted to speak at his funeral. The speaker, in his boyhood, had known the deceased, and had known him to come to the speaker's home when the family was without bread and bring fish for their sustenance. Peter Madsen was one of the noble body of men and women, now passing away, who accepted the gospel in the early days of the Church, who had been true and faithful and had never faltered in their integrity and who would be crowned with glory and eternal life.
President Joseph E Keeler spoke of the departed as a high-minded, noble man, who enjoyed the spirit of the Lord in his labors though life and was guided by it. President George H. Brimhall referred to the testimony of Dr. David Starr Jordan, who had visited Elder Madsen in one of Dr. Jordan's late trips to Utah, and who had spoken of him as one of nature's noblemen, a man who would have been heard from by the world if he had had opportunities to acquire learning. The speaker believed that in spite of the limited educational opportunities the influence of the deceased would be long and widely felt.
President Joseph F. Smith spoke of his acquaintance with Elder Madsen, commencing in 1858. The speaker had always considered him a really superior man whose equal it was hard to find and who was excelled by few, in his conception of right and wrong and his devotion to principle. The day would come when the patriarchs of today, such as was Elder Madsen, would be held in as high esteem as were the patriarchs of old. President Smith said he would feel sorry to do anything that would be censured by such a man, and make an earnest appeal to the descendants of the departed to reverence his memory, follow his example and do nothing of which he would disapprove.
During the services, beautiful vocal selections were rendered by Prof. A. C. Lund, the Boshard Quartet and the Tabernacle Choir.
The benediction was offered by President J. William Knight.
From The Provo New Aug 24, 1911
