SAMUEL S. MARPLES.
Once more the American Missionary Association is called to mourn the loss of one of its most useful and highly esteemed officers. Mr. S. S. Marples, who died at his home in Brooklyn, June 23, 1898, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, was a most judicious business man, a devoted Christian, and useful in many walks in life. He was one of the most prominent members of the Produce Exchange, New York City; at various times a member of the Board of Managers, and holding important positions on its Committees.
Mr. Marples' sympathies and interests were wide and useful in benevolent and church work. For many years he was a member of the South Congregational Church, Brooklyn, and was Superintendent of the Sunday-school for several terms. He was closely identified with the Manhattan Brooklyn conference of churches. He was prominently connected with the New York Congregational Club and was its President for several successive years.
Mr. Marples became identified with the American Missionary Association by his election, in 1880, as a member of the Executive Committee. For sixteen years he has served on its Finance Committee; for many years as its Secretary and for the last part of the period as its Chairman. The value of these services was constantly recognized by his associates on the committee and will be appreciated more fully as the years go by. For the year past Mr. Marples' health was very frail; only for a part of the time was he able to attend to his business, but never, as we are assured, did he lose his lively interest in the affairs of the American Missionary Association, to which his attention had been given so constantly and faithfully throughout the past eighteen years.