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Cancelled Due To Percy Abbotts Death

by Rev Bodley

On August 30, 1960, it was my sad duty to officiate at the funeral rites of a great friend and faithful citizen, Percy Abbott. The sermon which was preached on that occasion is here reproduced as a tribute to his life and work: The Rev. Donald E. Bodley

Words are poor tools with which to fashion the appreciation which all our hearts would like to express today. To speak abstractly of a man who lived intimately with us and who gave much of his life to some of us presents a problem of baffling proportions. In one way or another, we have all known the man, Percy Abbott-and to each of us, in varying degrees and in diverse ways, a little bit of himself has been imparted to us.

I suppose the question comes to all our minds at one time or another: What are we put here on earth for? What are we to do? How is our life to be lived? What is the contribution we are expected to make?.. .and each one of us in our own way and experience makes an answer consistent with what we believe about the basic purpose of life. Some spend countless years and hundreds of pages of writing in defining the meaning of life and its ultimate purpose. Others, only a moment and a few words. Not because the people of few words are careless with life; but because life to them has a peculiarly clear direction and channel to it and the only logical thing to do is to pursue it with energy and zest.

The writer of the book of Proverbs put it most succinctly when he penned: "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord." This simple thought of the writer of Proverbs suggests what I want to say about Percy Abbott this morning - and perhaps your experience will attest with mine, that Percy was a man who was like a mighty fire - willing to ignite all with his energy and zest - willing to share his light with all who would come close to it.

His light has been seen by and ignited many; as a husband, a father, a business associate, a community servant, a tutor, a confident, a warm and generous friend. I remember well my first contact with Percy Abbott. I came to Colon to see if I could purchase a "Crazy Mummy" for a cousin of mine whose partially paralyzed hands from a siege of Polio got exercise and enjoyment from trying to manipulate the "Mummy". On that visit I met Percy, and some way, somehow, I caught his fire.

This I'm certain, is the story of many of us who are here today to pay him tribute. His willing and generous giving of himself, his skill, his talent, has lighted a light in our lives that cannot be extinguished. Many of us here must say, "It was with him I got my start." - "Through him my show picked up." - "He helped keep me going." - "He gave me the breaks."

"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."


Words are poor tools with which to fashion the appreciation which all our hearts would like to express today ... in one way or another, we have all known, and in our own way loved, Percy Abbott, the man. And to each one of us in varying degrees and in diverse ways, a little bit of himself has been imparted to us ... I know! Because some of his light lives in me!

"Yet love will dream, and Faith will trust,
(Since he who knows our need is just.)
That somehow, somewhere, meet we must."










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Welcome to the Magic Capital of the World. Abbott's Magic mission is simple: to provide the best magic products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company (which has been doing business since 1934), our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalog. The Abbott plant provides year round employment for our staff. More than 50,000 square feet is divided into the following departments: Business Offices, Printing Department, Art Department, Silk Dyeing, Computer Room, Sewing Assembly, Silk Screen Processing, Blacksmith Shop, Lathe, and Precision Metal Work, Plastic and Chemicals, Metal Casting, Tool and Die Making, Shipping, Experimental, Wood Working, Sheet Metal Shop, Stock Room, Paint Shop, Showrooms, Demonstration Stage and Magic Theatre. Our phenomenal success proves that we are the recognized leaders in magic - not only in America but the entire world. We are credited with instituting real and modern innovations for the benefit of buyers of magical apparatus - proof enough of our sincerity in wanting to give those buyers a fair deal always. Our factory facilities are such that we are in the position to make anything in magic. Also we own our factory buildings - the only buildings in the world designed for the sole purpose of manufacturing magic. Abbott's leads the entire magic field in producing original magic effects. To us, your first order is the beginning of a lasting friendship in magic. Abbotts is the publisher of Tops Magazine (30's - 50's), New Tops Magazine (60's - 90's), and most recently our free online version the Newest Tops Magazine with informative articles by some of todays top magic performers. Abbotts Magic Shop and Abbotts Magic Get Together have been in business since 1934. Annual events include the Closeup Magic Convention, Summer Magic shows at the Abbott magic plant, a 4 day Magic Convention in August aka Magic Get Together, and Magic Flea Market and Auction. The Magic Get Together magic convention is well over 70 years old and has had many of the worlds greatest magicians perform on its magic stage including Blackstone Sr, Blackstone Jr, Karrell Fox, Lance Burton, Mac King, Jeff McBride, Jeff Hobson, Harlan Tarbell,Cardini, Neil Foster, and about 900 more. Publications include Tops Magic Magazine, Abbotts Illusions, Colon MI aka the Magic Capital of the World, Abbott Magic Movies, Abbott's Magic Compendium, and Abbott's Magic Catalog which includes thousands of magic tricks, magic books, and magic illusions for magicians of all ages and all magician skill levels including beginner magician and professional magician. Abbott's believes that this website, www.magicgettogether.com, is the largest magic site dealing with a magic conventions in the world.