Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-11-18
No. "a WHOLE No. 1899.
ADDRESS AT THE GRAVE
Hon. JABEZ-W. HUNTINGTON

"The m0urners on this occasion are not
restricted by ties OF kindred. The grief
which this sudden stroke of a mysterious
Providence has awakened, will indeed be
mosl keenly felt in the domestic circ'e of
the most excellent man, whose remains we
are now committing to the dust. For with
in that circle he was best known. And
where he was best known, he was most be<
loved. But this stroke falls upon the whole
communicated they claim the privilege.
of nainsling their tears with those of the
afflicted family.
Seldom are we called 10 perform these
sad Offices for one who has deeper, stron&S
er hold upon the respect of the public mind,
and the affection of the public heart. We
are all bereaved, and the unexpected quarter
from which the bereavement comes rem
ders it the more painful We were not
prepared forit, We were taken by surprise.
The announcement fell upon our ears like
sudden peal of thunder from the clear blue
sky which is over us.
But yesterday he was one of US. And
though in the bosom of his family some
anxiety was felt on his account-for atfec-
ton is quick to take alarm-yet no serious
approximations were entertained of such a
result as we have witnessed On Thursday
last ne walked from the city. On Friday
ne was slightly indisposed On Saturday
he took medical advice. On the Sabbath
there was no material change. On Monday
as the day advanced, his symptoms assu>
med more alarming type-and between
twelve and One o'clock this morning. his
spirit took its upward flight. Truly, in the
midst of life we are in death.
| If this numerous auditory wish to know
| how he met The final conflict, / have only
10 say, that he met ii as a christian. To
those who were acquainted with his mental
habits, and his religious experience, il
would have been strange II he had no,,,hus.,,
met it He was moi taken BY surprise.
Death was an event 70 which he hadfa~
miliarized his mind, especially Tie lass
two years Of his life. Il found him ready. :
He had no preparation 70 make. Nothing
remained nutIo cUnmit ms Uei0veu rFienuss
whom he was leaving, to The care of his
Heavenly Father, and his own departing
spirit to the hands Of Him whom not hav,
ing seen he loved, and on whom all his
hopes for eternity were hung. .s
| Let others more familiar with his career
of usefulness in public lite, speak of the
well earned honors which were bestowed
| upon him, Let them speak of him as he
deserves--as the able and honorable advos
cate, the upright and impartial Judge, the
enlightened and patriotic sta tesman. But
| it was my privilege to know him by bright
er name than these. He was Christian,
| All the honors which he had won he bro't
and laid uron the altar of Jesus Christ, and
there with the temper OF a lite child sat
down al the feet of the divine Teacher, to
learn at HIS lips how sinner could he Just
with God.
Those who have known most of the on.
eraiions of his mind, have marked of late
an increase Of spirituality and heavenly,
mindedness. by which the Master was evi>
IDENTITY preparing him for the approaching
change. The last two years OF his life have
been 10 him like the fifteen years which
God added to the life Of Hezekiah. IA
| Two years ago he was raised up from
the borders of the grave, and allowed the
intervening time to perfect his character
for the heavenly state. And well did he
improve it. His attachments to friends in,
this world we're tender aud ardcnt--but il
was evident that The attractions of heaven
were fast gaining on those of earth. He
has at length yielded 10 those attractions,
and The last tie which bound him TO earth
is severed. He is gone-and while we are
ledewing his grave with our tears, we trust
he is mingling- with the spirits of just men
made perfect, a,tuning his harp 10 The high
praises Of God. He is gone-for it is moi he
who lies before us-it is only the frail tena-
mcnt. which for few feetng years he a.
habited, and which is destined TO sleep in
the dust till the voice of the archangel calls
IL forth, spiritual body, refiped and fitted
to be the everlasting abode of his gIorifed
spirit.
And EoW as we turn in sadness from the
grave of our departed friend, (for he was tbs
friend Of us all,) what one trait of his char.
acier do we most approve--what one regard
mus, worthy Of our emulation2 II is his
piety-hs humble unaffected piely. This
| /; was which shed such a mild lusgurs.
around the closing scene of his life. This
was the dawn of heaven upon his soul -
; fIeie is treasure which moth and rust do,
not corrupt-here is honor which never
|
fades. u
That we may secure the like precious
|, boom 10 ourselves that ct last we TOO rraY