New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-23
The Memory Of the Dead.

A large congregation assembled on Tuesday
nightin the sixthst Baptist Church to celebraehe
mory of three persons members of that Congregation
who were also members of the Continental Guards,
and one Of them of the Order of United Americans
One was the late Henry Gibson, who had in his
Younger years been member of WashiRgton's Life
Guard.
At almost u o'clock the first Company of the Con-
tinenal Guards dressed in the uniform of their corps
merched in two separate files up the asles of the
church and took their seats in front of the desk After
them came the Manhattan Chapter No. of the Order
of United Americans, headed by their officers Ben
smip Prime, Sachem John n Scott, first Chief, James
Van Duzen second, DIR. George ii. Raymond, P. E.,
Abraham V. Parker e. of E., William b. Drunimond,
first Aid, Andrew Corsan, second Aid. While both the
military company and the Chapter of the U. O. A. were
marching up the church, dirge played on small
meodeon at the end of the church. The choir then
chaunted hymn in devotional manner. The Chap
lain Rev. Benjamin P. Rhoades then advanced to
the desk, and delivered a prnyer-after which, the
choir chsunted another hymn. The Rev. gentleman
again forward and gave discourse the Duties
of Life. He took, as his text, "For what is life y
The words, said he, which have taken for my text
will il duly weighed suggest many weghty and mpor
tant Considerations, and more than would seem to
ttI4ht un utft NAcN, ls our COusllcTd-
ton of it TO be confined to mere physical existence
or are we look probationary state which pre-
pares us for future existence. The mere material
existence of the body is the combination of different
PARTICLES Of matter which Is to be found in the AMI
in'rees, In flowers and in vegetables II man ouly lives
here to crafty his mere animal appettes and supply
his physical wants he nothing superior the beast
the field, the untamed bru,es of the fores-or when
fhpvd 10 for thew A.
they were created has been attained They are only
guided by al instinct in which there is progression
and further than ministers to presen. exist
enee. MANS however, endowed with something su.
peIor TO this you ask me whaiits snd wha, is lie,
tits not so easy TO tell but it easy to feel we possess
it, When my child laughs, plays and gambols around
the foor feel that that is life; but the child knows
not how 1t moves, nor the combinations by which il
! performs those acts. When hear men addressing a
senate-pleading nations interest or cause-I know
that this too is life and life in its highest capacity and
in the cultivation Of its hishes, intellect When hear
the proud sound Of military command ring ike steel
upon mine ear, know that this is elie OF the pride
OF manhood and of glory. But although know and
feel this it is difficult to account for and ex.
pam what combines TO produce it, II must how.
ever, be some power within the man, something
superior to mere animal ife Human nature is but half
animal To supply the mere wants Of nature, is not
HE to get rich and be prosperous is not life; to enjoy
life as some do here in round of pleasures and happi
ness neither Is tins life What beautiful so epchant-
ins rs the life OF children with their sambols and their
JOYS, and their innocence But vet who would desire
10 see his friend live the lie of the child to four score
!esrsi Should one remain child 50 long pity and
eomnnserafe him. You may pile up brick and mortar
on your side walks and raise them into house-but this
NOT Iue. lou may compass wealth possess influence
have numerous friends and be respected BY all your
sequsntsnees but neither Is this life There mus, be
ssomeshng more TO constitute life and fulfil it, object
not created solely for this world we canno, for
se'oment consider that sn Advise Providence wouli
pnee msn mere IN tins vale OF misery unless as place
otprooai'on and as preparatory to another lie How
enen, when the memory Of fact or crcuInstancc
hss oeen iosi seemingly forever does II again occur 10
the mind as clear and vivid the day on which Il han
pened Those who have watched the phenomena Of
desb have been surprised 1t the elearness with which
those m torture and AZ the brink of cseruv coula tain
the scenes OF their past hvcs, In detached parts
and broken sentences, but st clear and deSnc a.
TO leave doubt thsfthe past transactions were Ideally
being acted over again.