Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-18
lREPORTED FOR THE STAR.
SUBSTANCE OF A DISCOURSE

Deltcered IN the Hall Of Representatives.
Decen,6er 18th, on occasion of the funeral
Of Hon. BRooKISs CAMPBELL, By Rer. W.
II. MILBURN, Chaplain.
There is cloud upon the holidays
shadow on our festival. The opulence of
our home-life seems beggared, and the
outflow of our social affections is sudden
ly checked and driven back to its foun-
tain. Death, always impressively SOL
emn, has bitter emphasis at this sea-
son-it so rudely contrasts with our
happiness. earth to earth, ashes to
ashes, dust to DUST" falls with jarring
dlssonance upon the ear, attuned by the
merry shout of infancy amid its toys.
Death has dismal mien, indeed, to the
eye OF late, rejecting the glow of the guile
bug, and bathed in the serene delight of
house filled with fairies.
The coffin at our Christmas-time -
harsh antitlesis; yet is it not significant
OF that dualism in us which at once
makes our grandeur and our littleness :?
Dust and the Divine breath-a brother
hood with worms-a sonship of God the
grave our final resting place, Christian
Immortality our everlasting blessedness.
Mine is not the province of panegyric.
Eulogy BELTS the lips and hearts of those
(his colleagues who knew and loved him
in his and their commonwealth, who
were deputed by its people to share the
responsible duties of these halls. Their
praiseful words have fallen gently on our
ears, and we thank them for the kind
mention of the departed. Nor are there
broken-hearted mourners here, to whom
it would befit, 1 should speak the words
of Christian hope and solace, telling, as
my tears mingled with theirs, the sublime
yet simple story of Jesus and the resur-
rection.
The suggestion of the hour is plain
enough. l am to read you, men assem-
bled on this tioor-the rulers of this ma
tion-the lesson of your duty and your
destiny. Every thoughtful man, in moods
of seriousness and emotions, has been
painfully perplexed by the enigmas 0.
his life-so transient and uncertain, vet
replete with infinite issues! Is not the
preacher right ?-is it not all vanity ?
Such may be the misanthrope's verdic;-
the decision of satiated lust; but, "yanity
of vanities, all is vanity and vexation Of
spirit" is not the Interpretation of hu-
man existence by wise and healthful
spirit.
Yet does not life seem mist, and we
ourselves shadows, chasing shadows, un-
til lost behind that darker mist, which
we name Death! fyou limit the sphere
of our being to the shows of things, and
mans good to consist in the abundance
of the things which he processes, an
swer, yes But back of the shadow lies
substance, underneath the surface of
which, seeming, dwells the reality of
being.
Character is permanent character re-
deems us from the fate of phantoms.
What is it! Conscience, seeking to
know the will Of God, and abiding by
its decisions principle, with wise in
telligence, searching into the foundation
and nature of things for the imperishable
ordination of Truth and Right, and with
a stalwart fortitude yielding them, and
them alone, devoted allegiance. 1t is
Sensibility refined and womanly; catho-
lie and genial in its appreciation of excel.
lence whencesoeyer it may spring: sim
PIE, yet mighty in its sympathy with all
that can CLAIM the tribute of tear or a
huzza. It is Affection, softened into ten.
terness, hardened into heroism; 4ccm-
pressed into the intensity Of personal