True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-25


Il was covered with the American flag
on which q number Of beautiful motloe
had been placed.
The music in the church was remarka
bly, solemn and beautiful. 1t was unde
the direction of Mr.. W. H. w. barley
orgauist of ST. Luke's Church, and III,
solo parts were performed by members o
the choir of that church. There wa
first an opening voluntary on the organ
The vocal pieces were as follows:
.Anthem-'I heard voice from hea
ven," from Mozart, arranged by Mr.. ]
G. B. SIandbridge.
Hymn.--" Hark to the solemn bell.'
Solo-."Forgive, blest Shade," by Dr.
Calcott, sung by Professor t. Bishop.
Chorus" Unveil thy bosom faithful
tomb" by Handel.
The pastor, Rev. G. W. Shields, soon
entered, accompanied by Rev G. Wads'
worth aud DR., Bordman. Mr.. Wads'
worth offered prayer, after singing an an
them, and then read chapter from the
Bible.
The Rev. Mr.. Shields, the pastor OI
the deceased, and family Of the de-
ceased, preached the funeral sermon
when he sketched in truthful and glow
ing words the character and services ol
DR. Kane.
The following are the closing remarks
of the sermon, with the closing exerci.
ses:
The disease by which DR.. Kane was
prostrated was that terrible scourge Of
Arctic life, some seeds Of which he re.
tanned in his system on his return, but
afterwards developed and enhanced by
the exhausting literary labors incident to
the narrative Of the expedition. Entirely
Understanding .hose labors (of which
but few of us are prepared to form an
adequate conception) he was quite too
thoughLless of the claims of The body he
had been so long accustomed to subject
to his purpose, and only awoke TO dis
covery of the error when it was too late.
With this melancholy conviction, he an
nounced the completion of the work to q
friend in the modest and touching SEN
tence, "the book, poor as it is, has been
my coffin"
. He left the country under a present..
ment that he should never return. For
the first time in bis life, departure is sha-
ded with foreboding. 1t was, indeed,
an alarming symptom to find that iron
nerve, which had hitherto sustained him
under shocks apparently not less severe,
thus beginning to falIer Yet it will en-.
hance the interest that now gathers
around his memory 10 learn that even
then the great purpose of his life he had
not wholly abandoned, but in spite of the
most serious entrealies was already pro-
jecting another Arctic expedition of re.
search and rescue. This object of his
visi! he was not destined to mature. Nei-
ther was j. his privilege to enjoy the hon
ors that awaited him, Successive and
more virulent attacks of disease obliged
him to recur to the last resorts of the in
valid. In hope of repairing the wounds
inflicted by the savage rigors of the North
he is borne to the more genial South,
where at length, beneath its sunny skies,
and amidst its balmy airs, supported by
the ministries of love and the consultations
of religion, his life drew gently to
close.
In the near approach of death he was
tranquil and composed. With too little
strength either 10 support or indicate
ofrapture, he was yet sufficient,
ly concious Of his condition 10 perform
some. last acts beftting the solemn emer.
gency. In reference to those whom he
to have deeply injured him, he
his cordial forgiveness. To
each of the watching group around him,
his hand is given in the fond pressure of
a final parting; and then as ii sensible
that his ties to earth are loosening he
seeks consolation from the requested rea-
ding Of such Scripture sentences as had
been the favoriie theme ofhis thoughtful
hours.
Now, he hears. those soothing beati-
tudes which fell from the lips of the Man
of sorrows, in successive benediction.
Then, he will have repeated to him that
sweet, sacred PASTORAL
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me lay down in
green pastures He leadelh me beside
The still waters. Yea, though l walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
| will fear no evil /; for thou art with me ;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me-"
AT length are reciIed che consolatory
words with which the Savior took leave
of his weeping disciples
"Let not your heart be troubled; ye
believe in God, believe also in me. In
my Fathers house are many mansions
if it were not SO, I would have told you.
| go to prepare place for you"
And at last, in the midst of this COM
forting recital, be is seen to expire-so
gently, that the reading still proceeds
some moments after other watchers have
become aware that he is. already beyond
the reach Of any mortal voice. Thus,
in charity with all mankind, and with
words Of the Redeemer in his ear, con-
veyed by the tones most familiar and be-
loved on earth, his spirit passed from the
world Of man.
The heart refuses to deal with such a
reality. Death never seems SO much a
usurper on the domain of life as at the
grave Of the young and the gifted. In
infancy, we strive to complete that bril-
liant fragment Of a history SO abruptly en-
ded. We are carried forward into the