Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-02
From The Rnstnn 1onr,,.,
from the Boston Journs
Obsequies Of che Late Hon. Stephen C.

| uHectioh OF a committee OF the society. IN
body was recovered from the scene of the fata
calamity of the steamer Montreal, in water sii
feet deep. 1t arrived in Salem at eight o'clocl
Tuesday morning, in charge of a son-Mr. Wal
ter Phillips and was taken once to the church
where, contrary to expectation, it was found OF
examination to be in good state of preservation
| 1t was accordingly transferred from the metalit
| in which il was brought hither to a highly
| polished rosewood coffin, heavily studded with
silver, and having silver handles on the Sides
Half of the top, on being removed, disclosed
| the countenance and bust of the unconscious
sleeper, which retained strikingly le-like ex
| preston. The corpse was conveyed to the late
| residence of the deceased in Chestnut street
where 1t rem aimed during the forenoon, surround.
ed by the sorrow-stricken family and friends. In
the afternoon it was again brought to the church,
and placed on velvet pail in front of the altar.
Flowers fresh with beauty and fragrance, were
woven into wreaths and the figure of a cross, and
were laid upon it. The coffin bore silver plate,
on which was inscribed
STEPHEN CLARENDON PHILLIPS.
Born November 4th, 1901.
Died June Goth, 1857.
Long before the hour appointed for the SER
vices, large concourse of citizens had gathered
in the enclosure about the church, and in the
streets on all sides OF the square AS soon as the
doors were opened, the multitude flowed quietly
in, filling every available position-aises. CALLER
les, chapel, and passage.ways being filed to
overlooking. Even during the services hundreds
crowded about the church, eager to participate
in the last sad rites, and filling the sidewalks
awaited in silence the opportunity to gaze upon
the features of their lost friend. The public
schools were dismissed, and little children with
wreaths of flowers and boQuets in their hands
loitered in the dooIways and vestibule of the
church. Business was almost universally sus-
pended, and the stores closed The national en-.
sign hoated at halt-mast from all the public and
many private buildings, engine houses, and the
shipping in the harbor. esas
At meet ting of the City Council held on Mon
day evening, series of resolutions, expressive
of the sense of that body at the sudden and I'M
expected removal of the foremost of their citi-
zens, we're passed They also voted to unite
in the observance of his obseques The church
was hung in black, and festoons of Grape de-
pended from the altar, chancel nave, galleries,
and organ, and numerous public buildings and
places of business were draped in mourning. The
city wore the impress of the Sabbath, the people
Hooking DlGSSe to the house of sorrow.
At four O'Clock the children and teachers of the
Sabbath School connected with the society of
which the deceased was a member, entered the
body of the church and took seats reserved for
them in front of the altar. Shortly after, the
members of the City Government of Salem passed
in and occupied seats assigned them on the left
of the pulpit. The persons in the employ of the
deceased-of which there large number
also took seata of the left of the pulpit. When
the family of the deceased, and his immediate
relatives, entered the church, attired in the hab-
iliments of grief, and took seats on the right of
the altar, the congregation with one accord arose
and remained standing until they were seated.
The services commenced with the chanting the
words
crest, Spirit, rest"
by the church choir, accompanied by the solemn
peal of the deep-toned organ.
Selections from Scrinture beittinp the occa-
sion, were then read by the Rev. DR.. Briggs of
the First Unitarian Church in Salem
A hymn was then sung by the choir, COM
mencing-
go to the grave in all thy glorious pride,
In full activity of zeal power;
Christian cannot die before his time,
The Lords appointment is the servants hour"
Rev. Mr.. Thompson, pastor OF the Barton
Square church, then rose and offered up fervent
and impressive appeal to the Throne Of Grace
He had implored the Divine mercy on the be-
reaVed widow, fatherless children, and aged moth.
of the deceased, that this dispensaton of Prov
idence might be sanctioned to the public men
who had come up to testify their respect to the
memory of the deceased, and had Just called the
Divine blessing upon the church of which Mr.
Phillips was member, when he was overcome
with emotion, and sunk back upon his cushion
He tainted, and was borne from the church to the
chapel, and thence to his home.
This sudden interruption of the services caused
considerable sensation among the assembly.
The Rev. Mr.. Briggs, however, rose and read
hymn commencing
20, why shohld friendship qrieve fer those,
Who safe have reached the heavenly Shore
Released from all their fears and woesl
They are not lost-but gone before"
which was then sung.
The benediction was then pronounced, after
which an opportunity was afforded to view the re-
MAINS After the assembly had retired, the corpse
was removed to the hearse, when the funeral cor /.
tege moved in the following order;-
Family Of the Deceased in Carriages.
Members of the Parish.
Members Of the City Government and Dstin-
tinguished Strangers.
Persons lately in the Employ of the Deceased.
Citizens generally
The remains were conveyed to Harmony Grove,
in the purchase and establishment of which the
deceased, as one of three gentlemen, had taken
active part, and where he had prepared a lot,
to whose sequestered shades several members of
his family had preceded him. His body was de-
posted in the narrow house, dug in the parent
earth and over the grave of this good man will
come the sorrow-stricken mourners, and recipi-
ents of his benefcent charities, to drop the tears
of grief and deplore his death.
Among the congregation we recognized the ia
miliar forms of many distinguished persons who
had either been associated with Mr.. Phillips in q
| public or private capacity, or mbued with ad.
miration of his noble qualities. Hon. Henry
N
lingame, Hon. Charles Allen, John Milton Earle
Ex-Governor Washburn, Hon. Robert Rautoul
Judge Pitman of Providenee-who we are inform
ed was connected with Mr.. Phillips in business
Characterization d. X. Hitchcock Col. Ben
jamin Loring, and the members of various socie
ties and institutions of various societies and in
situations of which the deceased was an honoreC
member, were among the audience.
In closing our report it may not be inappropri
ate to mention some facts in regard to the de
ceased, gathered from conversation with neigh.
bors and friends In childhood the conduct o
Mr.. Phillips is said to have been blameless ant
exemplary as his manhood has been unblemish
ed. He was gifted with a scope Of discernment
depth of judgment, an an eloquent utterance
that won him great and well earned reputation
He was a man of genial nature, at home amonl
all classes, eminently social, sacrificing his owl
| personal interests and enjoyments to the pleas
ures of his family, devoted husband and fon'
| parent. As man of business, he was promp
and energetic; not contented with a lmite
amount Of business, but seeking wide field 70
the exercise of his faculties hence his large an
| extensive operations in the lumber business a
| Three Rivers, where he had been when overtakel
| by the shaft of death. He was generous, to
| fault, gave largely, and yet without ostentation
TO public and private objects Of charity. Will
Mayor of the city, he gave his salary for tire
| years, amounting to twenty-four hundred dollars
IN aid of the public schools of Salem. AS
Christian, he above reproach. He was
member of the Barton Square Unitarian church
where he was constant attendant for thirty si
years. He was eminently a friend of youth, an,
contributed largely to tine support of the Sabbat
school. Through his munifcence chapel wa
built, and the church and society in his deatl
have lost valued friend and member.
There is scarcely an institution in the city @
Salem that does not owe its origin mainly to tn