Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-05-30

AT two O'Clock yesterday afternoon thu
remains of the Reverend G.. Dixon Bowen
Pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal
church Of this city, enclosed in a handsome
coffin, were borne from his late residence tc
the Congregational church on Fifth street
followed by very large concourse ol
friends. The church was crowded to over
flowing very large number of persons
being Obliged to stand during the service.
Ihe coffin was placed on table immediate
iy III front of the pulpit and the Reverend
). e. Ayers and three other clergymen as
cended the pulpit, the other clergymen Of
| this city Rock Island and lie Claire, who
could not be accommodated, standing at the
sides. The Rev. }. c. Ayres then arose and
announced that the solemn services would
commence by singing the first hymn Sh
page COS Of the Methodist Selec ton, CON-.
mencing,
"why should our tears 49,
After the singing of the hymn solemn
and feryent prayer was offered up on be.
half OF the afflicted widow and her children
and the church now without a pastor. The
Hymn commencing,
''How blest the rishtso is when he diesnAc.
was then sung.
The venerable Rev Mr.. Ayers then arose
and announced the following as the text Of
his sermon.
Rev, Chap. Ii: Is.
And heard voice from Heaven. say
ing unto Inc, write, Blessed are the dead
which, die in the Lord from hencefortl.; yea
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from
their labors; and their works do follow
them. and proceeded as follows:
We are very much impressed with the
Importance Of religion, and determined to
serve the Lord as a qualification for death
"hen we follow the last mortal remains of
a friend to the cold and silent grave; lut
it is too often the case that when we return
We forget these Impressions, and live again
as if this world was our abiding place
such should not be the case but when we
look upon the remains ofa departed friend
We should think that he was once as we
now are, and that we will soon be as he is
now. We should not lose these impressions
when We depart, but should carry them
with us to our homes and places of business
and improve the short time which is allotted
to us upon earth in laying up treasures in
Heaven. 1t is important that we should
live properly during our probationary eyis
tence. We are cale,: together to day |
under circumstances peculiarly solemn and |
afilicting. We are called to perform the |
last solemn services over the remains of one
who is a comparative stranger lie has
been with us in the State but one short year, |
and in this city but eight months vet with
in that short time he has endeared himself |
to all with whom he came in contact"
We regret that our space will not permit
us to follow the Rev. gentleman through |
one of the most eloquent and impressive
funeral discourses to which We have ever
listened. The voice of the venerable cler-
cvman tremblcd as he closed his remarks.
and scarcely dry eye remained amidst the
large congregation.
The 622 Hymn commencing.
Uuvei thy bosom faithful tomb,
TAKE this nsw treasure to thy trust"
was then sung, after which a PRAYER was |
offered up by stranger.
The coffin being opened the congregation
took a farewell look at the features of the |
departed, and the boards We're then nailed
down forever
After a benediction had been pronounced,
the coffin was placed in a hearse and follow
ed by large procession, was carried to
OakGale Cemetry, when with uncovered
heads the last tributes of respect We're paid
to the deceased and the remains were lower
cd into the grave there to remain until the
last trump shall arouse a slumberng world
The press upon our columns prevents the
publication OF short sketch of the deceas-
I'd which we had prepared.
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