Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-15
Remarks Of Joel Parker, ESQ.

On The deaM Of Jehu Patterson, Esq, at the
meeting IF The Bench and Bnr, Of Monmouth,
april 6, 1858.
Since the last term, JEHu PATTERSON, a mem
Der Of this Bar, and an officer of the Court, has
been removed by death. It is proper that we
offer some tribute to his memory.
1t was my privilege to know him well at an
early age. Twenty years since, as students in
the CollegeAof New Jersey, and members Of the
same literary society, we shared in common
those youthful griefs and joys, disappointmeuts
and aspirations, incident to college life. |
knew him then as the youth Of promise, the
persevering aud conscientious student, the
cheerful companion, the faithful friend He
passed from that scene of early life with cred
it to himself, and honor to his Alma Mater
From that time you all knew him. Educa-
ted to the bar, he entered upon bis profession
with high hopes. and lattering prospects OF
success, Possessing talents Of no common or
der, prompt and systematic in business, gov
erned by strict integrity-the true lawyers es-
Sential attfibute-with hosts of friends who
welcomed his advent to professional life, al
was bright in prospect, and a long career Of
usefulness and honorable distinction seemed be-
fore him. But alas! that insiduous disease to
which he fell avictim, had already seized upon
him. You saw its approach in the hectic
dush-you watched its daily progress in the
gradually wasting frame, until you beheld that
form once erect and full of vitality, become the
mere shadow Of it's former self. Yet within
that feebl1fsaSne, a manly heart still beat high.
CheerkptFW marked his character, fortitude
never forsook him, and he seemed heroically to
grapple with stern fate.
At length compelled to abandon the active
duties of his profession, the people of his ma
tive county testified their regard by electing
him to an important and lucrative position.
AS a public officer, he was courteous, honest
and capable, and his death is a public loss.
Although our friend was taken away before
he had passed the meridian of life-although
throughout his brief career he was surrounded
by kind friends, and enjoyed much of the com
forts of earth, yet he had also tasted the cup
of sorrow. They who are blessed with health,
cannot to the full extent realize the sadness
which must in the quiet hours, weigh down the
heart Of one who knows and feels that his vital
energies are in subsection to an incurable dis
ease, which must speedily terminate his life
Whatever may be the hope of future happi-
ness, it is a solemn thing to contemplate the
final adien to the loved ones of earth.
1t is not my purpose to dwell upon the so
cial and domestic virtues of the deceased. /
will not invade their s%anctity. They are
treasured lthe hearts, of those who knew and
loved him best, and so long as the bereaved
ones live, the memory of those virtues will not
die.
He is gone-gone from this world of suffer-
ing and sorrow-gone, we trust, to that bet
ter land, where there is no pain, where grief
never enters, but joy un%speakable reigneth for
ever He lived to see the last of those dear
children, whom he loved so tenderly, laid in
the tomb, and before the spring flowers again
%bloomed, he too was called away. In the, still
ness of the Sabbath hour, with the smile Of
resignation and joyous hope beaming from his
face, as one falling asleep, he calmly sunk to
rest.
$50 fades the summer cloud away
So sinks the gale when storms are Ger"
While we remember the dead, we should not
permit this sad advent to be lost to the living.
Let it remind us, who. yet survive, of the frail
tenure by which we hold life, of the exceeding
vanity Of temporal things, and the vast impor
tance Of eternal interests. May we so live,
that when the grim messenger appears, we can
as did our departed friend, greet his approach
With coz posure.
And sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach the grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasantdreams.',
BLUE BALL. April 9TH, 1858