New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-10
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF WV JAY.
SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. CHEEvER.

At the request Of the American Peace Society, the
Rev. DIR. CHEEvER delivered discourse on the life
and character Of the late lamented William Jay, IN
the Church of the Puritans, Sunday evening, to
large and appreciative congregation. The following
text formed the basis of the eulOgy:
Then The president. and prince. sought 70 FAD &C. oec.'on
fso rssmueh be sa' faithful neither Was
there any fault found ia him Then said these We
shall find any occasion sgAst this Daniel excep; fad it
sain, him concerning the law Of his Vs. verses
4snd s.
He commenced by observing that there was reason
to thank God for every good man, whose life and
character death had sealed secure from change, for
posterity. There reason TO thank God for every
measure Of greatness, Intellectual, and of position
and influence, circumstantial, which were as the
propellng forces and machinery of a rocket, that
carry the light high into the heavens. The benef-
cent luster Of good mans example, placed so loftily
by position and influence does not fall when the scat
folding is taken away, but remains, and shines the
brighter and more independent and permanent; and
the power of individual men, individual examples, in
our world is wonderful. The true light, progress, civ
ization, well-being, and prosperous history of the
world are the work of individuals possessed Of truth
and laboring for its diffusion.
The countries and ages are poor undressing, I'M
exciting where no such disbursements Of genius and
power have been granted but the greater the number
Of such radances, the more worthy of study Is the
period in which they shine. One such mind and heart
as Edmund BuIkes, with the volumes in which, as in
temple, there is still an enforcement OF his genius
virtue and public disinterestedness and worth, is vi
greater power and value than a richly endowed Uni
versty. Not all the discipline of Harvard or Yale,
with all their magnificent investtures can match for
the making Of man, the grasp and inspiration en-
thusasc and despOtic, of one such magnificent mind
of one such soul and character.
From beginning to end, the life Of Judge Jay was a
great and precious example of public and private viz
tue. He one Of those whose time and presence
might have saved an outcast nation. Run we to and
" and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see
"now aud know and seek in the broad places thereof
" if We find MAN, if there be any that executeth
Judgment that seekeh the truth; and will pardon
ait" Such man was Judge Jay; one who, like
Abraham, might plead for SOdOm; man Of in
conuptibe principle, man of tried and stead
fast integrity and courage; man who feared
God and, fearing God, feared nothing else; a
who aimed in all things to live ever in his great
taskmasters eye steward of large abilities and OPP
portunties good and faithful through period of trial
and difficulties; digent laborer for God and man.
when he might have been, with good reputation, a
selfindulgent idler busy trfer, or merely pru
dent manager of his household and affairs, accu
initiating and enjoying his revenues.
He was born in the year 1889, and we find him at
the age Of II in Yale College, close and successful
student and four years AFTER pursuing his law studies
in the Office of John Ii. Henry, esq, at Albany Here
his application 10 his books interrupted by a
weakness Of the eyes, which gradually increased to
such extent that at length he was compelled to
law as profession. In a letter addressed TO friend
in 1903 he said after discussing the politics of the day.
We may live to see great revolutions; our beloved
country may perhaps call for our services. But,
" before we can be good patriots, we must be good
" men, Thus early and always through life, Judge
Jays piety the impulse and guiding element OF his
PATRIOTISM lie was married in 1872.
In 1918 he was appointed by Gov. Tompkins, First
Judge of the County of Westchester in which Office
he was successfully reapponted by Cows. Clinton,
Marcy and Van Buren, when, after holding it with I'M
surpassed ability and integrity for % years he was
displaced by man capable of the baseness of reject
ing him for his avOwed principles an Aboitionst,
and his labOrs in behalf Of the enslaved AS Judge
he was like Lord Chief-Justice Matthew Hale of En-.
gland incorruptibe and impartial making equity and
Justice the object of the law and the motto OF his seal
Fiat justd rudt cdun, the rule of his decisions.
lie was iurst Of the highest attachments, familiar
with the law and prompt in his applications OF it, Not
what is expedent, but what is right, was ever with
them the question. He did not inquire for pre-
Neither precedent nor law can sanctify IN
Justice that which is just and right is always prece-
dent supreme. Had it pleased God that when the
question of the rights of the coOred race as citizens IN
this country came up for decision, Judge Jay should
have occupied the place first held by his honored
father under our Government as ChiefJus OF the
Supreme Court Of the United States, how different
would have been the result, to their welfare and TO
ours. What immortality and infinite guilt had been
avoided what belief destroyed, in the sanctty of
Justice had been attained. His character and habits
as Christian carried through his whole sphere of
responsibility a Judge. Judge Jay remembered the
solemn aud awful denuDciaOns of those who dare TO
prostitute law for the sanction Of niquy to shield
iniquty from punishment, or make it respectable be-
cause il is law. Shall the throne OF inquity have
fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by law -
The moment all iniquty is commanded by law, that
moment is greater than ever, and greater defiance
and resistance demanded and every man who gives
way it commits two sins for he sins in commit
ting the crime at the command of man, and he sins IN
refusing TO oppose IL at the command of God. Divine
revelation shows us that justice and righteousness
both the object and authority Of law, and must be the
object and aim Of the Judge in its administration. If
the object of law other than Justice, Is against JUS
tee and if in such case il uDus in Judge TO
regard Justice and Judge justly, rather than legally
then no crime under heaven could ever be resisted
that had got the beginning of statute in its
favor
The love Of freedom and Justice and the infexble ad
herence their principles characteristic of Judge JAY
counterpart of the same virtues in the life Of his
ilustrous father. The principles of the father came
ou into revolutionary practice in the life of the
The work Of reform in the present generation is
greater and more difficult than the work Of revolution
in the generation Of our fathers. Considering the
character Of Judge Jay in this point Of view,
justified in saying that the heritage of patriotic virtue
ancestral, though ustrous lost nothing in his ad
ministretion of the estate II was privilege and
blessing TO have descended from such father;
a more remarkable felicity Of honor and Of greatness
for such father TO be succeeded by such son.
DIR. Cheever next proceeded to view Judge Jay in
his character Of Christian, patriot aud reforiner.
lie not reformer by accident or impulse merely,
much lees by the event of being paid instrument in
a reforming machine Some men, in the work of re-
FORM are ike sCythc-blade set into McCormick's
reaper; il not of their choice that they put
there because the reapng business what they
ever began Of their own accord, though being har
messed in, they may be found well tempered, sharp,
and iii for execution. But Judge jays aggressive
power and impulse grew out Of himself and of the
Word and Grace Of God in him; and the position he
assumed was voluntary, free, a movement from con-