Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-05
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.
Or. Barkor,s Death aEd Funeral.

MEADvILLE, Pa, March l, 1850.
Ma. EDTToR Had a stranger visited our
usually quiet aud cheerful village on the morn
ing of yesterday he would have been struck
with the strange and all absorbing sorrow
which seemed to pervade every breast and re-
fleet itself from every countenanOe. The stores
all of them, were closed, the workshops
stood still, the offices of business were desert
ed, the Courts of justice silent. The heavens,
overcast with clouds, appeared to share the
general gloom and find relief in light and fre-
quent showers. These, however, did not Pre>
vent the great mass of our population from
gathering in the streets and vending their way
in long, silent procession towards our College
Chapel. The white locks Of age, the Tuddy
face Of youth--all classes, conditions, orders
and sects were there. It was no common oc'
casion that called together this large and sad
We only express the sober truth
when we say that the whole community turned
out with one consent to pay its last mOurnful
tribute Of respect to the remains Of one Of the
best and nOblest men our world has ever seen.
On las. Saturday, JOHN BARKER, D. D., Presi-
dent of Allegheny College, appeared to be in
the full enjoyment of usual health. By special
arrangement with colleague he expected to
occupy the pulpit of the church, in which he
usually worshiPped, on next Sabbath morning.
In tie evening, after tea and family prayers, he
retired to his study and in a few minutes alter
wards one of the family entering the room
found him lying on the foOr-prostrated by
sudden stroke of congestion and paralysis
The skill of physicians who were instantly
summoned, and the attention of friends who
gathered round his bed, were all in vain. The
powers of nature continued gradually to sink
and about 2 O'Clock Sabbath morning he fell
asleep in Christ.
Dr. BARKER, as every one who had any ac.
auaintance with HIM knows, was indeed no COM
mon man The vast multitude who spontaneous
ly from town and country gathered to his funeral
in itself, evidenced the fact. The feelings of the
students, who each one mOurned him as a
father, found expression in many ways, and
among the rest by draping the College Chapel
in simple but expressive mourning Large as is
the capacity of the Hall, and crowded as it was
in aisle and vestibule, it failed to aecOmmo-
date one-half of those who wished admittance.
The services there consisted in reading the
Scriptures and singing by Rev. D. Craighesd,
PRAYER by Rev. DR.. Reynolds and remarks by
Judge Derrickson, Prof. Folsom and Elder
Norton-the corpse lying in front of the plat
form in plain metallic coffin, surmounted by
silver plate on which was this simple inscrips
ton
"JoHN BARKER, D. D,
Born MARCH II, A. D.. 1873,
DIED FEB'Y 26, 1860"
The procession was then formed under the
direction of John Mcfarland, Esq. Three
carriages in front were filled with the Rev.
Clergy resident in Meadville--then the hearse,
Immediately preceded and followed by carriages
containing Bearers, delegated from the Board
of TTustees-then the family and relatives of
the deceased in three carriages-next the Fac
ulty of Allegheny College and their fsmilies-
next the Board of Trustees-then the students
of the College. Of the Theological Seminary
and of the Meadville Academy-then the Ma
sonic Order and the Order of Odd Fellows
then vast concourse Of citizens on foot, be-
side some 20 carriages. On reaching Green
dale Cemetry, that loveGest Of all rural bury
ing places we have ever seen, the services were
concluded according to the. beautiful snd sim
pie Ritual OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
-affectingly read by Rev. E. A johnson.
But few of the facts and dates connected with
DR.. Barker are known to the writer. Nor would
we anticipate that portraiture of his character
and Justice to his memory which, at an early
day, may be expected from an abler hand. It
is known however, that at the early age Of three
years he was brought to this country by his
parents, who emigrated from Yorkshire, Eng
-, L. l..
evidence of decided pietY. He graduated be-
fore he had yet attained his majority, at Geneva
College, N Y. After spending some time
teaching in the village of Geneva, and also in
the Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, he was elect
ed to ProiessOrship in Allegheny College
From thence, after few years, he was induced
to remove to Transylvania University, then
fourishing underline administration of DR.. Bas-
com. After remaining there a short time, on
the resignation of Homer ]. CLARK, D. D., he
was recalled to the Presidency of Allegheny
College. In this latter post he continued with
great efficiency and aeceptability until his de-
cease. 1t is not easy 10 enumerate the many
lovely traits which adorned his private charac-
ter and manifested themselves in all his social
and domestic relations-fragrsnt and enduring
is the REMEMBRANCE which these have left in
the hearts of surviving friends. As preacher
and writer, depth, simplicity, beauty and point
might be mentioned as characteristics of his
style-the forid, stiff, pedantic, ostentatiOus
were his special adherence. He was no seeta-
misunderstanding the term in its proper
sense of those who arrogate to themselves ex-
clusiveIy certain peculiar rights and privileges
and so separate and shut themselves out from
the general body of Catholic christians
While strongly attached in feeling and con-
viction to the doctrines and usages of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, he could yet cor
daily embrace in the arms Of faith and love the
whole circle of those whose holy living shows
they love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity
and truth. But it was as Teacher that DR..
Barker especially exceled. In this respect tits
doubtful if he ever had a superior, and certain
he has left few equals anywhere.
Endowed by nature with the very highest
order of mental powers and these disciplined
by the labor of years and stored with an accu-
muIated knowledge at once extensive and pro-
found in a very remarkable degree, it was the
delight of hundreds and thousands of youth
who are now spread far and wide over the
world to sit at his feet and treasure as a rich
inheritance the rewards of wisdom which fell
from his lips. But he has gone. His self
denying and Iaborious life on earth is ended =
he died at his post. "Blsssed is that servant
whom his Lord, when he cOmeth, shall find SO
doing" A.
POstseript-It may not be amiss to add that
the decesse of DR.. Barker will cause no inter-
ruption in the exercises of the Institution with
which he was so long and honOrably connected.
The Spring Term begins March &c. A D. 1860,
against which time, it is believed, satisfactory
arragemeDts will be made to fill the vacant
chair. A.