The Portland daily press., 1862-11-04

The passing out of the world. indeed, divested
of the attendant distress, and apprehension,
cannot be punishment to the believer. To
him the surroundings of the tomb, and the
mode of his exit, constitute the curse. Thus
he suffers for transgression, and from the suf-
fering his soul draws back. Life is, then con-
stant struggle with DEATH Our mortal exist
ence is warfare.
But let us turn to the prominent thought OF
the text. 1t is not the fact that death is the
enemy of the human race which especially
claims our attention On this solemn occasion.
1t is that none are exempt from this warfare,
and that none can escape from the destroyers
power. There is no man that hath power
over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath
he power in the day of DEATH" Oh! there are
some of the noble and good of earth whom we
would gladly withhold from the final conflict.
There are some whose very frailty and beauty
would seem to exempt them from such dread
necessity, and there are others whose man.
ly vigor, we fain hope will insure them at
least for a season from the assault of the de-
stroyer. But alas there is no discharge in
that war. The fearful conscription is at work,
and death is everywhere.
The old are not exempt. For though the
grasshopper be a burden, though fear be in the
way, and desire fail, the foe must be encoun-
tered by the aged, with trembling limbs, and
palsied hands, and weakened energies.
The young are not exempt. He whose ten
der age keeps him beneath the parental roof,
while his older companions have gone to battle,
meets the adversary at home. We think there
are places of security for those whom God has
given us. we put them deep in our hearts, we
keep them in the seclusion of the fire-side cir
Gle, that the rough conflict may be avoided,
but how often are we taught the lesson that
peril hides in the very bosom of fancied safety
and repose. The soldier returns rough and
SCARED while the brother or child tenderly
watched falls victim to the destroyer at home
Let the young remember that death is their
lot.
Mature manhood is not exempt The intel
ligent, the active, the wealthy are not prive-
legged class. How have the mighty fallen!
How is the equality of mankind here demon
strated! Dives and Lazarus meet They die
and are buried. One event happeneth to all /:
1t is appointed unto men once to die. So in
the struggle of perishing mortality with its
greatest foe, there is no discharge
have aimed to expand scriptural iustra-
tion so as to impress the truth that death is
the common lot of man. The Bible. however.
Inv ho lind Of
corresponding truth of consolatory nature
There is victory in death. The laurel fresh
ems above the mournful cypress. Mortality is
swallowed up in life,-that life which the ev-
er-blessed Son of God reveals. He has con-
guered the last enemy. He has risen from the
grave. In this demonstration of His power,
Christ brought life and immortality to light.
Henceforth we may look to Him, not for the
avoidance of the contest, but for final victory,
" Thanks be TO Cod" says the Apostle, "who
giveth US the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ" What glorious result to a lifelong
conflict! the resurrection of the Just the res
tortion OF these bodies, and the clothing of
these spirits with an immortal freshness! the
attainment of unspeakable bliss at the right
hand of God! This is the victory of faith
turn TO contemplate for moment few
features of the life of him whose remains are
with us to-day. Were we to consider only the
outward aspect of the case, our language
would be only that Of surprise, perhaps of mur-
muring. Who could be so poorly spared from
earth. as the young, the noble, the educated,
the brave,-the accomplished scholar, the gal
liant soldier, the afiectionate husband and son !?
Shall not such one be exempt from the sad
decree? All! there is no discharge in that
war, and we must bow with trustful spirit
to the superior wisdom OF God.
William L. Haskell was born at Poland, in
this State, January 7th, 1896. In his earlier
years he evinced mature manness. and de-
termined energy of character not common at
that age. His parents tell us that he was al
ways a manly boy. This feature became in
tensified in the subsequent development of
those traits which constitute true manhood.
Every one who became acquaiLted with him
must have perceived in his bearing a dignity
not assumed. His desire for knowledge, which
could not be gratified with the limited oppor-
tunities of his home, led him to seek an edu-
cation elsewhere, and at considerable sacr-
flee. He began his course preparatory for
college AZ the academy in this village Var
mouth) about eight years ago. He entered
Bowdoin College, and graduated in 1860, hav-
ing spent his vacations in teaching, so as to
obtain the means for continuing his studies.
Ii was during his collegiate course that he
taught several schools in this town, and so
became well known to our citizens, and espe-
cially to the children and youth, for whom he
had peculiarly kind regard. After graduat-
ing, he was associate Principal of the Oak
Seminary in Vassalboro, for year or more.
until the time of his entering the army. Here
it was then that the call of duty reached him.
An only brother had been taken prisoner by
the enemy at Bull Run, and the report of his
death, though afterwards proved to be errone-
Gus, came home to sadden the hearts of friends.
Feeling the urgency of the case, and the de-
mand upon him in the hour of his country's
peril William enlisted at once, resolutely and
heartily. He entered the service as 1st Lieu
tenant, Co. B, 7th Maine regiment This was
in August, 1851. He shortly left for Balti-
more. During the winter he came home. and
was engaged for some months in the Quarter
masters department, at Augusta While thus
occupied the battle of Williamsburg was
| fought, in which the nth" gained such laurels