The Grand Haven news., 1865-02-08

Life In the past seems 10 mela blank
book, in which little or nothing has been
written to even amuse or instruct Yet,
il, through the partiality Of this little
town, / shall be awarded one mile mark |
here that may 10 the future reflect even the
light of one feeble ray Of a penny taper.
US the vision Of the fly "scarce an inch
around" shall ever cherish the thought
with deep felt gratitude.
The 18th of.January gave birth and
life, and "light,s to the immortal Frank
lin, the sage" philosopher and patriotic
statesman, whose monuments, thickly
strewn along his whole life-way, beam
with never failing good in the future to
an admiring world. The Copernlcan
theory of the orbi.ary movements Of the.
stellar world, explaining thereby the nat
ural laws governing eclipses, dispelled at
once the fears, tremblings, and awful
breads of those who have seen them on
Iy as the sigma Of an angry God. So
Franklin tanned the awful thunder, and
proved it only music Of the spheres to
form rain drops and invite the gentle
showers to water the earth and bless the,
labors of the husbsndman. He, too,
stole fire from heaven with the full per-.
mission Of the Gods) with Prometbeah
skill, and reanimated and enlightened
mankind. Such are the bcnefactors of
tkeir race--they have dispelled ignorance
and the superstition of the monk, expos
ING their fallaces taught the valgar, load
ing them down with this awful dread OF
Gods vengeance and wrath-cunningly
offering to make reconciliation for each Of
their dupes for so much money per head
These benevolent philosophers explained
these dreaded phenomena to be in perfect
harmony with natural laws of wise and
good Providence. / thank you my
friends for the award of the French mot
to, "vive le bon homnae" ] accept it
rather as a common mark Of respect than
in its strictest construction. Length of
days may not always be the true test of
the good man. Christian philosophy, to
be sure, teaches that the righteous shall
live long in the land, and it is the reason
able conclusion that he who more strict
ly observes and lives up TO natures laws,
which are Gods laws, conforming to the
laws of health and conscience, should
hold a surer promise of long life than be
who violates them all. The wicked OF
transgressors Of these simple laws shall
not live out half their days,"-still there
is Greek saying that those men whom
the Gods love die young" and Woods
worth has it,
G. The good die first; M lG
The life of him whose heart is dry as summer
| dust, tv
Burns to the socket"
Bat these I trust are the explanation:
and not the rule--oonsolatory TO those
who lose early friends or loving childreI
through epidemic or accidental causes
They may not apply TO the scholarly Ev
eret, the news Of whose death at thrc
!, score years and ten, has just reached m
since we have here assembled, whose lif
has been but one continued sunbeam I,
: eulighten and better the world.
h The DR.. here entertained the compan,
with a succinct history of bis early life
. interspersed with interesting "reminiscences
and amusing incidents and anecdotes Z
the time of his settlement in Grand Rive
Valley at Grand Haven.
"a But, ladies and gentlemen, ! no longe
have home or shelter with you after th
lst of April next--probably my las
J. mile mark here among you is commemc
9, rated-I 90 into exile, perhaps ratbt
o. voluntarily, and not in all respects lik
IS Athenian statesman of old, after havin
,e spent live-long life in the service of II
x State, were rewarded with banishmen
re and often loaded with opprobrious charge
IN of misdemeanor and crime, TO make II
in act plausible in the eyes Of the commc
f. people, or more frequently to rid Il
of State Of their obligations to them.
to But the final way-mark is passed
On stand at the foot Of the sunset side
It. the hill slope, no longer watching u
Sc slauting rays of that beautiful but no
up hidden orb beneath the western ocean
~ time. Ny constant prayer shall be th
I'd when
We g. the summons comes TO join
o. The innumerable caravan which moves
ar To that mysterious realm, where each shall tn
His chamber in the silent halls Of death,
OF 90 not like the quarry slave at night
se, scourged 10 tho dungeon--but sustained NJ
1" soothcd
"A With an unfaltering trust Tin Cody approach n
grave