Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-22
Death of Samuel GOss. Esq

noon at the residence of Hon. .. H. Smith
Rev. Mr.. Lord delivered impressive ad-
dress on the occasion. A large number of
The Aurora Lodge of Masons were present in
their regalia and with badges of mourning.
In place of any notice of our own, we give
below portion of Rev. Mr.. Lords address.
containing a sketch of the history, and an
estimate of inc character Of this venerable
and much respected citizen.
lt Is pleasant always to me on an occasion
Ike this, to recall some of the most prominent
features in lite that has been made c,m-
Fllte III Christ The living witnesses OF the
S-vlour tell OF his grace ard glory. And as
We turn the pages OF their lives, we find them
written over with characters that ore pre-
emilcntly Chris.-.ike.
Mr.. q - born in Hollis, \. Ii ia
ITO, the birth year of our country. His
life hos extended over three generations OF
mca, and from the first hour of conscious
existence 70 the last, he always had and never
lost and intelligent interest in all
public at airs. Nothing that concerned the
good OF man was foreign to his heart. lie
of the first 10 all excellent, en-
terpFIse5 and institutions, and one of the last
to wi hjraw his hand He began life for
himself IN Peacham in this State, at about
Tue GLJSe OF TIE l15E CENTURY. lie Established
II that place paper which he published and
edited, doing all the work with his own hands
for several years. He was nervous and
vigorous prose writer, and often enriched
his columns with poetic illusions of no mean
merit. lie was, 1t Is said, the oldest printer
and editor IN tins State.
After a few years residence in Peacham he
removed 10 this town. L. was then in its
infancy. He brought with him his press ard
his PAPER, and the developed energies of a
conf lent. earnest, self reliant Christian man.
HI WIS the original editor and proprietor of
tie Udicfgldn and Journal, and Tor sometime
conducted It, as It's early copies will show,
with marked ability. 1t he had had all the
mO-,rn facilities for such work, the labor and
Intelligence he brought TO his tack would have
u-lts am no Insignificant rival Of the best
publishers Of our own time. He held a sharp
ard Jrenchant pen, never forgetiui of Chris
ti4n principles. and Christian charity however
b., ne faithful index of a clear, acute, active
anu intense perception. In 1907 he gave up
Bis paper, and has since devoted himsslf
70 some active form of business. He was
man of untirIng diligence, and long after
he wes :, venty years OF age he WIS won't to
labor with his hands through the whole
day, and IN the evening give himself to some
CHRISTIAN work, or vile away his time with
his book Or his pen.
Bug however much he was interested in all
public atflIrs, | think he most of all delighted
IN Jhe welfare and upbuIlding of the Church.
IL one Of the seventeen who organized
ana constituted the fist Church of Christ IN
tals town. lie was tie first clerk of the
Church. and Its records were kept by his
hand and attesrei by his name. No names
units- It be the pastors, appears there SO often
as HE anu there was no trying duty OF his
Profession that he ever sought to avoid, no
fitting AID berefcent work that he did not
eagerly perform. He was always, till pre-
vented by his age, IN the Sabbath School, a
teacher Tor thirty live years, and his name was
always fragrant in it, like ointment poured
forth
lie was z constant attendant upon all the
social assemblies of the Church, go Icing as
ne could gee or feel his way thitier. His
prayers, like his exhOrtitIons, we've fervent,
forclble, AID doubt not effectuaI. The first
prayer | ever heard IRON his lips will be the
last enc | shall forget. 1t Was the evening
after my ordination almost at the opening
hour OF my ministry here. 1t YVES not slrange
that tle aged believers should ask the blessing
Of IsIacI'5 God upon the head OF their youth
ful minister. Nor did he forget such prayers
tins, nor ask without JUNCTION, pouring his
soul forth IN the tide Of Scripture expression
which he most iOvedl - that he might have
come among them with the fuIness Of the
blessings Of the Gospel of grace, that he
might De able to take care of the Church of
God that though young he might not be a
novice, lest he should be lifted up with pride
and fail into the condemnation OF the devil
that he might not cry peace when there was
10 peace that be might build the temple OF
God wisely nor daub it with unten pered
mortar" 1t was neither commonplace nor
affected prayer, but sincere, warm, earnest,
and exceedingly appropriate. did not know
HIN then, but my thought was, . This is a
v nom good minister can lean. He
likes t. have good work done for Christ. -
vas not disappointed in hin, and while
tow ministers rave had such supporters as
have l. 60 many Aarons and Huns to hold up
the faintng hand, L may well say that be
Was enc OF the btst.
Long ago, he foresaw the necessity that
should have a new house of worship. For
years 1t had been the burden of his thOue hts
aad his prayers, and when, 10 his last hours,
ne was reused from the partial stupor OF COM
iug death 10 converse with me, the first thing
nc SAID was, - How do they get along with
The Church? hO Is the prime mover in 1t ?
wanted 10 live 10 see it built.' Some years
since he decided his pew to the Society, that II
might have no hudrance from him at any
iutGie time III such work.; AID IL was IL
Proportion - mis- means large gilt as any.
lie also mIOs d one or two beautiful hymns
il AID Of the OBJECT He gave " hat he could.
Mr Goss was, then, one Of the builcers n
NLE-sis klngdOm- Ills Work was not 10 ueS-
Try but TO fulfil, in the proportion that
Christ dweit within hun. His hand was upon
tyerything ioc It's welfare and upbuildIng.
Sometim,s the zsal OF the Lords house
may have eaten him up, may have made
Ills tongue sharp With truth, or quick with
iepTOot, or pointed IN lnvectIve, yet IN under
sF5nding lie a man, and in malice he was
. child. lie was honest and true as the sue
AID though there may have been severity and
rherpness in his speech, yet there was no guile
found IN his mouth. lie was Il cheerful and
bright Christian, not prone to look on the
evil SIDE OF things, not wont to despair OIL
gocd,qulck TO appreciate all Gods merc!es, and
cherIshing hope of good for the Church, even
the darkest days. He carried In his soul
the priceless treasures of Christ's acceptance
AMI love, and thought that the children Of
king need not
Go sorrowing all their days"
And 80 when be died on the early Sabbath
mcFning-on the day he loved most of all
laid esIte his worn out tabernacle to take NJ
the house which is from heaven and to e
th:her to his Saviour, and to tread the sap
Ih'fe courts Of the new temple of God ane
JON IN It's songs, | thong ht that the bell
ct heaven might ring. For it was a gloriou;
release, blessed departure, a weil-timed en-
Trance INTO glory. Ii heaven has Its Sabbaths
Eeeplng time with our earthly Sabbaths,
lnu5t have been blessed for him to sit dowi
with the multitude that had gone before him
that he had known and that had eaten bres