Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-28
Beecher's Address at the Funeral of
Raymond.

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Raymond.
1t is not expected that should indulge
in eulogy, nor even that should attempt
to recount the prominent facts in the
history of him who is gone. But few
days ago he walked in manly vigor and
unceasng activity. But to-day Not
when he was born, nor when he was in
his cradle was he weaker than now. This
man of strength and power in his coffin !
So sudden, so instant was his death that
it was as the fall of some mighty tree
that had filled the air, wide and broad,
with its strength and richness, but in an
hour has felt the woodman's ak, and the
place that knew it knows il no more,
and will not forever. 1t is seldom
that any one passes from life who
has held any public position except
the one be has built up for himself
on whose departure there has been so
much sympathy, and good will, and ad-
miration, and grief, and affection ex-
pressed as in the case of Mr.. Raymond.
He was called to q sphere of irradiation,
in its very nature contestant, and was
long habituated to discussion in times
that have swsyed men and the nation to
the very bottom. Scarcely had his de-
parture been flashed through the land,
than with lightning like rapidity comes
back the testimony of his antagonists
and friends to his goodness Of nature, to
his great capacity, and the purity of his
motives, and to the good work which he
has done in his own community and the
nation. 1t is testimony of witnesses to
the real goodness of this man, that those
whose hands were lifted with the pen OF
contest, laid it down to write his eulogy and
express their heartfelt grief. He was
man who loved and was beloved. He
was a man without hate, and, | might
almost say, without animosity; q man
the nearer you came to him the better
you knew him, the more you esteemed
and loved him. You trusted him if you
knew him; if you knew him it was to love
him; and it is no small thing to say in
this selfish world that his like is rarely
met with. There are two things which l
wish to emphasize in his public career,
and only two. He stood in the widest
pulpit that is known in modern society.
The lawyer has his narrow sphere OF the
forum; the representative the close
walks of the Legislature; the minister
has his parish and the walls of his church,
and scarcely speaks beyond. But there
is, in this day, pulpit which has no
limit. 1t is that of the Press. 1t is lit
orally the voice of one that speaks, that
is crying in the wilderness. For all
creeds, and for all the populace of the
land throughout the nations territories,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
the daily papers speak; and there is not
in modern civilization power which
can compare with this. There is no place
in the land which has so developed the
daily Press as this; and among the build
ers-I do not say the founders-but
among the builders up of this foundation
stands Mr.. Raymond pre-eminently.
Aside from his general abilities, he has
conducted the Press, and remark-and
it is most grateful in such time as this
to remark upon it'll remark how
singularly free his whole career has
been from bitterness; how he refused
to gain strength by the advocacy
of passion; how he never used the ma
lign passions, nor appealed to them IN
others; how reason and the higher NOR
al sentiments breathed in his work; how
to you in these higher feelings be uttered
himself. And now that he has departed
to leok back upon his career and see
how he welded the mighty engine in
behalf of good reason, in behalf OF
moral sentiments, covers multitude OF
imperfections / have it in my heart
also to say-because, in common with all
of you, have heard his instability cited
i have heard it said that be was weak
and trimming; but / never believed 1t.
I recollect the time when the nation
shiyered like an aspen leaf-when one
man was worth sn army. Those qusli-
ties which he possessed sbsve all others
we're hope and indomitsble courage. l
remember, and ever shall feel grateful to
this man who pressed to the front rank,
and who let his voice ring out clearly
without moments hesitation, with the
most uncessing energy to the end Of the
contest, that gave courage and hope and
life to this great people. If this was
trimming, oh, that there had been more
such trimmersl That was service
which should enshrine a mans memory
in a country's history, and make his
name dear to the people. l thanked him
for it. still thank him; and / am glad
to make mention of, and bear this testi-
mony to, his fidelity in those days when
to be faithful required greatness Of soul.
Ny friends, it seems impossible that we
are speaking Of one who so little time ago
walked among as; it seems impossible
that we shall never see again that cheer
ful face, and take that cordial grasp
that we shall walk with him no more, and |
hear his council no more. But he is
gone. He has fallen in the very prime OF
bis life. The Hext ten years ought to have
been worth more to US aud to him than
the last twenty we're. he had taxed the
resources of his life unduly, and has been
cast down prematurely because he had
not lived within the due bounds of mod
Grafton in the use Of himself. For obe-
dieuce to God requires moderation in in
dustries, not inordinate activities, even
in the best spheres in life. BE cannot
repair the error, but It may be that We
shall give some heed TO il in this place Of
instruction. Ny voice can do him no
good, or ! would pour it out Though