The Portland daily press., 1870-02-21

chants Bank, the officers of the Natural His.
tory Society, members of the Aged Brother
hood, ex Mayors of the CITY Of Portland tho
onmoeriand Bar Association, headed by the
venerable ex-Chief Justice Shepley, and many
others.
The casket, which was an elegant rosewood
one, was placed upon the dais directly in front
OF the pulpit and bore q silver plate with the
following inscription:
William Willis.
Died Feb. II, 1870,
aged IS years.
Encircling the plates was a beautiful wreath
composed Of ivy and silver geranium, while at
the foot of the ca ket was a cluster of four
superb white camelias imbeded in green. The
interior of the casket was entwined with
smilax, while from amidst wealth of white
roses and camelias were visible the calm and
placid features of the deceased.
The services commenced with the voluntary
by the quartette cloir of the church, COM
mencng 81 heard a voice from Heaven saying
blessed are the dead that die in the Lord" Then
followed selections from the Scriptures, COM
mencing with the Psalm ''The Lord is my
Shepherd followed by Whitter's beautiful
poem, exquisiteiy rendered by the choir, be-
ginning
with silence only as benediction
Gods angels come,
Where i'll the s0adow Of great afiiciOn
The soul sits dumb.'
The Rev. Benz. HI. Bailey, pastor of the
chnroh than aaliuarad the folio rr;na no,.,if..I
and impressive address:
1t is no mere ceremonial of idle grief; no
Sh0dOyV n tb ie
coneourse up to this house; that bring
neighbor synpathizing with neighbor, friend
silently greeting friend, that move the thought
full to reflection, and make all heats one in
a sense OF common loss. A deeper purpose
than the Witnessing or joining in any spectacle
of funereal pomp is ours; come TO pay
our tributes of sincere and grateful respect to
the memory of our friend, and the city is
stirred as with one impulse to make testi-
monial of unaffected regret that a good man
is gone.
And in truth it is large place that
is vacant to-day. 1t were more surely seen in
just magnitude, but that to our quick and
transient eyes, age had wrought its usual re-
suit with our friend, and somewhat seemed TO
obscure the grand relations of his activity.
1t is the property Of this period to Withdraw
these crowned ones upon whom rest the signs
of nations advancement from our sight, and
We take not full understanding of their power
and reach upon their time. Age is glass in
which we often see darkly the large capacities,
the wise designs the chastened judgments,
the clear and fine light that leads the mind,
the powers of nature that yet remain, to work
signally and purely for good. When the sun is
fully SET, and the places that have once known
our friend know him no more. we are better
qualified to measure him and estimate the
works done for God and for man.
And of whom can it be more truly said than
of our friend, that with age his force was not
spents 1t was ripeness and not childishness
that he brought us at the last,-the choice and
golden fruit remained. No touch of decay was
upon his spirit, his energy, his will. Weak
ness, pain,-the near approach of Death, had
no lower over the firm fibre Of his mind. 1t
was Natures progress toward Natures rest.
Why should the hand slacken, the forces loose,
until the night comes, and the work be done ;
The grand economy of his spirit-the industry
of his life-prompted him again and again
during the last declining hours Of the flesh, and
reused to new exertion, until
Goods finger touched him, and he slept.n
1t is not easy to determine, in the brief space
that is allotted here, upon what characteristics
of our friend to fix attention. Every life is a
quire an equal life for clear scrutiny of iudg-
ment. When SO many points are salient, selec-
ton is difficult, and my embarrassment is
increased by the consideration that many before
ME are better qualified to speak, by
the obvious advantages of years of ac-
qualntance, OF mutual respect. and common
service and companlonships in the various
relations of civil and social life. But l think
none shall surpass me in reverent remembrance,
and among our friends qualities were matters
as cardinal as North or South. And suppose
may weh begin With the impression that he
made,-that the interests of this city. this
community, this church, were paramount in his
life. Not native here in the sense in which
that term is commonly used, no man was more
thoroughly na,uralized, more heartily identi-
fed with everything that conduced to the
welfare of the people. His citizenship was in
tense, he seemed to have a sort of vast, pro-
prietary right. No good enterprise lacked his
countenance; no evil but felt the stay and re-
preston of his hand. Your education, your
Charities your progresses and reforms, things old
to be Strengthened and renewed, things new to
be attempted and secured, ,--upon all these has
fallen his favoring eye; as all have known his
culture and care. He was no conservatist in the
sense of supposing that the past had secured
everything of worth, and no radical, quick to
disdan previous possessions out of a MOI bid
hunger for novelties;-but like the pru-
dent scribe that he was;-instruct-
ed unto an senduring kingdom,-
he brought forth-out of the treasures of his
knowledge. his public spirit, his faith in God
and in man, things new and old wherewith to
foster good enterprises, and make vivid and
real the interests of sound learning, morality
and religion. Nor was his energy confined to
matters merely philanthropic or literary as
peculiarly his own. His tastes were scholarly
and it is certain that study alone,-of literary,
philosophic or historical questions would have
been choice and grateful occupation through
his entire life,-but such was the spirit of his
fidelity, so fixed and thorough his resolution
to be and do what the time and place required
that his activities were really among the most
domestic and practical of this city.
lie has furnished wholesome illustration
how literary taste may equip the man for ac-
ton, how letters may qualify not impede, and
the repeated sufrages of his fellow citizens,
disposing him to various offices of trust and
indeed brought not so
much honor to him as he to them,-will remain
as pleasant memories of pleasant DAYS, as lust
appreclations OF the spirit and temper, the will
and purpose of our friend. And l cannot for
bear, before leaving this topic. to speak of the
ast crowning benevolence of his life, which
lilly closed his honorable career, as if before
ieath came, he must set the sign of his own
nope and good confidence in that which this
'ity has SO long lacked and must have-a hos
pital for the diseased. 1t had been for some
time upon his mind, and the mind was prac-
tical and clear as of old. In the last days. our
friend said to one very near to him, II must do
for this hospital and must do it
now" The book was brought and in great
weakness and exhaustion, but with delbera-
ion he wrote his name, and pledged the sum,
md as if he would certify the steadiness of his
mind, the surety of his confidence in the good
hing he should never see, the signature is |
strong. firm and bold as IN his best days.
Reminded thus of associations with previous |
lines, l should add-though with dlffidence- |
hat in regard to his profession, our friend |
eemed to suggest generation past rather
han present and immediate activity, save in
espect of grave and silent trusts that are re.
osed in the hands of men wise and venerable
S himself. suppose him more naturally to
elong to that gallery of figures, historic GER
ainly for the State, and in some respects for
he country, IN which Whitman, Longfellow.
4