Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-16


is able to comfort and console in times
like these.
The procession then formed and march
ed to the Congregational church, proceed
ed by the Masonic Fraternity and Fire
men.
THE CHURCH.
The funeral services were held in the
Congregational Church. The coffins be-
ing placed in front of the pulpit, that of
Mr.. Crooker on the left and Mr. Hardy
on the right; both cofins were tastefully
decked with wreaths and boquets of white
flowers, s,-emblems of purity and of a life
beyond the grave.
The pulpit, which was also suitably and
appropriately adorned with white flowers,
was occupied by the Rev. Edward Mills,
pastor of the Baptist Church Rev. L. W.
Brigham, pastor of the Liberal Christian
Church Rev. James G.. johnson, pastor
of the Congregational Church, and the
Rev. B. M. Hall, pastor of the Methodist
Church.
The services were commenced with
voluntary on the organ, after which the
anthem "Cast thy burden on the Lord"
was rendered by the choir.
The Rev. Mr.. Brigham then read the
Goth Psalm, commencing:
"Lord thou hast been our dwelling
place in all generations.
| Before the mountains were brought
forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth
and the world, even from everlasting to
everlasting, thou art Cod" etc.
Prayer was then offered by the Rev.
Mr.. johnson.
Rev. Mr.. Mills read, and the choir sung
the 1905 Hymn in "The Sabbath Hymn
Book for the service of song in the
house of the d"-Commencing with
the first stanza
Beneath our feet and DER our head
Is equal warning given;
Beneath us lie the countless dead
Above us is heaven
The Rev. Mr.. Mills then said: On oc-
casions like this we need consolation and
instruction and only from the word of God,
| Gdu We ODtdiu II, anu duuOunCea his teAL
to be one clause of the Sd verse of the
goth chapter of the first Book of Samuel
'But truly as the Lord liveth and as
thy soul liveth, there is but step between
me and death"
These words of the then youthful
David, were addressed to his friend Jona-
than under peculiar circumstances which
clothed them with solemn import. He
had been anointed King and this had pro-
duced jealously, and his death had been
determined upon by a conspiracy and
David felt that his life was insecure. In
the morning he did not know but what
night would see him in his winding sheet.
it was under these circumstances, and
with this feeling of insecurity that he
used the language of the text.
The same words are now, always have
heen and at all times will be true. 1t is
true with reference to all men, but it has
a peculiar force and impressiveness at a
time and under such circumstances as
have called US together here in this house
to-day.
We come not to give Christian burial
to one who, bowed down with affiiction
and the inirmities of age had long been
ripe for the grave, not to one who had
died full of years and oftar lingering
Illness; but we are here to pay our last
sad tribute of respect to these two men
who, on yesterday morn, were in the meri-
dian of life, full of strength of manhood,
active, energetic men, buoyant with hope.
Like outspreading oaks whose branches
are still bending beneath the weight of
their foliage, but suddenly laid PROSTATE
by the passing storm so these two men
who lie dead before US were suddenly and
instantly cut down by the ruthless hand
of death. The hearts of wives, parents
and children are smitten with grief. and
the whole community is shrOuded in
gloom. By this we are made to realize
the import of the Prophets words "And
it shall come to pass in that day, saith
the Lord, God, that | will cause the sun
to go down at noon, and / will darken the
earth in the clear day, and I will turn
your feast into mourning. and all your
songs into lamentation."
1t now remained to improve this solemn
event and to gather up the lessons of this
sad hour. Surely the preacher would be
recrent to bis duty, and lacking in due
appreciation of this solemn opportunity if
| h. shn,,1J 4N 10 IL
should do less than to just voice the les
sons which the two coffins taught.
First-We learn the shortness and I'M
certainty of human life. How uncertain
is life, when yesterday mornings dawn
opened on whose prospects OF life were
brighter than these two men now coffned
before us. They were men of activity, of
energy and determination, men accustom-
ed to look at danger-yea to face danger
they had met danger face to face and
conquered it. Life is uncertain our hearts
beat quick, our brains are active when in
a moment by disease or accident, as it is
called, we pass away. 1t is not necessary
dwell on this now and here Once and
tagain this week has this lesson been
taught in the most impressive manner.
Last Sunday evening young man,
member of this congregation and a
member of one of the oldest families in
this town, dropped away suddenly. and
without warning. Before the effects of
this had wore away, we were startled by
the intelligence of this that has now
called US together.
The whele history of the world is but
repitition of the lesson of the breyity of hu-
man life. If we enquire of na.ions-the
answer comes that they have all passed
away, and that their glory has departed
with man. We need not go to history or
to the far past, if we go to the cemetery
where our stems are tending to-day we