Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23

Meeting i'm CastletOD, Fen. l4tn,
le7l- by Rev. IL. s. Cushman o1
Manchester,
Printed in tie Rutland HERALD By cote Of
the Association.
Acts XII, "a, "For he was good man
full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith"
This, the inspired historian of the
Primitive-Apostolic Church, certities OF
Barnabas, an early disciple of jesus, the
Son of Prophecy, or as our version hath
IL. the Son of Consolation, the illustrious
and warm friend and companion of st.
Paul in his ministry. Physically he was
q man of commanding personal presence.
He had q large heart and genial DISPOSE
ton, with marked intellectual force. But
that which made him a truly good man
was his eminent piety his Christian and
Catholic spirit, ever glad and urgent at
the conversion of sinners to Christ,
whether Jew or Gentle exhorting be-
levers that they cleave unto the Lord for
he was d good man, full of the Holy Ghost
and of Faith. This does not imply sim
less perfection, butt does indicate mind
and heart graciously enlightened, renewed
and consecrated-fullyy yielded up to the
abiding, sanctifying and sealing work of
the Promised Comforter, whose work is
in all goodness that can adorn the spirit
and life of any man.
Moreover, be was so vitalized by that
Divine Faith, that gives reality TO the IN
seen and that works by love, as to apply
the redemptive blood of the Crucified to
his sinful soul, removing the curse and
the dominion of its guilt, and that made
him partaker of the Divine Nature
while the love of Christ constrained him
in personal self-sacrifce to culture and
use all his ransomed powers for the glory
Of God in the Gospel ministry. He was
among the frat, you remember. that hav-
ing land sold it and brought the money
and laid it at the Apostles feet, that he
might say noupht he had was his own.
This spiritual, faith inspiring goodness
was the charm and crown OF his character
and life. This awakened confidence in
him from Apostles and young converts.
This made him dear to Paul. This was
the prime secret of his success
Aud what higher eucOmium could the
sacred historian pass upon any man, since
true and Christian goodness is the only
substantial greatness Before this all
bare worldly greatness p1les and wanes.
The Divine Goodness is the very Glory Of
God, HI He did unfold to Moses, whose
deep paintings were, shew me Thy Glory,
and the Iufuite Am made all his good
meas pass b>fore bip. This goodness il
the synonym of love-our highest word
for G. ID. We overlook not the necessity
and force of int lect. in IT'S high and dis
anr-iVe phenomena of reason and will.
iudgment and fancy. We d-ny not that
the measure Of goodness il limited or ex-
banded by the normal and educated ca
paoitits Of the mind still az we would
0oEn pass the true end of rational and
Immortal lif', whether of right or of bliss,
we bow chperfully and reverently in the
presence Of pure and Christian goodness.
SO did rough soldiers in the presence of
Christ, AZ they went backward and fell to
tbs ground.
Nor would we here say ought against
the worlds reverence for heroic greatness
inspired by deeds of lofty daring in war
or peace, or in immortal works of genius
do not propose 10 bring greatness and
Qoodnsss into composition but l say, and
there are moments in every mans expert.
euoe when the truth il felt, that the heart
OF Goodness going forth to make sensitive
and moral beings holy and happy, is the
only great and noble heart. 1t is to this
strange sight IA 10 the burning and uncou-
sumed buah that Moses saw, that the eye
of onr selfish world should Oftener be
tu-ued--not so much to the ambitious
warri,,r pa he goes forth to roll the gar
mants Of men in their own blood, or to the
massive Statesman projecting plans of di-
plomacv and conquest that shall startle
the nations, or TO men OF genius whose
curious brain weavings enrooe the world
in ideal spleudor, but rather TO those men
Standing at the prime issues of human
life and destiny, make them pure and
gladsoma and thus regenerate this sin
wretohed world and restore it to the
purity and Joy Of Eden.
For this did Jesus come to minister, and
give his life ransom. For this ne
went about doing good This is the chief
work of the Christian mipiustry as OF
every follower of the Lamb.
Ny Brethren, / have pondered much
and carefully as l could, upon the char
acter and life-work Of our dear departed
brother and father III Israel, DR.. Charles
Wllker-who having served his genera
ton by the will of God, has since your
last meeting fallen on sleep-and who can
doubt asleep in Jesusr His absence from
the body we mutually mourn, and with
his bereft family are in sorrow to-day
because we shall see his face no more
Somehow he has impressed himself deep
ly upon the heart and mind of all that
knew him. His praise is in all our
churches The memory of the just is
blessed. His image and look are plain in
our eye. His large and weighty tread,
his open face, his kindly salutation, his
sincere and wise conversation, his holy
and benign spirit are all kindling their
ol1en emotions in our hearts And more
from every quarter we hear expressions
OF high admiration, of deep reverence and
OF fond regard for him. And we now
ak, what it was in him that was the in
sn;rs zion OF all this; and why that he, a
simple Bishop of one of our churches
sbopld have .-uade so happy mark in his
generation. I ssv ] have pondered upon
tbis matter as I cou!d, and asked after the
hiding of his power, AM am free to say,
that it was his eminent goodness, his self
sacr ficing and constant piety, bis unfair
nished, harmonious, well balanced chris
tian character. For he waa good man,
full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith. His
character go strong and positive, natural
" was pervaded, toned and mellowed by
that spirituality of mind. that clear and
supreme faith. that ever insnres high
and Christ-like goodness.
1t is, then. in no spirit of vain paneGy-
ric that we apply the words of the text TO
him, nor surely is it in any sense to lose
sight of the solemn fact, that if we could
hear him speak to ia from his resting
place above he would eKclsim, Not unto
me, not unto me. By the Grace of God
] am what end where / am, a sinner
saved by Christ alone. MY crown of re-
joicing lies ut my dear Redeemer's feet.
/ propose in this discourse, in as plain
end concise a mnnuer as / can, to give
you brief sketch of his life, and then
pass oE to unfold his work and character.
Rev Charles Walker. D. D., was
born in Woodstock, Conn, Feb. /, 1891.
His father. Leonard Walker. was black