Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-12
Funeral of Hon. John L. Marsh.

|
North Clarendon, on Sunday afternoon
We have rarely seen gathered on SINH
lar occasion so many of the leading citi
zens of the adjoining towns. His fellow
townsmen were present in large numbers
Rutland was equally represented. Wal
lingferd, Dandy, Shrewsbury, Mt. Holly
Tinmouth, Ira, Middletown, Castleton,
and Fairhaven were also represented
showing the high esteem in which the
deceased was held at home and abroad.
At two o'clock the exercises were com.
menced by singing by a quartette, who
rendered an anthem. After which Rev
Aldace Walker, D. D., of Wallingford
read the 18th chapter of Acts and pro.
ceeded to the delivery of An address
founded on the words:
| "For David after he had served his own
generation by the will of God fell on
sleep."-Acts xiii, So
The following is substantially the ad-
dress of Rev. DR.. Walker:
ADDRESS.
If it is better to go to the house OF
mourning than to the house of feasting il
is because we may be led by such visit
to thoughts and feelings BETTING IA a.
mortal and immortal beings and thus be
oureives better prepared to live or TO
die; and whatever ia said on such an &C.
casion ought to be said with the design
of awakening such thoughts aud feelings
in the hearts and minds of those present.
The a0dy to lj0e is to us practically the
first question, as life comes before death
and proper life will prepare US for a
peaceful death.
The Apostle Paul in preaching to the
| Jews in a synagogue ct Antioch has oc-
casion to refer to the Patriarch David,
and sums up his earthly history in thu
brief sentence, For D avid after he he'd
served his own generation by the will OF
God fell on sleep" David was not per
feet man and in this sinful world there
are many who gloat over human imper-
fections, feeling undoubtedly something
of comfort and support in their own sius
as they think Of what they may conei3er
the more heinous sins of others. By such
people his imperfectiOns will be much
better remembered than his virtues Yet
those most familiar with the P-almi~t's
general character and spirit will feel that
the world would he greatly improved
were his uus 4lfsh and g0dly life more
fully initiated.
He "served bis own generation" we are
told. He not did live for himself alone.
When mere youth. his sympathies were
enlisted in behalf of the nation of Israel
suffering from an invasion of Philistines :;
and he goes forth, sent by bis father to
inquire after the welfare of his brothers,
and carry provision TO them, his sympa-
thies take a wider range, and he is moved
by the sad condition of the defenders Of
his country. He hears with astonish-
ment and pain the boastful champion OF
the Philistines, who had come forth now
for forty days TO defy the armies of Israel;
before whom all his couutrymen trembl-
ed. And Ovid spoke to the men who
stood by saying, "who is this uncircum-
cised Philistine that he should defy the
armies of the living God" While others
are fearful he is courageous. While
others stand back as though they had no.
thing to do, and could do nothing to wipe
away this disgrace, he steps forward. will
ing to expose himself to danger for others
good. Some, indeed, ridicule his preten'
sions and misrepreeent his motives, bnt
he perseveres in his efforts to retrieve the
honor of his people; youth IS he was, and
armed only with feeble weapons. With
his sling and small stones, the boastful
Goliah is brought to the earth,-the army
of the Philistines affrigbted and put to
Eight, and the name of the God of Israel
honored. Thus in early life did he begin
to "serve bis own generation" And his
course thus commenced was contiuued
Whether as private citizen or rs king
the interests of the people lay near his
heart, and he did much to promote those
interests, and this he did the Apostle tell
us, in accordance with the will of God"
His course received the Divine approval.
And this example so approved thus Incl
dentally, referred to by the Apostle sug-
gests a truth of universal application,
that.
Men ore a Serrice to the generation In
tohjch they Ire
Few are raised TO as high a rank among
men es David was very few are placed
10 circumstances to accomplish so muab
for the world. None now receive COM
munication OF miraculous strength as he
seems at times to have received, or are in
spired to sing such songs as he sung; but
according TO our conditions and circum
stances and ability-according to the tl,-
ent committed to US, be they few or many.
each one is bound to have respect TO and
contribute to the welfare of the whole
No man in this busy world can live
wholly By himself, even though he may
live--as some seem to-wkolly for him
self That il, our conduct must affect
others favorably or unfavorebly, whether
we have any design to or not Men are
social beings bound together by thousand
ties so linked in and intertwined in TIE
web of family neighborhood aud political
influences, that each act must leave it,
impress on some other one, and each ones
general course of life must tell for good or
i'll on multitudes of his fellowmen ; and
no person has a right TO forget or to over
look the conditions and necessity of 9th
ers, and live wholly with an eye to his
personal interests. The word which in
dicates the service which David rendered
to his generation is an expressive one, and
is applied primarily to one engaged as an
under-rower in boat.
Picture to yourself the long, narrow
boat then in use, borne through the water
not by steam, bnt by the might OF six
eight or ten men in plying the oar. Ever
one sees that these oarsmeu must work |
together or their services are of little |
worth, either to themselves personally or
to others. They must all use their
in wsy to subserve their com
mon interests. 1t will not do for each to
act independently, as his own choice or
caprice may be, when, a matter OF
course, one would be rowing in one di-
rection and one in another. In that way |
no progress would be made toward any |
destined haven but as they bend to the
work, each one must draw at the same
time and in the same way, and thus all
are borne swiftly on their course. Sc
David "served his generation" by doing |
what he could for the highest we'll being
of sn-seeking and attending his own |
good and promoting the good of his fel |
lowmen. So will every good man feel