Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-06

The pulpit was occupied by the several clergy
man who took part in the exercises, under the
general charge of Rev. Mr. Hall.
After solemn voluntary upon the organ, and
an invocation of the divine blessing BY Rev. R.
K. Shipper, appropriate selections from scrip
ture were read by Rev. Joseph Allen D. D., of
Northboro The choir of the church, under
charge of Mr.. Stocking then sang the hymn
beginning "Guide me, o thou great jehovah"
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr.. Hall, after
which the hymn,
He has gone to his God he has gone to his home:
No more amid peril and error to roam.
was chanted by the choir
Rev. Edward f. Hale of Boston then made an
address, in which he paid feeling tribute TO the
life and character OF the deceased. He began by
saying he thought the most appropriate words
for the occasion would be the reading from the
record of the fortieth anniversary of the pastor
ate of Rev DR.. Hill his own simple statement of
his work, of the changes in the church
and in the town, which depended so
much on his own love and strength thus
we would have full picture of the faithfully
discharged duty of conscientious, energetic,
anu uhtlAhVlllOuS OHIlSlldu ullulSlCIs Mr.
said he could justly appropriate the words of the
deceased, who, when standing beside the NOR
tai remains of the late Judge Allen, said:
81 have come, not to eulogize him, for he, of all
men, had no tolerance Of the language
of empty praise; not to speak of the
dead; for they only are dead who
have passed away and left no memorial behind,
i have come to speak OF life, not death; for he
only lives whose influence still survives, and who
has already reached that other life, so inconcev-
ably grand that it hath not entered into the
heart of man to conceive what God hath pre-
pared for them, who, having kept the faith and
obtained the promises, have already entered on
its enjoyment" When we recall such words,
as we look upon his bier, to-day, he, being dead,
yet speaketh to us from that higher sphere of
existence to which he has assembled.
The speaker gave brief sketch of the early
life of the deceased, in which were manifested
the germs of those gentle, benevolent self-sac-
rifcing, and manly traits of character which
so ennobled his mature life. He was always
peace-maker, and loved his fellow-men, while
his home was in his church, where he ministered
so efficiently and so acceptably, his heart went
abroad in its sympathies wherever there was
sufferer TO be soothed or helping hand needed,
irrespective of UNCONVENTIONAL connection, for
he was in one sense the minister of the whole
city. He loved and felt the presence of God
everywhere, but was Indifferent to the praises of
men; his own conSt iousness of the right being
the greatest reward he sought.
His twenty-five years service upon our school
board, for most of the time its chairman, during
the former system of school management, was
alluded to in proof of the deep interest he felt in
the education of the young, for whose welfare
his heart always yearned. 1t was these like
him in the early time who were instrumental in
inaugurating the policy which had developed
into the pride and glory of the state, its present
model system of public instruction.
The speaker said the last time he met our
venerat ID deceased friend, was on an occasion
he should never forget, when he protested
with earnestness against any attempt to fasten a
creed upon the denomination. He could have
no man adopt creed he did not in his heart
believe or accept. He "believed in God, whose
benignity is equal to his greatness" and "whose
loveliest attribute is his mercy" and he be-
lieved in Jesus Christ, that miracle of ages ex.
presSly raised up and endowed with heavenly
gifts, that he might reveal the will of God and
bring the whole human family to his footstool"
An affecting alluSion was made, to the peculiar
loving disposition of the deceased, manifested in
various ways towards his flock and all others.
So long as he was the acting pastor of the
church, he visited every case of sickness and
affection, and entered actively INTO everything
after he had resigned his pastorate, forgetful of
his growing infrmities, he held himself ready to
minister to those who from long association
desired his services on occasions of joy or sor-
row, esteeming all such calls upon him as per-
sonal favor. Mr. Hale read from one of DR.. Hills
discourses his estimate of death and of the ex-
istence awaiting us in the next world and said,
IN closing his eulogy, there was no one who knew
or loved the deceased but was conscious that al
though passed from mortal sight, he yet cares for,
served and tenderly loved parishioners.
The exercises in the church were closed with
the singing by the choir of the favorite hymn of
the deceased, "Nearer, my God, to thee" the
second and fourth stanzas as a Duet by sopra-
no and tenor.
The last look was then taken, by the large
numbers present, of the mortal remains of the
deceased, after which they were borne, followed
by a numerous train of mourners, TO the Rural
cemetery, and entombed for burial in the family