Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-10
THURSDAY MORNING.

1HoAN1N A1N0s- IA Co OO l.
A message Of deep import is uttered to you who
come as anorganzation,t to express your love and
sorrow to-day. You cannot mistake it.. This
community, with which heswas so long identified
| the church in which be was offcer-those
who mourn him with keener and more personal
griet- to all of you is remembrance which may
| beFa JOY forever, and an instruction forever.
That which we love mostto speak of to-day and
prize most highly was the character that was
moulded and founded by his faith in Christ
Through the gift Of God, that prayer which rises
SO naturally to our lips, sLes me die the death of
the righteous andlst my last end be like his.'' is
of easy fultilment. 1t depends upon ourselves
~ 4.s "a, MASONIC SERVICE. ..4.,
AS the masonic service Of the knight Templars
was Interrupted by the severe storm, we give
portion of the burial ssrsice.s 1t is highly ap-
propriate that it should be gwen in this eonneo-
tion, from the fact that most OF it was composed
and compiled by Mr. Davenport, for the use
of the several communicates in the year 1859 Ex-
pressing sit does not only the spirit of the order
but the sweet christian spirit Of the author be
exhibited it in hisdaily life and conversation.
sihvIcss IN CHURCH. ..r
e. C07nnaQndey. Sir knights :-7Iu The solemn
rites OF our order we have often been reminded
tf the great truth that We were bora to die
Mortality has been brought TO view, that we
might more earnestly seek an immqrf rfality beyond
this feetingl life, where death can come no more
forever The sad and mournful funeral knell as
betokened that another spirit has winged it,
fig ht to a new state OF existence. An alarm has
come to the door of our asyium, aud the messen-
i AZ
awful presence, 'Who darys approach - A pill
grim warriorhas been summoiied, and ~thereis
no discharge in that war; A burning taper If
life, in our Commapdery, las been exGpgHished,
and none save the High and Holy One can religbt
it. All that remains OF our beloved Companion
Sir Knight lies mute before sIs, and the light of
the eye, and the breathing of the hps IN their
Language off aternal greeting. have ceased for US
forever this, side OF the grave. His sword,
vowed only to be drawn in the cause or truth, JUS
tice, and rational liberty, repose still in its sc,b-
bard, and o,rrartns can no fhore shield him from
wrong or oppression. 1t Ia meet, at such a time,
that We should be sieHt, and let the word. of the
Infinite and undriug speak that We may gather
consolation from HIS 7reveiationsl and impress
upon our minds Lessons Of wisdom and Instruction
and the eetness Of preparation FOR the last great
~s4At o. - FNsA - --'
! 4 e. sERvIcEJ AT Eas GRAVE. .
I'gelat6. Sir knights There is one sacred
spot upon the earth, where the footballs of our
march are unheeded our trumpets quicken no
pulse, and ineite no fear the rustling OF our
banners and the gleafn Of our swords awaken no
EenOtion--it is the silent city of the dead, where
we now stand. Awe rests upon every heart and
the stern warriors eyes are believed with feel
/ inss which never shame lais manhood. 1t needs
no siege, ner assault, nor beleagusIipg host to
entsr its walls We fear no sorIe, and listen to
no battle shout. No Warder's challenge gTeets
the ear, nor do we wait 4 while with patience for
! permission to enter. 20. f' q t.@t ..f
| Hither must we all come at las. and the
stoutest heart and the manifest, form that sur
rounds me will then be led captive without
title or rank, in the chains os mortality and the
haoiIiments OF slavery tothe King of Terfors. %
| But if be has been faithful to the Captain of
his sslvstion, a tue soldier Of the Cross if he
has offered suitable gifts at the shrine Of his de-
parted Lord, and bears the signet Of the Lion OF
the tribe Of Judah, then may he claim to be OF
that princely house, and TO be admitted to sud-
ence with the Sovereign Master of Heaven and
Earth. Then will he, stripped Of the chains of
earthly captivity, and clothed in white garment
rulers, aud psrtaee ofa hbation. not of death and
sorrow, but of that wine which is drank, forever
new, in the Fathers kingdom above.
We cannot come here without subIu:d hearts
and softened affections. Often as the challenge
comes which takes from our side some loved as
seciate some cherishe companion in arms, and
often as the trumpet sounds its w4iIng notes to
summon us to the death-bed, aud TO tie brink of
the sep1lcher, we cannot contemplate "the last
of eaYth'' unmUved Each successive death. note
snaps some iber which binds us to this lower tx
istenoe, aud ms kes pause and reflect upon that
dark and gloomy chamber whore must all ter
inmate our pilgrimage. Well will 1t be for our
peace then, if we eau wa>h our hands, not only
in token of sincerity, bat of every guilty stain
and give honest and satisfactory answer TO the
questions required.
The sad and solemn scene row before us stirs
up these re objections with force and vivid pow
er which we have hitherto unfclt. He who now
slum bers in that last, long. uubroken sleep of
death. was our brother. With him have We
walked the pilgrimage Of life, and kept watch
and ward together ia its vicissitudes and trial-
He is now removed beyond the effect of our
praise censure. .-. y.- .-....
That We loved him, Our presence here evinees,
and we remember him In scenes to which the
world waS not witness, and where the better feel
ings OF humanity were exhibited without disguise
That he had faults and foibles, is but to repeat
what his mortality demonstrates that he had
human nature, not divine. Over those errors
whatever they may have been, we cast, while
diving, the mantle OF charity it should with
much more reason, enshroud him il dea'h. We
who have been taught to extend the point OF
charity, even to a foe, when fallen, cannot be
severe or merciless toward loved brother
The memory OF his virtues liuger in our
membrance, and reflects its shining luster be-
yond the portals Of the tomb. The earthern vase
which has contained precious doors, wllllose none
of its fragrance, though the clay be broken and
shattered. Sh be it with our brofber's memory.
Il. Commander. Our departed brother Sir
Knight was taught, while living, that this sword
in his hands, as a true ana courteous KNIGHT was
endowed with three most e1timahle qualities it's
hit with fortitude undaunted its blade with
justice impartial; and its point with mercy IN
restrained, To this les sOn, with its embematical
significance, wa trust he gave wise heed. He
could never grasp it without being minded Of
the lively signifcau ce of the attributes it incu-
Gated. He has borne the pangs of dssolying
nature may we trust that it was with the same
fortitude that he sustained the trials OF this
be justice done, as we hope to receive the like
need ourselves and may that mercy, ,unrestrain-
ed, which is the glorious attribute Of the Son of
God, interpose in his behalf to blunt the sword OF
divine Justice and admit him to the blessed com
.pauIonship OF saints and angels in the realms Of
light and life eternal. -i. ,...
PTeiate. This symbol Of faith-the Christians
hope and the Christians tru,t-we again place
upon the breast of our brother, there to remain
till thelast trumpet shall sound. aud es,th and
sea yield thsir lead Though it may, in the
past history OF our race, have been prevented at
times into an ensign of oppression, and crime and
wrong; though il may have been mad the EN-
blem OF fraud, and superststios and NOR Il dark
ness,yet its sign ,hcance still remains as the
badge OF Christian warrior. 1t calls to mind
Gethsemane and its sorrowful garden Go'gotha
and Calvary and their untold agonies, that fallen
man might live and inherit everlasting life. If