Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-02-23
Cor. Free Press & Times =
A Quaker Funeral.

CHARLOTTE. Vt, Feb il. 1872.
.Ur. EIt.r:-It hss fallen to ny lot today
TO vitnes. scene 20 rare snd Interesting thst
cannot forbear 70 offer you an account Of 1t.
In remote corner of the goodly town from
where write. there has for half a century or
more existed meeting Of the Society Of Friends
who IN conjunction with the dwelegs on the Dor
ders Of two apjojnipg towns. with PROPHECY
and simplicity worthy Of all imitation, have
to.ne a sometimes almost silent testimony TO
the power of Grace, and against the hesrtless
innovations Of AZ ungodly world on the usages
and sentiments Of the followers Of the cross Of
Christ In common with many of like faith
this company of reyerent worshipers have lately
been recipients Of = rich visitation from the Most
High, and hsye been wonderfully quickened in
their souls and stirred up TO love and good
works.
One Of their number. beloved wife and
mother just ripeued into m vture and gracious
womanlood, constrained by the pressure Of NOR
tai disc use to seek medical aid N a distant city
=
worthy 10 be delivered from the ps ms and penal
ties Of TIN mutsole elrihly service, nj to enter
Into the b attic joys Of the eternal tate. The
symp&thiz ng neighbors met at the desolstei
home TO a. company the remains to the house Of
xorship and place Of burial After ( AZ words
OF consolation 10 the beresvei househt ID, and
reading a beautiful hymn, fsvoTite OF her Cow no
more, entitled 90, TO be resdy ~ started
on tn II 6adest Of all earthly journeys the uneral
trsin arrived II the little meeting house 18th its
white paint and board seats, loving htnis ever
emily core the dead to the appointed place, 'hile
the nitten flock gathered in their usual orm
for heavenly sitting together in Christ Jesu's
Very soon one broke silence by introducing. =
short and touehingy beautiful written record Of
the Il ~ Words and last prayer Of the dyi1 z
moth er. committing the husband and father
with the children to that mercy she SO joy
fully rested on, in the hour Of dissolution.
One after another that chastened flock in 8 word
Of coincidence or Of sorrow followed, nil a sister
DO we'd at the throne of Grace and poured out Of
uli soul earnest calculations for the sad and
a. iffe,ing survivors while the peat up emotions
Of - e congregation feened ready TO Freak cut
in UNI strained grief Ere long at the given
sig ial the devotional exercise gave pl. &c to the
las sad procession Of earthly friends, looking
III O the placid f:ce Of the dead in an 'erl.st-
in . farewell, while ever and anon thrill ug ex-
pr essioas Of love and Of hope found fitting 'ords
Al d great choking Eobs broke the stlnei ., as
fl lends sod relations gave utterance to zone
seet or tender thought or cherished reco lee
t on till the sst and nearest Of earthly frie nds
/ intenses, and almost freuzied phrase, sou, hit
again 10 the last resort g;convulsively oy err
the still and pulseess form, in audible invocatio
to find audience before the throne of God Nc t
dry eye, Of old or young, man. woman or
child, remained. OF all that company. and the
tender and sfectionste sympathy, the unosten-
tations but earnest grief the running together of
heart into heart, taught me a lesson not, hope.
soon to be forgotten or era Heated, Of the empti-
ness Of the hollow show. 90 often and 60 IN
feelingly enacted around affairs built Of precious
wood. and adorned with costly GENE. and adogn
ssles whose iapestried floors yield no echo to the
passing foot and send no heartfelt sigh into the
ear Of the God of all mercy.
Truly my heart responded, God give US all a
revival Of the sentiment and spirit OF this true
sympathy such as is here exhibited, in every
community in our favored land.
r. d. E.