Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-29
DAVID p. PORTER.
.Funeral ssrvices Yesteraax.

Funeral Services Yesterday. |
The funeral services of the late David |
P. Porter, held yesterday afternoon at Nc |
Kendree church, were we'll attended, nearly |
every. seat in the church being occupied.
At O'Clock, as the bell was slowly tolling |
the age Of the deceased, the body was
borne into the church, the handsome
casket literally covered with floral trib-
utes from the hands Of those who had
known and loved the deceased during his
life. The following named gentlemen
acted as pal-besrers: A. Ii. Fall, Isaac
Waterfeld, viii Reynolds, G. V. Bryan,
James Thomas, Luther Davis and j. Rich
ardsop.
A short, but appropriate, funeral dis
course was preached by DR.. Baird, OF the
Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which
the deceased was q member.
Taking his text from the fourteenth chap
ter of Job, the Doctor said:
1t would be very hard, my friends, for
anything more unexpected to occur to cut
short mans life than this sad accident of
Yesterday. If the same accident were to
be repeated ten thousand times, it might
not result as it did yesterday. 1t seems as
though it were some special, guiding prov
idence of God. Does God intend by this
to admonish US that truly we edo no. know
The day nor the hour when the Son of Man
cometh ?n Does this not teach us TO be
ready for that change which will come in
some form or another to each one of us?
am glad to see before me such a large
attendance of the merchants of this city.
On The 18th of October, 1866, our young
friend came to offer himself as follower of
Christ, and united with the church at that
time. Since that time, | have always found
him in bis place; 1 have always found him
ready and willing to do his duty-not as
noisy, perhaps, as some would be, but reg
ular and steady in his habits and in his
life, and shall miss him much.
love to see profession men when one
of their number is called by providence of
God to surrender his lfe-I love to see
them turn out in body and show him the
| last sad mark of respect and confidence.
! This idea of ''fiaternity" is very pleasant
one to me.
Only ths day before yesterday we were
here with another one of our young men.
| How often have these two struck hands to-
gether as they journeyed along their
Christian cours! How little did any one
| suppose that before the week had ended
our friend David would BE- brought here
too, and be called upon so soon to follow
his friend? The suddeness OF this startles
us-not one word of adieu; not single re
quest. All that was bound up in the heart
of noble man to be kept a secret until the
last day. A painful, lingering sickness gives
us tine for these things and for our friends
to see us, but In this case, in moment oul
young friend is in the presence OF God.
Let me ask those who are busy with the
cares of the world to make, first OF all
their settlement with God. You should
lay aside everything, and make that settle
ment between yourself and your God; ant
then if an aceiden' OCCUR upon the railroad;
or in any other way, you can rest assured
that you are ready. This admonitior
should cause US to say 81 will settle tina
matter now; | will not risk casing mysel
out on sea so uncertain as all this. l vii
be a Christian first, and a business mai
| aftera ards" The man who seeks first tn
kingdom of God, that ig the man who
, ready, at all times, to meet Death.
1t would have been pleasant to have ha
a word with our young friend last nigh
, but he left not word-not word for th
mother who loved him so tenderly; not
D word for the friends who have followed hiI
! here to-day. But we haYe something NOR
pleasant and comforting than the last word
would have been. Look at the last fiv
| years of his life, and you are satisfied.
2 May God bless you, dear young men, an
bring you into Jesus Christ early in life
You are strong; you may have many day
before you, and you may have but few, BIT
, l trust you may begin early in life to fgl
. this christian warfare. God will call upo
! you by and by, it may be before to-mo
, rows sun has arisen.