Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-07-24
Written for this Paper.
Funeral of Judge Steele.


Hartland, in the Congregational meet
ing-house, there was attended by a
large concourse of people, the funeral
of the late Hon. Benjamin H. Steele,
late Justice of the Supreme Court of
Vermont. There were present represen-
tatives of the legal profession, and
friends of the deceased from Wood
stock, Windsor Burlington, Royalton,
Bellows Falls, and other places. Among
others we noticed the Rev. Professor
Parker of Dartmouth College, and the
Hon. Luke p. Poland, Representative
in Congress from this District. There
was short preliminary service, con-
sisting of a Prayer by the REV. I. g.
Hubbard, d. d., Rector of Trinity
Church, Claremont, N. H., at the late
residence of Judge Steele, after
which procession was formed which
moved to the Church where the i'm
pressive service CT the Episcopal
Church for the "Burial of the Dead"
was said by the Rev. DR.. Hubbard
The Sermon was by the Rev. Mr..
Bittinger, of Hartland, and it was
most worthy Of the occasion. Mr..
Bittinger was college classmatc OF
Judge Steele, and is no less eminent
in the sacred profession than was his
friend in the legal. After some his
torical remarks, the sermon rose to a
rich phrenetic strain, breathing the
purest spirit Of fIienship, and the most
scholarly sympathy, and appreciation
Of the departed.
Judge Steele was but SO years of
age at the time of his death. He was
born in Canada, had no extraordinary
facilities for acquiring an education. -
After preparatory training in the
Canadian schools, he entered Norwich
University, then under the Presidency
Of the late Rev. Edward Bourns,
LII d. After one year at Norwich,
Steele entered Dartmouth College,
He became member Of a very brill
ant class, among whom was the pres
ent Governor Of Ohio. Upon leaving
college, Judge Steele began the study
of the Law, at Boston and Cambridge,
in the State of Massachusetts. Soon
after he began the practice of his
profession at Derby Line, in Vermont.
At the unusually early age of 20, he
became one Of the Judges of the
Supreme Court of Vermont, position
which has always been filled by the
leading jurists of the Commonwealth.
As a jurist, we were assured by the
preacher, that Judge Steele fully sus.
tanned the requirements of his position.
10 these details we listened with much
interest, but the real value of the dis
course was its accomplishing what is
so rarely done-the task of a truly
appreciative funeral grafton. The
preacher, now proceeded to some
what minute and deeply analytic
review of the mental qualities of
Judge Steele, and with the consecra-
ted tenderness of scholars friend
ship for scholar, he drew a picture of
the intellectual life of one of the most
gifted men of this entire community.
His retentive memory, his clear in
sight, his complete honesty ofopinion,
his calmness of Judgment, his industry
In studies, his large attachments, TO
gether with his moral characteristics,
scon Of hypocrisy, deep religious
instruction, enthusiastic love of his
profession, were all exhibited in the
most engaging manners. The speak
er, evidently moved, had been col
lege friend, and the Pastor of the
departed. He spoke under the III
huence of the purest kind of friend
ship which can exist-the community
of two gifted minds. AS Cicero says
--"Etenim omnes artes quae ad
humanitarian pertinent, habent quod-
dam commune vinculum; ct, quasi cog
natione quadam, inter Sc continentur.
Although Judge Steele was
reared among Congregationalist in
fuences, the preacher informed us
that he had formed a decided prefer.
ence for the Episcopal Church, and
he was baptised by the Rector of the
Cathedral of Minnesota, in Faribault,
only few days previous to his death
thus attesting in almost the supreme
hour his appreciation of the value of
the Christian Sacrament of an open
confession of the Divine Savior of men.
The remaining services were held at
the grave and, thus, at the sunset