Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-01
Extract irom DIR. Peabodv's tunera

Extract from DIR. Peabody's funeral
sermon on the death of AgassiL.
| should do injustice to his memory
were to spea merely Of such services
As Will have their chief recognition
among men OF science. In no respect
does he merit grateful commemoration
more than in his indefatiyabe labors
Tor the diffusion OF scientific know ledge
and general education among all classes
and conditions OF men. Much of his
time and strength, his best powers, and
his most cunning eloqucncc have been
given to popular education, to the DIFF.
fusion OF knowledge among families
mechanics, and artisans. 1t must have
been i'll utter weariness and exhaustion.
and with the consciousness of some fear
iul crisis close Impending, that he ad-
dressed the a9rlcuturists of Fitchbury
with all his wonted eloquence and fer
vor, thus rendering his last active ser.
vice to that generous propagandism
which had become pervading, l might
say the chief, element in all the plans
aud labors of his later wears. The gen
erosity thus manifested for the public
welfare was ever shown him unvaryinn
ui" StiiSA PAtiCiiNC. III ana
kindly helpfulness. All over the country
are professors and teachers of science
who owe to him, often, the initial pur-
pose, and when not SO, the direction of
the persistent and successful industry
by which they have fitted themselves for
distinguished usefulness and eminrt..r.
SO that in the whole scientific culIuru of
our land his spirit will still 1--we and
work, and the impulse which he has
given will be prolonged and reiterated in
coming generations. Those who knew
him need not that | say how closely
these disinterested services to the pub
lie, TO his pupils, to all whom he could
benefit accorded with his whole spirit
and character, as manifested in the sa-
cred relations of friendship and kindred.
No man can have been more thoroughly
unseltish, nor can have had or deserved
warmer friends. Hosts of peasants
among the Alps, years and years after
his sojourn OH the banks of the Arr, talk
ed lovingly of him and delighted to
point out to tourists the mountain that
bear his name, Fisherman at Nahant and
Cape Cod who had but once seen him
never forgot him, when hook or net
brought up aught that was rare or
strange; sailors treasured up for him
shells and FOSSILS from the Indies and the
Southern seas. His broad sympathies,
his hearty good-fello wship, won for him
troops OF tributaries. and many there
were OF all conditions and grade of cul-
ture who would not willingly return
from the Pacific coast or a whaling sta
tion, or an Asiatic port, without sOme-
thing for Agassiz. cannot close this
hasty and inadequate, vet fervent and
hearty tribute, without recalling to yo lr
memory the reverent spirit in which he
passed his scientific labors. Nearly for
ty years ago in his first great work on
fossil fishes, in developing principles of
classification, he wrote in quotation
"An invisible thread in all ages run
through this immence diversity, exhib.
iting as great result the fact that there
is continual progress in development,
ending in msn-the four classes of yer.
tebras presenting the heintermediate steps
and the invertebrates the constant acces
sorry accompaniment" Have we moi
here the manifestation ola mind as DOW.
erful as prolific; the acts OF an intelligence
sublime, the marks Of goodness as inf.
mite as wise, the most palpable demon.
stratiOn of the existence Of a personal
God, author of all this, ruler of the uni
verse, and dispenser Ofall good? This. at
least, is what saw in the work of crea.
ton, and it is what he ever read, and
withprOfound awe and alteration. To
this exalted faith he was iDf]exibily loyal
The laws of nature were to him the eter.
nal word of God. His repugnance "a
Darwinism grew in great part from hie
apprehension of its stheistical tendency
an apprehension which confess / cal,
not share, for | forget not that these the.
ories now ON the ascendant, are maintain.
ed oy not few devout Christian men,
ana while they seem to me improved
and incapable Of demonstration, | could
admit them without parting with one
lota OF my faith in God and Christ. Ye,
lcsnnot but sympathize most strongl,