The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-01-30

to endeavor to escape from God as he said to
Adam "For dust thou art and to dust shalt
thou return" But the virtues of our depart
ed brother were of far more value to US than
his personal appearance. It was customary at
times for images to be made that we might be
spared association with the personal appear
ance of those departed, but even they, like
the body, came to decay. Our departed friend,
however, was in character most precious and
appreciated. Though. death had built up
wall of separation, as it were, between him
and us, it was comforting to realize there was
a special privilege conferred upon those who
loved and served God for while We saw only
this side, they were permitted to see beyond.
Those whom God loved were not permitted to
see an eternal death. Death did not come to
them as an executioner, and bring them to the
dust as vanquished. Thanks be to Gedg It
was not death that had the victory, but we.
through Jesus Christ. One had come who |
had destroyed death, and relieved those who |
feared it and whether living or dead God /
never forsook those whom he loved. The |
martyr, Stephen, only fell asleep, and so with |
it inscribed on tomb-stones that such and |
such an one "fell asleep in Jesus" They |
were not lost, but gone before. All would |
again oome before Him-the dead first and |
then we. But the christian had Chrises own
words 81 will never leave thee" and "whoso-
ever hveth in Me shall never die" The word
of God defined that eternal life was never in
| Al,
but lived as much es they-nsy, more SO.
Two of the atoning influences Of Jesus Christ
were: "God SO loved the world that He
gave His own son, that whosoeyer believed on
Him might not die, but have eternal life.'
And, the high estimate God sets on
the good by ordaiuiDg their transition from
earth to heaven. So eternal lIfe came TO
those who love Him-and of the reward there
could be no more certain conclusion afforded
than that God sent His own Son to die for u.s.
He emancipated US from death. Though He
was rich He became poor, yea, poorer than
man, that He might see the travel Of His soul.
In the second place we had shown to US how
temptation was changed to conquest. The
Lord had said 81 go to prepare place and
will come again"-"where 1 am there shall ye
be also" and then He said it is My will that
they who have given Me their hearts shall be
with Me-" Wouldthey (the congregation then
join him (the preacher) in the concluding
words of Jude: "Now unto Him that is able
to keep US from falling, and to present US
faultless before tho presence of his glory
with exceeding joy"
These were words which run in his mind,
but it was fitting he should say few words
about the life of their departed brother. A
great deal had been said in print years ago,
that but little was left for him to add which
was not generally known. Sardis Birchard
was born at Wilmington. January 18th, 1901,
hence he was aged sevsnty-three years and
six days when he died. His father died when
he was only four years old, and he had only
attained his twelfth year when he lost his
mother also. He was then taken under the
guardianship of his brother-in-law, living in
Dunmerton, Vermont, but few yaars later
he also died, and in 1918 Mr.. Birchard settled
in Ohio. He first came to Fremont in 1927
then being twenty-seven years old-and re-
sided here to his death-forty-siz years. He
led an active business life, taking part in all
the important movements involving the inte-
rests of this place. In his early experiences
here he used to have transactions with the In
dians, doing considerable traffic because he
would not supply them with liquor. OF his
later career many Of them knew much. His
testimonials would not soon be lost sight Of
the public library would long continue to be
buntain OF his generosity. He the
preacher) first came here in 1857, and admin
tered the first communion IN May Of that
year, when the deceased was baptized and be-
came member of the church, remaining SO,
consistently, to his dea tn. This winter, how
ever, he was much confined TO the house-the
first winter he had not been brought to
church in December. He was always anx-
ious to attend the communion and be present
at the preparatory lectures. He would have
attended this winter had weather permitted
The PREACHER then proceeded to say-I well
remember, nearly two years ago, Mr.. Birchard
was much troubled in his religious feelings.
I went to see bin, and after a time, he said
| WANT you " k6lA LIZ 5OA4tCtALAAb- 7e-ASA
eyes, know what it is, better than you can
tell me-" "Wsll," he said, -'what is it." l
said mdo YOU know there is such q thing as
religious seIf-deception?" He replied Eyes
that's it-teIl me about it." did so; I ex-
planned it to him and sat with him some time.
Last spring I was with him again, and he said
"tell me about it." He felt troubled because
he did not feel troubled at his approaching
: last moments. 1 said "you believe in the
Lord Jesus Christi" He replied ''yes! 1 have
no other Savior" and he did not seem troubled
at ALL What, then, shall We say about our
friends departure Why should we mourn
and weep, and nothing else? It is fitting Gods
will that man goes to the grave, and whan q
man lives q good and godly life, and
goes to the grave in peace, say "Thanks
be to God who giveth US the vic
tory through our Lord Jesus Christ"
That's all, my friends-all look. for or you
ueed-live godly life, to good old age, and
die the death of q good man, perfect. Seeing
him no more, ought we not then to say
nThanks be to God" it is well. My expert
ence of him was that of moral and unfailing
friend, yet I still say sit is WELL" and it
will be well for US all at IL end of life, if,
through faith, we also overcome death and
immortality.
At the conclusion of the sermon, an oppor-
tunisy was afforded those who desired to take
last look at tie good old man, to do SO, and
nearly all did SO. The corpse wore natural
look, his face calm and placid as if in sleep,
but the kindly smile was absent and the genial
greeting gone forever, When tho last one
had passed before the coffin the lid was closed,
and the face of the deceased shut out from
view until the shested dead shall rise, shake
off the cerements of the tomb and come forth
into eternal life. The remains were then
taken to the cemetery, accompanied by large
concourse, and there inferred in their last rest
ing place.
| INCIDENTS.
His nephew, Ex-Governor Hayes, IS his
principal heir, but many bequests have been
made by his will, among them, as we under
stand, $1,000 to Oberlin College, $4,000 to
Home Missions, 81, 900 to Fremont Ladies'
Relief Society and 81, 900 to the COnger Fund,
a fund designed for the relief of superannu-
ated preachers.