The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-22

v ~
J, 4. A Funeral Party Astonished. |
vassaAa LLOYD GARRISON COMBATING rnE
.sas VIEWS OF AN AGED CLERGYMAN.
Since the war Mr.. William Lloyd CARR.
'on has lived In comparative seciuslon., He
Aus taken little or no part In public affairs,
md even his place Of residence was known
10 only q few Of those By whom his stirring !,
s6olition speeches are still recoi,ected.
On Saturday he appeared IN Paterson.
New Jersey, 10 the rS!e Of theological e.e-
batter. Mr.. John G. Benson. an old resident
aud formerly siak-msnufacturer Of faser-
Bon, after long tRness, died last week. A
large body of Freemssons and nnnerous
relatives aud friends attended his faueral on
Saturday. sud assong those who were spe-
gialsy invited wss Mr. William Lloyd CARR.
son, who was distantly connected with Mr..
Benson By marriage. -..
Mr.. Garrison Is In his sevepfy-first year,
aud lives 10 Boston. He went to Llewelien,
Near Paterson, where his 500 fves, anu on
Saturday he attended the fuuesaa OF his reis-
tive. For some years be has been much in
The habit .o delivering brief addresses 90
ouch occasions, and Is someHhat noted for
the aiberalay Of bis vtcws. Mr.. Benson's
fanlty arc members Of the First Baptist
church, bat the psstcr, the Rev. Mr. Ban.
ward, sbe;rg away. q Mr. Grisnsl was Invited
TO proarh The funeral sermon The Rev. MI
GrsnDelts in his e!ghtyseccad year, and was
one Of .she frst pastors OF sthe First Baptist
church. OstensiWy, be lopS sRo retired from
the lecfave ministry, but. be frequently
breaches IN different chuEctes in New 1ef-
5eydWhsn their pastors are absent. In nany
respects hts PRINCIPLES are Numerically ep-
pcsel to tbose Of Nc. Garrison, and he Is
sspeesaily noted (or the tCsiyinistic severity
:of his,views regarding death.
When Mr.. Garriseo and IFS son arrived at
Mr.. Bensnn's hspse they were introduced to
the aged minister, wbo received them cor
dialsg, and said that rs Ire bad not known
Mr. Benson personally Ire would be unab'e
20 ,nreach such q sermon SO the occssion
zeaaed TO caR for; and ~ten Mrs. Benson
inVted Hr. Garrison to make sone remarks
the clergyman warmly seconded the lnVita'
ten. Saving that this forEser acquaintance
1yish Mr.. Benson world enable him to sup
plg all deficiencies 10 bis SMr. Grinnefs)
sesmon. Mr.. Garrison conseated, and the
party went down staira. After the opening
prager Mr.. Gripoei spose at considerable
leupfh. and created rather an unpleasant Im-
procession upon bis hearers by drawing g
startling picture Of mans TEAL deprayity,
and the terrible punishment that was the In"
eyitable reward Of iniqutty. Death, be said,
was not merely the natural termination OF li'e,
but sse punishment imposed upon all man
kind by 40 indignant God for the sins OF our
forefsnhers.
When ut last the venerable minister sat
down. Mr.. Garrison arose to redeem bis pro-
mise Of making closing address, de began
by apolegizipg 10 Mr. Grinneli for what ne
was about TO say, and added that while en-
tertainipg the most profound respect COR toe
aged eIers! man be totally disagreed with
him 10 every particular. TO bin, be SAID,
death seemed 10 be one Of Gods greatest
mercies 10 man, redeemlng him often from
life Of pain and wretcbedness, and opening
10 him the gates of higher and better
world. 1t would be INDUSTRIOUS to suppose
that it was punishment of any kind, and
especially q punishment for original sin. 1t
was the natural close to temporal existence,
rs birth WAS the commencement, and one
could be no more punishment than the
other.
Above oil things, he repudiated the doc.
trtne that death was sword Of DAmocles.
always banging over meu's heads 10 remind
them OF their tinal doom, and frighten them
into the paths Of virtue. There was no
merit 10 the austere life Of one who avoided
vice and cluGg to virtue, not because be
hated one and loved the other, but because
his cringiCg tesr of Gods justice was greater
than bis faith III his mercy. Every man
should be righteous for righteousness sake
and the love Of bis Maker, or it would avail
him nothing.
Mr.. Garrison spoke for about twenty min.
ntes, and his closing words we're somewhat
warmer than be probably intended them 10
be, and, indeed, took the nature Of pretty
shafp rebuke to the venerable clergs man.
He concluded with second apology, In
which he conceded the right of bis prede.
cessor 10 hold what views he liked, but
claimed similar privilege for himself.
The aged clergy man seemed to bear the
he was to have another turn. He offered
The closing pray er, and obtained slight ad.
vantage over the sturdy old abolition st by
getting the last word. He explicitly ex.
planned bis doctrines in this petition, and
struck blow al Mr. Garrison by saying {:
"Great Father, vino hast said that death was
sent into the world as punishment for sip."
At the close Of the service Mr.. Garrison
shook the preachers hand, and expressed
hope that no i'll feeling had been engendered
between them. Dir. GrinGei, in view of the
last prayer, said he cherished none but the
most friendly sentiments toward Mr.. Garri-
Son.
The friends and relatives of Mr. Benson
listened with interest to the peculiar discus
sion, and all agreed tina. MIR. Garrison re-
taias in iull bis oId.time eloquepce and con.
troversial powers. He started for bis home,
in Boston, immediately after the funeral.