Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-03
Arthur DnMeX.

In the death Of this amable and promising
young man, recorded In our death column this
week, one Of the most remarkably pleasant and
happy family circles in town has been for the
first time invaded The sympathy Of our whole
community was affectngy manifested on the oc-
casion Of the funeral Al the close Of Dr Lords
highly appropriate and comforting address Profess
sor White, principal Of the Methodist Seminary,
with which young Dewey had been connected the
present term, added few impressive words, ms
follows
In our great sorrow to-day we have but one
source Of consoaton--our faith In God Here We
have firm ground upon which we may rest II
we ask why this dear boy has been taken from
this home, we cannot answer. The facts upon
which the question depends are beyond the reach
Of our vision and, even " we had them before ~,
the problem would be too vast for us. But our
confidence in God assures MS that lie perfectly
comprehends the problem Of this young life that
has so suddenly vanished from our sight, and that
lie is working out that problem by a plan Of per-
feet wisdom and love. II Is made plain to-day
that Gods plan for him is different from that
fondly cherished by this stricken father and
mother-diifcrcnt from my plan for him-diifer-
ent from the plan Of our dear young friend him
self. These parents hoped to see their boy grow
up to manhood, and Gil an honorcd place
among men and to this end they purposed to give
him the best advantages Of culture had entici-
pated with pleasure bearing some part In this
work It is but few weeks since he came to my
Office 10 consult me about pursuing course OF
study. It being settled that he could commence
his with the opening Of the spring term he
went away evidently happy in the prospect. But
| though our plans are frustrated and we are all
disappointed, we know that Gods plan is better
than ours; and our faith in Him assures us that
lie will carry it out goriously.
The scripture just read and expounded in our
| hearing teaches us the doctrine Of divine SOW
reignty, absolute and universal, and at the same
| time benevolent; and does not our experience to-
day in some degree corrobomte the testimony
Does not the God Of the bible reveal Himself 10
our hearts lie Is our Father and our Friend,
and il is His good pleasure 10 permit US to dwell
in His love. We know it is by no accident to His
plans that we are mourners. No enemy has won
an advantage over Him and thwarted His good
purposes 1t Is God Of infinite love who has be-
reayed Us, and this is assurance that it is fol
good.
II does not become Us 10 determine the rank Of
our friends with God. We are not such masters
Of ourselves as to be able 10 know even our own
standing with Him as moral agents Butwe need
not fear to trust our loved ones with the God who
gave them. Doubtless the character Of our young
friend was immature But this we may say foi
him; II his uniform integrity, his sweetness Of
disposition and his manly bearing among US illus
trate his character seen by the eye of our good
Father in heaven, his bright development stop'
not here. II he was true TO boys trust that i
all that was required Of him the condition Of re
ceiying the trust Of a nober life OF this we wan
no other guaranty than the word Of our Saviour
"He that is faithful in that which is least 1
faithful also in much" Perhaps the good angel
now have in charge the education of this belovec
boy, Shall not we who pray, "Thy kingdom
come, thy will be done ON earth as it is heaven,
try to keep pace with them in rearing up and edu
eating the boys and girls who are left to our care
Are not those who remain with us as dear as thos
who are gone from US ? Is not God as good upol
earth as lie is in heaven?