National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-01

10 seventy thousand dollars; 90 that he had ample
means for manifesting toward others less favored
among us during these mann years, eTeupHfying
the virtues Of the Divine Master whom he loved
70 preach to his fellOW-men.
The circumstances were very pecPliar which led
to his transfer from . sister dissemination to our
own, and this transfer was elected without any
bitterness ofsprt or any alienation Of his brethren
from him. Through the last thirteen years their
confidence IN his goodness has not been dtmin-
iEhed, while his copresbyters have regarded him
only with increased love IS his character has been
unfolded in greater intellectual strength and
moral beauty with advancing time.
While Mr.. Coomns has thus stood before us
with character aRpsEs9tiy Of very rare ,S excel
timony Of gentlemen in the highest business
walks, that he has been for many years mono
maniac. ....
He was o great lover Of books. He bought
them In large numbers, and poured out his money
more freely for them than for the Injuries OF lfe
The sight Of new book was new excitement 70
matter he Reems to have had no control OF him
self. If his hand grasped book, whether In the
private parlor of friend or in bookstore, IL was
more precious TO him than gold, or, as It would
sppesT, than even hls e1n character. He must
have it; he took It. When detected, &c he fire.
Quently was by some who knew him we'll, he
pever denied the fact or attempted to conceal his
fault; he would promptly return the book or pay
If sS ann Peg lot S1s he %
He seems to have been Living many years in
these relations to some Of our booksellers, and
hope that they might be able to cure him of his
inhTmity prevented them from making known
these sad facts to others -
and overHhelih them with understandable sorrow.
They, Of course, can make no apology for them.
They can only place them by the ssde Of his
many virtues, and exclAim, "AlS5l alas! my
brother!"
His DEATH both as 10 its time and mode, was,
We believe. in accordance with the verdict Of the
coroner's inquest, the result OF insanity in the
highest degree, and so We cannot think him re-
sponsibIe for the act. His noncmania seems to
have come upon him at tnterval5, and during the
last fatal week, according to the testimony Of q
bookseller who had long befriended him, 1t took
seemed 10 be he case W6SneVer other eauses on
mental depression weighed upon him, as they
had done for q few days past more heavily than
usual. 1t was on Saturday afternoon last that
HE ENTERED THE BOOKSTORE
where having purchased and paid for two VOL
umes Of Carlyle's Life Of CROMWELL" he took
down from the booksellers shelf q CODY of Mel
Duhr's Lectures on the History Of Rome, +" and
with the other books carried it away. We shall
not comment on the scene which followed. We
dare not pass Judgment on those sad events.
night he felt himself to be q ruined man. HIS
heart was broken. He could not be consoled.
1t is evident he did not lie down to sleep that
night and we conjecture from particulars v hich
seem to point to IL that when morning cpme be
rallied for time. But it IVES only the last
pickering effort OF q shattered reason, and as he
read from one Of the Sunday morning papers an
allusion to the event Of the day Beforehand the
dark shadow Of his earthly future rose be-
forever. Reason, we believe, was utterly de-
throned, and thus by an act Of selC-fnhicted VIC
l. nee he surrendered up his lIfe
To all who knew and loved him we present this
record. His career among men is closed. In
silence and submission TO the Rfll Of God let us
i the pOR R Of the kInThty q beso w
on him, as on all Gods people, the heritage Of
resurrection and Immortality out of the wreck
After Dr. sunderland had completed his re-
nsTks, Dr. Noble announced that the usual SER
vices would be held next Sabbath in the church.
The choir then ehanted the Lords Prayer, and
Rev. W. Speak pronounced the benediction. The
diTge Peace to the memory Of the dead" was
rendered, and those assembled viewed the body,
the eottin-lif was screwed down, and it was re-
moved to the hearse by the following gentlemen,
who acted as pall-bearI rs: W. r. Singleton and
Geo. Hardwood, OF the Grand Chapter Of Masons;
6. A. Mc1lhaney, james Henning, VIM. Reed,
Lodge.
The funeral cortege moved of IN the following
order: Clergy 81 the Protestant churches OF the
District; the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter;
ing relatives Of the decessed; hel-se; carriages
with friends Of the deceased. The remains were
taken to Oak Hill cemetery, where they were in
tered with Masonic funeral honOrs.
In connection with the decease Of DR.. Coombs
q correspondent sends us the following:
Rev. J. N. Coomos was one Of whom the
relations Of Church work, IS conseieRtiOusly pre-
pared to say that HIS heart was constantly intent
Oh 0OlDB BOOus IN relieving distress, mlnlsterlng
comfort and giving personal, liberal aid. Tested
as he had been in these, there is no possible key
to the accusation which was the occasion of his
death, except that Of temporary alteration Of
mind at the time Of leaving he store Of Mr..
Besll. Having received on that day letter from
his insane wife, believe his whole current of
thought was out of reason.
This is said in no defence Of any wrong, for
none Of us will excuse sin. This ia not the day
in which any Of our church here will be known
as even lowering the name Of sin to weakness.
"Seeondly. 1t ought not to be forgotten for the
sake Of others, ito save demorsltEing then that
10 cases calling for deposition from the ministry,
suspension or censure for immortality have been
called for in this presbyteTy for many years, no:
one since the planning Of the Church in 1S07.
"BOTn here, and associated with It since lS4e as
minister, and acquainted with its records, 1 be-
lieVe the preceding statement thoroughly true.
have never heard Of q case occurring since 1907.
1t is due therefore, to this large body that this
fnet be remembered.
t1Strieken, in this fearful and inexplicable blow,
with profound grief, and yet unwilling to appear
to palliate wrong, the facts Of our beloved
brothers distressing circumstances, and the fact
that no shadow heretofore has been on the min
listers Of this body, are worthy noting for the good
Of others Who are too ready 10 take up with any
and every cloud upon the ministerial profession.
Are We not all weak in ourselves? In God alone
is our helD,n