National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-01
JRIAL OF MIR. CO0MBS.
THEFUHERAL SERMON AND 4 HIS
TORY OF THE CASE.

EXPLANATION - ATTENDANCE OF THE
PROTESTANT CLERGY-SCENEs AND IN
CIDENTS.
The funeral Of the late Rev. ]. N. Coombs, who
committed suicide Sunday last, took place yester.
day from the Western Presbyterian church. The
remains were removed from his late residence,
No 70 Eighteenth street northwest, at 10 o'clock
IN the TaoTnng and placed in trent Of the reading
desk In the church. The body was 1ttired In q
black suit Of clothes and encESed in an elegant
eloth-ooYered casket, trimmed with silver and
Masonic enblems; on either side were three
heavy silver handles made in the most artistic
style, and on the top q silver plate was ahxed
inscribed: REV. John N. Ooombs, born May Y,
1s2z, died December q, 1874" At the head oil
the cof1n was o broken column made OF the
choicest flowers, which rested on table; on the
top Of the easEet were Wreaths and crosses, also
made Of flowers, all Of which were presented BY
The congregation.
The recess Of the platform was heavily arsPso
hour Of the arrival of tho body at the church
crowds began to collect, and when the doors were
The oorpse taking the last look until o'clock,
the hour set apart for the services. Every seat
IN the church and the aisles were occupied, and
Thousands were on the outside seeking admission.
The arrangements made for accommodating all
the church would hold were complete. The south
side was reserved for the MasOns and ministers,
while the front seats were set apart for the friends
and relatives of the deceased, and the remaining
portion for the public.
The square on which the church is located III
street, between Nineteenth and Twentieth) was
packed with human beings awaiting the arrival
Of the body TO the hearse, and in the meantims
suicide. As might be expected there was great
diversity OF opinion, each having their theory as
70 the cause OF the act.
THR SERVICE.
A few moments after 1 O'Clock the services BE-
gan BY the performance Of dtrge on the organ
by Mr.. H. A. Gross, after which Dr. U. H. Tiff
fanny announced the chant, "HoW dark the road
We 20 to Our last resting place, =" which was sung
by the Georgetown Masonic choir who occupied
the choir gallery. On the conclusion OF the
singing Rev. S. S. Mitchell read appropriate Sc
lections from the Scriptures. This was followed
by prayer BY DR.. Mason Noble, who invoked Di
vine blessing on the deceased and the widow,
and prayed lor the welfare Of the church in its
calamity and bereavement, and that the congre-
gation may ind consolation in God and the offices
OF the church be blessed. Rev. DR.. Byron Sun.
derlaDd delivered the funeral address.
ADDRESS OF DR. SUNDERLAND.
NY BKKTHREN AND FRIENDS: We are in the
presence Of death We humble ourselves before
God. Mystery is all around US. Evil is all
around NJ. II is q solemn hour.
How sorroHful is this church to-day. How
deeply has the iron entered into the souls OF men.
What blow has fallen on our hearts. Speaking
to-day for my brethren, ard for you for this CON-
munity and the Church Of Christ, speaking for
the cause Of religion, and for the faith the hope
and promise OF the Gospel Of the Son Of God;
speaking for the Masonic Orders, for kindred and
friends, and for the memory Of the dead, must
not direct you to these lessons which this grieY-
Gus event most urgently impresses?
i. First, that amid the perils of this life our
safety is in God. He only can keep Us in all eur
ways. How earnestly and instantly must we
pray for this, since We need protection every
where and at all times in secret and in public, at
home and abroad, by night and by day, in child
hood and youth, u manhood and old age, in the
formation Of our character, in the conduct of our
Life, and in all cur intercourse with our fellow
men.
2. Again, we see the mystery Of Providence.
We know rot what a day may bring forth. Gods
ways are often strange. We cannot tell what
new and sudden circumstances will break upon US.
That which we have witnessed in the past is no
token Of what may transpire in the future. Ex-
peTience, with all its lamps, can throw but little
light before US. Out Of the darkness Of the uni
verse rises the form of human destiny which has
no common mold. The future rejects the pat
terms Of the past: Confronted always with new
possibilities, il becomes us to meet them with
Christian tOrtitude and faith. The shocks and
commissions Of this life should be to US what the
mountain tempest is to the cedar Of Lebanon.
spopsfbiIitY. No man lfyeth 10 himself and no
man dieth 10 himself. In an important sense We
are our brothers keeper. And as none but God
can untangle the web OF this responsibility and
assign TO each Of us his share, so God alone can
Judge tmpartiaffy Of the acts OF human beings.
We are all sinful and erring, and therefore let us
cherish the spirit OF charity, and not OF censure
Z. Again, we see the exceeding fearlessness of
that evil which afhicts humanity-the evil OF in-
EQUITY. 1t Is the monster of the universe. 1t
nars or ruins whoever it strikes. We cannot eX-
plain It. Would God we might avoid IL!
s. Again we see the tne1pressible value Of
DlVlue grace through Jesus christ. II Is more
10 be desired than any treasure Of this world. 1t
God.
g. Again, we see the transcendant importance
Of preparation for the future life. Prepare TO
meet thy God. Set thine house in order for thou
shalt die and not live. When q few years are
passed we shall go the way whence we shall not
return. This world will vanish. We shall stand
confronted with eternal things.
: Again, we see the design Of afrietiou. Il Is
% Wean rs from this life and ne VI Tor the life TO
cone. I've iai 10 prOnt BY We may lose the
everlasting reward.
& again, We see the urgency d the work We
have 70 DO aud The brevity anC uncertainty of
the time. What our hands md 20 10 must be
done quickly, for the night cometh wherein no
These are the lessons which the voice of God
with startling emphasis speaks TO us to-day.
Humbled and distressed, We would bow before
Hin. We would yield TO His admonition and
earnestly iDplore that it may make US wise.
We have DUTY to perform toward those who,
IN the family and in the Church and in the circles
Of association where he moved, have been smit-
ten BY
THE DEATH OF OUR DEPARTED BROTHER
and friend. We point them one and all to the
cancellations Of the FpiIit and the word of God.
There is q comforter for the sOrrOHing heart.
There lie redress for the troubled mind. Let US
betake ourselves this day in penitence and sub
mission &c the feet Of Jesus to the shrine OF eter
nal truth. Let us look Tor help in the Divine
cOunsels. There and only there can We find re-
lief And row what further? / cannot answer
in words 70 that which presses in all our
mystery too deep and dark Tor us 70 penetrate.
As no man knows this case between the living
and the dead there is none upon earth that
should presume to Judge 1t.
But, Al the came time, it has been deeply felt
by US that plain, brief statement Of our broth
eT's character and life should be made on this
OesAsioD. In performing this duty cannot dc
better than to employ the language Of q highly.
esteemed and distinguished brother and minister
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who has had
with him an almost lifelong acquaintance and
on whose testimony we unhesitsJingly rely. In
. communication Just received from him he says;
A BROTHER MINISTER'S VIEWS.
The Rev. John n. CoomJs was born in or near
FFOstbuTg, Allegheny county, Nd, about the
year 1877. He graduated al Dickinson college,
Carlisle, Pa, in the class Of 1S4S, one Of the
largest classes in the history Of the college, and
m unusual proportion of whose members have
attained distinction in different spheres Of proles-
Eional life.
IN 1850 he was received into the baltimore con.
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal Church. in
connection with which, for a period Of twelve
years, be exercised his ministry with great hdel-
1ty and with good results in all the elds Of labor
70 which be was assigned. During the later years
Of this period he was under the pressure Of
strong reaEons Of q domestic character to desire
a more settled manner Of living than the itipe-
Tancy allowed. 1t came to be question with him
whether II might not be his duty at least for q
time TO cease from the active work Of the minis
try, in order TO secure that permanent residence
and quiet which his domestic circumstances
seemed 10 render so desirable. While agitated
BY these peTpleXities, way was opened by which
ne could nave q settled home and continue in his
loved employ, the work Of preaching Christ. The
pastoTate Of the Western Presbyterian church
was offered him. He looked on this, as did all
his brethren Of the conference whom he consulted,
as the Special ordering Of Providence, and nave
reason 70 know that ali the years Of this happy
pastoral connection increasingly confirmed hum
In this belief. The kindness OF this people toward
him WBs one Of the chief Joys OF mis- life, while
the STEADY, heslthful growth Of this church under
his ninisTratiOns is evidence OF his faithfulness
and OF the blessing Of God upon his labors.
he was man Ol good natural ability, Of well:
disciplined mind, Of line literary tastes. He read
much and b great advantage, and was espe-
oially diligent In preparing for the pulpit
he was possessed OF nature the most genial
and kindly, full OF tenderness ana sympathy.
think II must be true that none were ever in as
ISOLATION with him without feeling the attraction
OF his gentle and loving nature.
To his natural goodness were added the orna-
ments Of grace. He was an earnest Christian.
Intimate association during more than q quarter
OF century ena bles me to affirm this OF hiin with
ae much assurance as could Of any one have
ever known. ! have been with him 10. all the
ytcissitudes Of his eXperience-in dark hours and
in bright, when the pillows we're going over him,
when he was near the gates Of death; and, again,
when be WIS in the joss Of vigorous health and
happy life; we have converted often and freely
on the subject Of personal religious experience,
and an GLAD 10 say, as my full conviction re.
quires, should, that, in ali these years the tes-
ttInony both Of his lips and OF his lille witnesses
tisn. fUr me the dark end casts no shadow over
the luminous path along which have seen him
travel.
STATEMENT FROM TUE PREsBTTERY.
In addition 10 this we present the fact that q
most earnest and cordial testimony in the form OF
resolution, expressive Of their estimate Of the
nan. Vas passed and published by the entire bod '
3F . h HFrs NJ