The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-03-05
EFGHERAk. EszsC0UesE
pronounced by Rev. c. B. Galloway at the
Funeral ofthe Late William Barksdole.
in this City, March LIST, 1875

IL L =
IeihoTselesS tread is as nuwelco1oe and ~
TaEa9es as hard TO bea", as though IT'S bliohf
haq never been felt beforehand rs cold hand
had never marbled o.e fair brow. Its
Pols0h mas never lost its bitterness It's face
never becomes familiar We dread irs On
proach, we shudder at its toucb. Rnt o1 j"
however unWclc0mc, we cannot stav its sad
EisiIattoQS. Death has no truce with life
hich ana poor, Old and young. great and
OBSCURE, are alike the shining marks If its
STEADY ann and fatal shafts The monarch
upon MS throne and the peasant in biS
ho7el, must yield to q common foe an5
DIend III common dust. The elastic stren0th
ana cloudless brow Of hopeful youth. mist
DE coiined in the same death with tha de-
ciepld form and wunkled face and frosted
locks OF care-WOrn age. Death is no re-
SicCter Of persons. But in the early fallinr
Of those just entering upon the resnonei1
DHiJieS and duties Of life, we feel a shock
ana experience d sorrow, different from the
loss OF the aged or very young. In the
death Of the old and intirm, however near
20 Us, there Is much TO comfort With the
growing decrep!tude AMI helDlessness Of
advanced years, lie, TO them, loses much OF
us charm and inspiration. Friend after
trend departs, until at length they are left
all alone, berett of every early symDathv
and association And when Death comes
at last, like heavens glad evangel, it onlV
Dllh4s Il message of love. 1t offers ex
SKIES Of LIES early associations. When
children die, before the spirits young bloom
has been stained with sin W shaded with
s0rroW, we know, without the iutimation
OF doubt they are saved in heaven.
Lhey passed away before this life had
thrown around them its magic charm.
For them death had no bitter partings
-thIs earthly life no strange destinations.
Bat when the dread summons comes to
young manhood or WOmanhnOd. whose fin
cure lSSo bright with promise and whose
Ite-piNs are so tondly cherished, to our
earthly sense, it seems so hard. When the
heart is fresh with hope and life's dreams
are all so golden. in a moment they are
Wlthetcd by the chilling touch of DEATH
We wonder at the strange providence that
eXtinguishes life in the beginning OF It's
usefulness and the daWning Of its radiant
future. SUCH diSpensatOn we are called
to-day to mourn. \ warm, generous and
promising young life has been folded away
in the cold embrace Of DEATH but God
knew best, and in His wisdom called him
hence.
In this, as in every affiiction, God means
TO Go us good. lie would teach Us the way
Of life and draw us to His heart OF love. It
has been said, with as much truth a. beauty,
that calamity is mans true tOucnstOne.'
IL tests his principles and tries his faith.
1t gives him a pTOtOunQer knowledge Of
himself and a clearer conception of his re-
latOn to God. He who can endure afiiic-
ton without complaint, and feel the heavy
hand OF God without rebellion, has evidence
OF his spiritual heirship with Christ he
could never have felt but for this bitter eX-
perience. But for night throwing its dark
curtain over the face OF nature the marvel
Gus beauty of the heavens, glittering with
Il thousand radiant worlds, could never en-
trance the natural eye. So our God, by
casting the shadow of great sorrow upon
I 1A H1G n folds
Of beauty and worlds of glory We had never
seen before. We often see God in the deep
dark valley OF sorrow, when we have failed
TO discern His footsteps and presence on
mOuntain-tOp and sunlight. God grant that
through the tears and shadows of this
solemn day We may see the beauty of the
Lord and hear His gentle voice Of love.
l would not indulge in fulSome praise;
but that this sad occasion may be i'm
proved to the good OF the living, | offer
a few words Of comment and eXhOrtation.
Our Young friend and brother, whose un-
timely death we mourn, had many excel
lencics of heart and life. He had a high
sense Of chiyalrOuS honor that gave him
gentlemanly dignity far beyond his years.
His friendships were warm and generous
His attachments were strong and sincere.
But of all his virtues, there was one which
shone with q heavenly beauty. He 2c0S a
most h0ughtfuI and dltifa5 son. His father,
the late Gen. William Barksdale, having
died a soldiers death upon the field OF bat
tie when he was yet q child. all the reSpon-
sibiity and care of his training de-
voIved upon his widowed mother. Upon
her he laVished all the wealth Of his
heart She was his ideal Of all spiritual eX-
cellencc and charming beauty OF character.
For her his Veneration became pathetic.
Her pleasure was his highest joy. And
when, some months ago. she was called
away by the cruel hand of death, earth's
Of tic apL-
his young manly heart But her peaceful
memory was perpetual balm to his bruls-
ed spirit, and he never ceased, even IN MS
last moments of painful disease, 10 recount
and eXalt her many virtues. la THESE Llihe5
of Youthful reCkleSSneSs and lmpatlehce OF
parental authority, | would commend has
worthy example. There is hope Tor that
young man who delights to honor his parents
and emulate their virtues. The nrSC step 10
moral WavWardness is tilial disoDedlence-
Here Satan makes his first e1fectual attack
and wins away the soul. 1outhlul dlsIe-
gard of parental restraint grows naturally
into gross and wicked violations OF 600
law. But when young man hohors ms
parents and seeks 70 promote their uapPl :
ness, he has the foundation prlnclple OF
Obedience, on which to bhlld a chTlslidh
character of colossal strength and heavenly
mouId. Would that this ieweled virtue OF
our young brother were emuiated anu III /
tated by the youth Of our country
Willie Barksdale died q Christian. lie
found peace with God, and passed away III
the blessed hope of immortal life. At his
own request 1 received him into the ehnrcn'
but a few hours before he died. lie e1-
pressed readiness to go, and said repeated
iy that he had no fears Let this soften we 10
blow. and comfort the sorrowing hearJs; VI
the Ior@e family bereaved by this sad aff1IIc-
ton. After ali, life is but preparati on Tor 10?
death. BY faith in Christ may we all die
the death of the righteous
Young men o. Jackson, let me bid you
take warning God is calling to you from ON
the cold lips of that sleeping corpse: " NY
son. Owe me thine heart" He teaches you
f the Great : uncertainty of this mortal life
We We live i've to-day, and tomorrow we die.
How sudden was the summonsl 4 week ,sP
400 Willie Barksdale was in robust health,