The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-03-08
FUNERAL DISCOURSE
Pronounced by Rev. c. Ii. Galloway at the
Funeral ofthe late William Barksdale,
i'm this City, March LIST, 1876.


together today, though not peculiar, Is
none the less sad and affective. In other
things. the events and experiences Of life
loose interest and force BY frequency Of
occurrence. But not 50 with death. It's
remorseless tread is as uHwelcome, and it
ravages as hard to bear, as though its blight
had never been felt before .and its cold hand
had never marbied o-e lair brow It's
poison has never lost its bitterness. It's face
never becomes familiar. We dread It's APP
proach, we shudder at its touch But, alas
however unwelcome. we cannot stay It's SAD
visitatiOns. Death has no truce with lie.
Rich and poor, old and young, great and
obscure, are alike the shining marks OF It's
steady aim and fatal shafts. The monarch
upon his throne and the peasant IN his
hovel, must yield TO a common foe ana
blend in common dust. The elastic strength
and cloudlcss brow Of hopeful youth, must
be coffined in the same death with the de-
crepid form and wrnkled face and frosted
locks of care-wOrn age. Death u no re-
specter of persons. But in the early falling
Of those just entering upon the response
bilities and duties of life, we feel a shock
and experience sorrow, different from the
loss OF the 3ged or very young. In the
death of the old and in1irm, however near
to us, there is much to comfort With the
growing decreptude anu helplesshess OF
advanced years, life, to them, loses much Of
its charm and inspiration. Friend after
friend departs, until at length they are left
all alone, bereft of every early sympathy
and association. And when Death comes
at last, like heavens glad eyauSel, it only
brings message of love. 1t oilers eX
emptiOn from sorrow, and a renewal in the
skies of liie's early associations. When
children die, before the spirits young bloom
has been stained with sin II shaded with
sorrow, we know, without the IntlmatlOn
of doubt, they are saved in heaven.
They 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.
But when the dread summons comes to
young manhood or womanhoOd, whose fu
Iure is so bright with promise aud whose
life-plans are so fondly cherished to our
earthly sense, 1t seems so hard. When the
heart is fresh with hope and life's dreams
are all so golden, in a moment they are
withered by the chilling touch of death.
We wonder at the strange providence that
extinguishes life in the beginning OF its
usefulness and the dawning Of its radiant
future. Such a dispensation we are called
to-day to mourn. a warm, generous and
promising young life has been folded away
in the cold embrace OF death; but God
knew best, and III His wisdom called him
hence.
In this, as in every aflliction, God means
to do us good. He would teach us the way
of life and draw us to His heart OF love. 1t {
has been said. with as much truth a. beauty,
that Calamity is mans true tOucnstone.'
1t tests his principles and tries his faith.
1t gives him proiounder knowledge OF
himself and a clearer conception of his re-
ton without complaint, and feel the heavy |
hand of God without rebellion. has evidence |
of his spiritual heiIshp 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 |
a thousand radiant worlds could never en- |
trance the natural eye. 80 our God, by |
casting the shadow of a great sorrow upon |
the soul, flashes upon our eye OF faith fields |
of beauty and WOrluS OF glory we had never |
81, Il
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
4 few words of comment and eXhortation.
Our young friend and brother, whose I'M
timely death we mourn, had many excel
1enceS of heart and life. He had Il high
sense of chivalrous honor that gave him Il
gentlemanly dignity far beyond his years.
His friendships were warm and generous
His attachments were strong ana sincere.
But, of all his virtues, there one which
shone with heavenly beauty. He lgaS q
most M0uglttfui and datifuJ son. His father,
the late Gen. William Barksdale, having
died soldiers death upon tue field of bat
tie when he was yet child, all the respon-
EibilitV and care of his training de- |
her he lavished all the wealth of his
heart. She was his ideal of all spiritual eX
cellence and charming beauty OF character.
For her his VenerattOn 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 |
greatest sorrow, cast its dark shadow over
his young, manly heart. But her peaceful | f,
memory was perpetual balm to his bruts-
ed spirit, and he never ceased, even in his
last moments of painful disease, to recount
and eXalt her many virtues. In these times
OF youthful reckleSSneSS and Impotence of
parental authority. | would commend his
worthy example. There is hope for that
young man who delights to honor his parents
and emulate their virtues. The first step to
moral waywardness is tilial disobedience
Here Satan makes his first etlectual attack
and wins away the soul. NouIhful disre-
gard of parental restraint grows naturally |
into gross and wicked violations OF Gods
law. But when young man honorS his |
parents and seeks to promote their happi- |
ness, he has the foundation principle of
obedience, on which to build Il christian
character of colossal strength and heavenly
mould. Would that this jeweled virtue of
our young brother were emulated and imi-
tated by the youth OF our country.
Willie Barksdale died a Christian. He |
found peace with God, aud passed away i'm |
the blessed hope Of immortal life. At his
own request | received him into the church,
but few hours before he died. lie eX-
pressed readiness to go, ana said repeated
~ that he had no fears. Let this soften the | :
blow, and cOmf fort the SOrroWiug hearts. OF
the large family hereaved by this sad afllic
ton. After all, life is but preparation for
death. By faith in Christ, may we all die !
the death of the righteous,
Young men OF jackson, let me bid you
take warning. God is calling to you from
the cold lips of that sleeping corpse " Ny )
son, give me thine heart" tie teaches YOU
the great uncertainty of this mortal life.
We live to-day, and tomorrow we die. ;
How sudden was the summons. \ week {
ago Willie Barksdale was iii robust health, |
with all the flushed and Inspiring hopes o. J
young manhood. The future was as roseate /
and beautiful as was ever drawn by the pen
ell of young Imagination. Bat alas. how
vain are all earthly hopes! Ills generous
dreams have faded with his young lite. My
young friends. learn wisdom from this sad
providence. Hearken to the faithful warm
ing of your heavenly Father. Your life \
plans may soon be buried in the grave
Your hopeful and beautiful future may soon /
be clouded in death. Your probation may G
soon be over. God hell us all, young and
old, by humble faith, ever TO be ready.
- No fitting shadows 10 dim the light
OF the angel pinion, winged for flight u
NO cloud-hke phantoms 10 fling gloom p
Iwlxt Heavens bright portals and earth 5 -
dark tomb: =
But sweetly gently 10 pass away y
From the world dim twilight into day =
y
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