, 1876-07-22
SEATTLE, Ju Y II, 1916. !
EHtDr Star /

81 poem appended was prepared 10 he
.,i,rrch AZ the funeral OF the late Mrs.
u ANA Collins. deceased. aud t. hr pub.
shed in the NnRTHERN STAR. according
, trrnnrmrur made with the son Of Mrs.
,,Iiu>. WHO SAID he did not want Clcr-
ymtn to uiiclntr NJ the funeral ot his
,uothrr. rs he dit not believe in the pop.
MAR religion of the day. But the nd.
dr,s, failed OF hring delivered on nc.
,onnt Of Il misunderstanding N relation
~ the lmc aud place. The poem is sup.
Irsrd TO he expressive Of the sentiments
nf Mrs. Collins, ms she died in the belief
IT a future lite, with these explanations
| ,end you the address for publication.
+. II. MARSH.
According to the request al the rch.
tiyps of the deceased sister before us, |
ave consented to make few remarks
"u this occasion ot the performance Of
i'it lhSl SHl I'lcN w ncI, Hot Hn priest,
minister or viCcgerent of Heaven, bur
friend, ncighhor and sympathhcr with
,hcm. 1t is true that this is mn inn0va.
IN upon the common custom ut tuncr-
ais, which is to employ Il scctalipn minis.
ter 10 ,lcscnnt on the subj, Of death
and ,logmns of the existence hereafter
either in eternal hell or heaven as the
ease may he. But the relatives of the
deceased not being in sympathy with
these dogmas, descended to MS from an
cent ages OF comparative ignorance and
harharlsm, having left them all behind,
and advanced to u higher and more ra.
tional plane of thought and action which
embraces in its scope the present OF this
world with all its opportunliesNaud re-
sponsibiIitcs for the development and
Improvement, and future progress of the
rnce physically, mentally and morally,
preferred that this occasion shOnld not ut-
lord AN opportunity for the promotion OF
what they hold to I've false views; which
are the foundation Of false system of
selfish cmo,ionalism, with but little of
active bcnevoleuce, and not founded on
reason or common sense.
Death hath no terrors to the rational
list; he welcomes it at the lust AS his best
friend to relieve him from undesirI
Die life. when his senses have become
bluntcd with age, his eye dimmcd, his
hearing dcadened, his taste blunted,
his physical system worn out by nat.
ural action, he lies TRANQUILITY down to
sound sleep, submitting in death to the
same power that irst gave him lie and
action. But to the superstitious, t.
whom death has been painted rs grim
monster, calling and hauling them to
eternal torments, with grim devils dane
ing in demouiac gce over Il fresh victim
10 their sulpburOns pit, it is II terror in
decd and creed is the superstition thai
so enslaves the human mind, and peoples
the future and unknown of our destiny
with vicious hells aud demons, and cruel
gods; and which places men as viccger.
vnts to negotiate his fellows and this de.
moniac and hellish crew ofcrucl demons.
and more cruel gods, with which the
savage and barbarian mind OF the ignor.
ant and barbarous past has peopled the
future world No, We have better
hopes OF the future than is offered by any
OF their cruel and barbarous superstitions
"f the past; for they are Of the past,
though still lingering with us in almost
"mnipotent power over tine larger part
Of the cnslnycd human race.
The moral law Of our nature is inner
tnt in us; it Is part Of us; il belongs
to us; it was born with us; and is Just
rs simple aud as easily understood rs
that two and two arc four. 1t is not u
principle that depends or either aWthOy
ny or Il special revelation, but is seen and
understood though orr natural and in
tuItiyc perceptions and reason man
sees and feels that It is wro1r tor his
neiShbor to steal his goods, take hi' lite.
10 deceive, dctraud, or iniuro him I'm ,ay
way; and from this Simple view OF the
case is inevitably driven ro the aonr.u.
sion embraced IN the 81, called Goldm
-nle--rhal he shoal uccrdr q. M. neigh
Dor nj tie riglHmcl Justice that be
Tou't nD..pi from him,
Al. ST.. rhc popuiai s.rwmjsn of
Lhr -Nn. Nm. I'M. lun.l sinLnInL