The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-09
MEMORIAL DISCOURSE,
The Life and Character of Isaac Har-
ter, ST., Delivered in the First M
u. Church, Canton, O., March
5, '7e at2 l-2o'clock P, m'
BY REV. l., NJ, KUHNs.


DEATH as was this community on las
Sunday morning, when the inlelligenc
spread through our city, that Isaac Har
ter was dead. This resulted inpart, fron
the suddennesss and unexpected charac
ter of the event. There had been n
special notes of previous warning sound
ed, and it came just when we were leas
expecting it, producing the most start
ling and profound sensation.
On Saturday he was seen in his place
of business and on the streets as usual
He spent the evening in the society o
friends in a distant part of the city, anC
was in his usual spirits, entering heartily
into the enioyments Of the social circle
After returning home, he retired for the
night, apparently at least, in his usua
health. None who met him on Saturday
supposed that to be his last day on earth
But so it proved to be, for in the early
morning of the next day, the terrible
shock came, first to his family, then to his
nearest neighbors, then to thecommunity
the shock occasioned by the announce
ment that he was dead. 1t was not how
ever, simply the suddenness of the event
that produced so profound sensation
but also the universal feeling that citi'
zen was taken away whom the commu'
nifty greatly needed, and whose loss
would be most keenly felt. Everywhere
this WAS the topic of conversation, and
people seemed to vie with each other in
extoling his virtues, and lamenting over
the great loss which our city and com
munity had sustained. The large attend
ance at the called meeting of citizens on
Monday evening, and their expressions
ofconfdence and profound respect; their
resolutions, setting forth the high esteem
in which he was held by all classes-the
closing of business houses and clothing
them in the sad drapery ofmourning dur
ingthe funeral obsequies, and the immense
concourse of people in attendance upon
the funeral on Wednesday-all bore the
most unmistakable testimony to his real
worth and honorable position, and the
universal esteem of those who knew him
so longand so well. AS but few of those
in attendance at the funeral could be
within hearing of the services, a very
general desire was expressed that an ad-
ditional service ola memorial character
should be held to-day, where all might
have an opportunity ofattending, to con-
slider and lay to heart the lessons taught
us by the life and character of such a
man.
The object our assembling is not to
bestow fulsome praise, orindu!ge inunbe-
coming panegyric but to solemnly con-
slider the lessons of Providence, and catch
the inspirations furnished by so worthy
an example, and turn them to practical
advantage in the development of our
own moral, christian and business char
acter. With this view we are here in
Gods house, and as suitable scripture
guide for the reflections of this hour, L
have selected the text found in Eccl Z; i:
"A good name is better than precious
ointment"
The frequency with which the scrip
lures speak ofprecious ointment, and the
high value which they put upon them,
furnish us some idea of the great esteem
in which they were held by the Ancients.
1t is supposed by many that these oint-
ments had an excellence and value far
beyond any that may be obtained at the
present day-that the manufacture OF
them is one of The lost artS-but let this
be as it may we know that in eastern
countries, and in ancient times, the peo-
pie placed an estimate upon them, far
above the prices which they cost at the
present time. They were used in great
profusion at the coronation of Kings, and
for the amounting Of priests, when they
were consecrated to their high and holy
office. Thev were also used among the
higher and more wealthy classes in con.
nection with their frequent additions,
which were rendered very desirable and
necessary by the peculiarities of the eli
mate and temperature. Because of these
important uses to which they were ap-
piled and the great pleasure which they
afforded, their value was almost beyond
computation; and to pour them upon the
head of a friend was considered the high
est possible mark Of esteem.
When the loving oman broke open
the alabaster box of precious ointment
and anointed the head of Jesus as he sat
at meat in the house of a friend, Judas
objected to such extravaganza and waste,
and said: "this ointment might have been
sold for much, and given to the poor"
But Jesus replied "Why trouble ye the
woman? Let her alone for she hath
wrought good work on me, and verify
l say unto you, throughout the whole
world, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached there shall also this that she
hath done be told for memorial of her."
Such being the value put upon these an.
cient ointments, they came to be used as
illustrations to set forth the high value
of objects with which they might be com
pared. To say that an object was as good
and valuable as precious ointment, was
intended to convey very exalted ap-
probation of it; and to say that it was
better than precious ointment, was in
tended to express its supreme value.
Now, this comparison is here employed
to set forth the value and excellence of a
good name. 1t is better than precious oint-
ment. tits better because it has in it not
only an objective but a subjective excel
lence-not onl y relative or cirCumstan-
tial, but an intrinsic excellence. 1t is
not an object of sense, mere convent
ence and pleasure, but a matter of the
life. and stands associated with the
moral character and responsibility. The
delicious odors of the most precious oint-
ments soon pass away and are lost to
the senses-but the blessed perfume of
good name will live forever, so that its
possessor, though dead, still continues to
speak and make his impress upon human
society. For these reasons it is better
than the most precious ointment
and more desirable than great riches
the highest honors and most valuable
legacy that man can leave his family
and friends. Such is the honor which
God stamps upon character and good
name. And such is the esteem in
which he would have us hold it also,
that it may be beacon to guide us, and
a magnet to lift us up onto higher plane
of moral excellence. That Isaac Harter
had a good name which he maintained
unsulied through his long business ca
reer in this community, and which he
left us without stain or moral blemish
upon it, when he passed down to the
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