Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-16
THE UNRECOGNIZED DEAD.
FuueFal Address BY the Rev. Dr. Putnnu
at the funeral OF the brooklyn Dead.

THE UNRECOGNIZED DEAD.
Funeral Address By tho Rev. Dr. Pu,nau,
at the funeral OF the brooklyn Dead.
We stand here to day in the presence
OF the most solemn and affecting funer-
al scene that has over been witnessed
in Brooklyn. 1t would ill become the
occasion were to attempt to describe
the awful catastrophe OF that fatal night;
the growing horror OF our people, as the
full extent of the disaster was more and
more revealed the gathering crowds
and the increasing excitement and the
wild dismay that was seen in our streets;
the continued exhunation OF tho dead
and the frantic grief of families rs they
searched for their lost the funeral pro-
cessions that havo already wound their
way through the city to the silent GENE
tories, and all the emblems and habili-
ments of mourning that shroud our
public buildings and that clothe the sad,
sad multitude Of the afflicted and suffer.
ing, The spectacle that is before us is
quite enough for our eyes to see and our
hearts to bear. For here, deposited in
q common grave, are the charred and
unrecognized remains of scores of vic
Tins of the frightfnl tragedy, cut off in
the very flower and prime of life,
snatched away from all the accustomed
| pursuits OF familiar associations of earth
and wept not alone by greGt company
of kindred who were near aud dear, but
by the larger concourse of men, women
and children that come hither to testify
their sympathy, and by the general
body OF our friends and fellow citizens.
The event is public calamity. We
are all mourners. All alike seek for
comfort and pray for light and peace
How dark the problem How terrible
the cloud Brought face to face with
facts and realities like these, what mys-
teries beset us and what trials are
given to Sur faith Now, as scarcely
ever before, stern, Implying, implaca
BILE power seems to have como in upon
us with avenging fury to devastate our
firesides, blast the bright hopes and
cherished plans of the young and active,
take away the strong supports of al,
vancing age and consign the immediate
victims of tho dreadful visitation to in
conceivable torment. And it is at such
a time, if ever, that painful, dismal
doubts arise in our minds and we come
to question whether indeed it is true
that an infinitely gracious and merciful
Being rulesover al aud guidesthe course
Of human affairs loving and caring for
each and every soul just as surely and
constantly as He leads on the planets
in their noiseless, unwearying round.
We may still somehow acknowledge
the ceaseless and benefcent reign of law.
But the ordinary processes of nature, in
the outward world aud in the spiritual
world alike, are powerless to meet and
supply the deep needs, tho importunate
demands of the soul amid such over
whelming troubles and trials, unless we
can feel that in and through them there
is ever at work supreme, intelligent
and loving will. "My heart and my
flesh crieth out for the living God"
There are crises in our experience and
life when the heart can no longer be sat
isfed with all that mere human logic,
reason, speculation or philosophy can
give it, but asks with imploring and
irresistible urgency for some mighticr
aid than its own strength can supply,
some better interpl citation than its own,
soma hol;er Eoht Soma s1yeatar root con.
fnsed and confo1nded hv an much that
is distracting and apparently contradic-
tory in these earthly scenes and rela-
tions n nIaads tb.t ror,a ono cboI1
oono ,,,. ne .i., .. '. I'n.4 as CT
knowing most intimately and fully the
divine counsels, and say to us that He
who creates and controls all things is q
Universal Father, thai His name is love,
that He numbers the very hairs of our
heads, and that not even sparrow fall
eth to the ground without His watchful
care. tt not q spnrrow, continues the
Blessed Teacher, then srrtly not the
children OF the Highest. Christ it is
who revealed to men, once for all, that
infinite goodness, as well us infinite
power, unspeakable sympathy as we'll as
repealable law, were operative in every
event or change, in every ioy or trial of
ife. Now are we assured that no hour
,an be 30 dark and fearful, no WOO can
oe so affective and dreadful that it does
lot confess tho presence and kindness
If an Almighty Friend who holds us
till iu His faithful hands, and who, in
Ways we do not know. in WAYS that
)affie oftontimes our poor understand
ng is ever seeking our eternal good.
ur,.,,. -, -.
or ias nistaIen nil t Ainos n or ennd s0Sn'S
Thy hand. Oh God o,pdnets n,sesn
Tho beautiful vlcissitudo."
7or oh, g ,. uo.
,rema ~ a1rito+"n ooau a,ho, i'o ~ ;,'S son.a
'a,1,.;ox % t;..o 1uaU.on' "' PIlnaps - so.he
"p'o1 n1Il aa S.ao We my "n.noo we We usno
un noma anu uaoA upHn .ha.a nn 'uGse ';se
va anu pelplGAs paon'' Ileso ef'o Iue 1:e
hat mnm ;a 1 ,stdos nao .hns', 20 Gn1 cno e hn
niSs I Im NV" 80, uno soo snoin aS. 10 III th.t ~ ~
haII dsoo @ mu", NV wo III n"I ~ uo 'o,,s spaU we
;nht 0oVv1L .s VIA tn4. "'i ., h.' ways "ol .
,sn" .I' n"' = ~ snou hiiowes. s.o iioS -
L", Io",,st Duo 'n'T M ena'o Aao" III, ~ .4
rnis't: iJ wv r1M aWai.s ., us Sne ?to1S