Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-28

II LOKD, D D. :
HAM, OF THR UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT.
My father, my father, the chariot Of Israel and
the horsemen hereofl-lI. KINGS II: IL.
If it had fallen to you, Christian friends,
instead of me, TO choose verse of Scrip
ture which should echo our feelings in view
of the event that has brought us together,
might almost assume that you would have
chosen this one or one of kindred import.
Judging both from my knowledge of the
relations long existing between this people
and their pastor, and from the expressions
of feeling that have come to me since this
event took place, believe that your hearts
are constantly going out in cry like that
of the prophet when he saw his master and
friend taken from his side into heaven
"My father, my father, the chariot of Is
rael and the horsemen thereof '' There
comes first of course, the oppressive feeling
of personal bereavement My father, my
fatherl" the bewiderment and dismay of
orphanage; the loss of a companionship
dear and familiar, and grown to be neces-
sary; the loss of that counsel on which many
Of you have so long depended that without
it you hardly feel competent to reach a safe
conviction and above all, the loss of that
full solicitude for the salvation of you and
yours, through which you had received so
much, aud confidently expected so much
more, of the divine blessing. Aud then there
Uses over this feeling of personal bereave-
nent an overwhelming sense of the general
loss; the loss to this church of him who for
thirty years has been its teacher and guide
to the churches of our communion of one
who had long been leader in council and
in action; you see not only yourselves or
nhaned and desoate, but Israel bereft of its
chariot and horsemen, its defense and its
honor. And, my brethren, these will be the
feelings, and these the utterances, of many
besides yourselves of the large number OF
persons, both ministers and laymen-and OF
other communions than his own-to whom
he was personally endeared, and of the wide
circle of churches to whom in the course OF
his long public service he has ministered
There will be in many hearts the same acute
sense of personal loss as in yours; the samt
regret for a preacher silenced, councillor
missed a prince fallen. 1t is quite safe tc
say that during the generation of his min
| istry there has been no clergyman of his
denomination in the state who has filled q
more conspicuous place, was more widely
admired and honored, or whose death vii
make more hearts sad and bring to NOR,
churches the sorrow of bereavement
1t is not my purpose to enter upon for
NAL eulogy of your late pastor 1t woulC
have been as far from his own preferences
as it is from the expressed wishes OF hi
family, and from the proprieties of the oc
casion. His character, his life, his attain
ments, his services, will bear eulogy an,
will doubtless receive it in fitting plac
and time. But if we speak at all to eac
other to-day, it must be of him. Have tw
persons met in Montpelier, in the parlol
the shop, or the street, since last Sunda
morning, without speaking of him ? Or ha
any one spoken of him but in affectionat
remembrance. If we may not speak of hiI
in high.hown eulogy, we surely may in sue
affectionate remembrance. Not to speak 9
all of one who is uppermost in all ou
thoughts would be an affectation of sto
cism; not to speak of him warmly and a
fectionately would be stoicism itself. b
sides, the providence of God has set fort
his life as our lesson for the day he WI
has so long been preacher, is to-day text.
I is not merely by the truth as contained
Z proposition and argument and appeal, th
men are taught and persuaded sometime
by the truth as it is in life are men more e
fectually reached and won. 1t was given
3 our departed brother, to few in higher
gree than to him, to influence men by {
fective writing and by persuasive speec
That work is done. He has written his la
brilliant paragraph; he has uttered his la
= glowing period. But there remains in yo
i memories, and there will long abide in t
!, traditions of this community, an impressi
! of the life that is now closed which will p
= petuate his influence for good over yo
ID chidren's children for many generations.
in what | shall say of him to-day, you
re cover the admiration and love of frie
NJ rather than the cool judgment of a crit
% know that shall have your sympathy a
&, g. shall not need to ask your indulgence.
90 One source of satisfaction and gratitu'
as we look back on our friends career,
90 9 that he brought to the Christian minis
o. such acknowledgement, mental and 81
90 itual-that he compelled the respect OF IL
M Tor his calling The Christian ministry
M calling so noble in itself, so far above
~ praise or censure of men in its diyinely
M spired mission, that it need not court q
GO human appreciation; neither does it borr
any lustre from the talents of the men v
a. are permitted to serve in its ranks. Still
ro. dignity, it is well that they should be &C
to PEELED to respect it in the persons of its m'
-, bers. If it is true that we have the treas
iac of Gods power over men in earthen '
0ss Dss sells, that the excellency may be of God {
six not of men," it is also true that God d
red sometimes raise up men of finer mould, I
qualify men with rarer gifts, to do a sery
for him that ordinary men could not
l-so Here was man of fine personal presence
T-1 unusual mental endowments, of large nat