The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-02

is not an individual so obscure that he has no
influence over others. Every one Of these
planets that march around our sun exerts an
influence on some other planet. And there ID
not a mote, dancing in the suhbeams, so small
that it has no influence over some other parti-
, Gle. Whether you be star Of the first magni-
tude or only mote in society, you are exerting
, an influence over scme one.
With this influence we are to speak long after
, We are dead. Sir John Hawkins brought over
the first load OF slaves from Africa to tins
, country. That one act was not 80 bad if its in
fluence had stopped there. But a bad example
wac given which was to find many followers for
years. An influence was set at work that
ceased not until four millions OF slaves toiled
on the plantations OF the South, and the over
throw Of the Union was well nigh accom-
plsbed. Sir John Hawkins had long been in
his grave when Sumter heard the roar OF guns.
But certain degree Of the responsibility OF
that rebelhous act could be traced back to him.
He spoke in the booming of those cannon. He
spoke in Libby prison, in Andersonviile. on
Lookout Mountain ana at Gettysburg. He
speaks to-day in the graves OF six hundred
, thousand soldiers and in unnumbered homes
that the war made desolate.
Hence we cannot have a right judgment
melted out to us immediately after death
There is to be taken into the account this influ-
ence, good or bad, that lives long after we are
dead. The judgment must be postponed until
the result of this influence can be estimated.
6. Some speak more powerfully after death
than when LIVING. There are petty jealousies
and rvalres that detract from ones influence
while he is alive. After death these are for
gotten and the character appears at Its true
; value.
John Wilkes Booth steals into Fords theatre
and discharges his revolver at Lincoln. Did
, he kill him? He killed his body. The band
40 longer reached out toward the oppressed
The busy brain ceased to devise ways and
means for the preservation of the Union. The
tongue no longer called for troops TO defend
the flag. The heart. ceasing Its pulsation, no
longer feels for its country and for humanity.
But because the hand was cold, the eye CLASSY,
the heart motionless, the tongue silent-was
Abraham Lincoln dead? lie then just began
TO live. He was never so truly alive as when,
in his coffin. he passed through the leading
for the time forgotten. Crowds from all the
surrounding country went to the cities to view
the remains OF him whom they held 30 dear
The sight OF that coffin sent feeling Of min
gled grief and Indignation throughout the entire
North. Had it then been necessary to raise
mere troops there would have been no need Of
drafting men. A thousand volunteers would
have sprung to arms at the call OF the mar
tyred President where one responded to the
call OF the living President. Lincoln in his
coffin was more alive than Lincoln in the
White House.
John Brown. few years before the war, is
charged with helping to hberate slaves. He is
convicted and hung in Old Virginia. Some
years after, as the Union army was marching
through that section OF the country, it Led
to the General in command that they were near
the place where Old John Brown was executed.
He gave orders to the musicians to play John
Browns Body lies Wondering IN the Tomb"
The musicians at the head Of the army began
to play. others followed until all along the
line every bugle, fife and drum attuned to
chat song and when thev came to the chorus,
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah !" and seventy-fiye
thousand stentorian voices gave it emphasis, 1t
seemed that the body OF Old John Brown must
needs leap from his grave az though Gabries
trump had sounded. John Brown was more
truly alive then than when lie went IN person to
the Southern States.
The lesson bring you in this sermon. then,
is this Death may destroy your body. but
YOU will ever live on tho earth over that
which truly constitutes yourself death has no
power.
Webster, in the almost imperial dignity OF
his personal presence, no longer appears IN the
Senate. But Webster is not dead He lives
in his speeches lie lives in bis life. SO long
as this government exists the influence OF that
mighty senator will be felt in the councils Of
the nation. he is called to deliver the address
at the dedication of the Bunker Hill monument.
The great concourse IS held spell-bound by his
burning words so beautiful in their euogy Of
liberty. The orator in his dignity Is gone. Tho
hand no longer gestures the countenance 10
longer beams with emotion, the tongue ia ST.
lent. BY and by the old monument itself shall
fail to greet the rising sun. It's granite shall
crumble, it shall be forgotten but the impulse
given TO true patriotism, engendered by that
speech, will live in the hearts OF the American
people as long as liberty is sacred. Thus
judged, Webster can never die no power On
earth can kill him.
In his lecture on Wastes and Burdens OF
Society,"" Mr.. Beecher audes to Oxford Uni
versity. Five hundred years ago some rich
men founded that institution. They are all IN
their graves to-day. Not one OF them can be
found. But they are not dead. Their hands
are idle, but thousand hands that they have
rendered skillful move to-day in positions OF
trust. Their tongues are silent, but thousand
tongues that they have educated are heard to-
day in Englands institutions. Though the
grave has long held them they still speak on
earth and will continue to speak as long as old
Oxford exists
Were one Of those stars that smiles IN it's
brightness upon us tonight TO be swept from
the armament, its light would be seen by US
for years after the star itself had disappeared.