New-York tribune., 1877-09-29

M N'-N-f--N
SOCIETY oF FRIENDS
me rdftor Of Thc Trto"he'
trp. several years ago. when Benjamin Hal
=, .,,iv d, name To- me- was a guest al O Dedut-
shor, pcar sandy spring. the scat OF the M'nteo"-
- r,i,-as NJ, host. q prcmi'ent haIymnder WIS OF
g., community and accompanied INN one sunoay 10
'uo house: a rude, old-time, brick str,ic-
- n, tho nar1n or primitive forest 81 consideranie
a,.,t Most OF the congregation were IN their places
,, o,tcred had hardly taken my scat When my
.,,, was arrested by one of the most striking iooh-
-, z have ever seen. Almost IN front racing me-
a. ,n. raised platform against the wall with the elders
s+smnu n seventy. Of inst less than gleanuc mould
- a Grand. massive head, scGhtiy crO"ued Win
,r,ish white har. lofty brow aud noble features
-, ~ r,.re,iial revere. with closed eyes. with his
sn,plders above the heads OF the common men about
r tvrfed % pieuies by his presence. was not ia
iar ,sltb The leading Of the Friends, but knew
v.s looking at an extraordinary man. glanced from
him over the silent assembly OF serene, silent men ana
rn ana back M the noble form before ne n moding
cb nature had reverted the great primitive type.
which she now rarely produces The spirit and pres
epcc of the silent worship stole upon me.
was a June morning and the notes Of thrushes and
r,nins came TO me from the surrounding forest sud
dulv little tvitterng sounds like the irst notes OF
trs song fell on my and turned just las the form
Iso admired was rising. lie rested his trembling hands
On the back Of the before him, with little stoop
I'm his shoulders and bending OF the head, revealing
aee7-set but very ne eyes. The voice sweet,
tender and hute-hsc little rionotonous. but could
never have wearied. The sermon, # such It might De
called was a sort of lofty and beautiful chant 1t was
on v,rio Of the depth. purity and peace Of that no
r..ss of heart ard lie 70 which man may
attain and its outer manifestation OF love,
bonevoleuce aud widest charity. Tie Ian
cuace was nervous, happily chosen. simple and
,lure and beyond the power OF the mere rhetoucian
Tho matter was SO arranged that is clear statement was
f1ll
voice rendered 10 touching The delivery Of tins rare
b0rn0v NAV have occupied fifteen minutes As the
tr.acher was sitting down. another tram OF thought
oufu.d 20 him. when, with tie same htle nlurmuf ne
arose 30 bis fl height ana spoke perhaps five minutes
lourernot in continuance d the first discourse, but OF
rer,nanc tcpic which Illustrated and supplemented
~ Re sat DOWN observed moments silence, turned
and shocked hands with the next 20 hm-a signal
tI.t the service lad closed
That was BE niauiiu HaloweL As he passed out men
and boys strous and maidens gathered about him. fol
l-e nm out to his carriage and did part with him
tnlL. d-ove away. He Of them, lived their daily
,if won't ir and ont before them. mnisterng. beautfy
ina, and eevaung their lives; helping to improve and
,6ou their homes and fortunes lighting and conducting
them along the upper paths OF virtue. culture and oenh
CONGO. vet so natural AID common That. in way, they
lost the power OF approaching the more striking OF ms
relparkablc qualities ana powers.
Icaue TO know HIM wei, all these years since first
saw him. He was man rarely endowed, and doubtless
h Dis philosophy Of life, he secured as much OF real
value rom the world il is capable Of yielding. Ma
fe had given him most Of the striking qualities Of IN
tclect viii power and the rudments Of the strOnges.
human passions and clothed them with form Of dignity
brtv and grace. Seemingly he had but TO choose his
career and will his own fortune. Among his gifts the
religious eemeu, was large and this with his early
training and surroundings, determined his course In
history there was but model. The spirit OF Mary
son he made his own. u restrained his ambition,
f.-tfo AZ rfrrafae cd ii.
manners and informed his life Politics ana the govern
ueut OF tLe Nation all GREAT enterprises, very
much and he kept well informed OF them The unfold
ing ana ashi0ning the minds frame and structure OF
tie character the chosen young of the and were
70 him much more To that hc dedicated himself with
devotion and uHrcseTye which marked his appreciation
OF lie Importance No youth ever under his care
who did not carry with through life something OF
the and bias impaired by Lls hand; a. none ap
preached Or LETT him without lOV Ve
Hls work was that which lay nearest his hand Ein-
nbaticay he loved his neighbor His neghborhoOd was
tie universe and all living things the objects Of bis
care As his manners were the manifestation OF h'
heart and spirit he was naturally the most graceful and
polished OF cultured The servants the coacbmer
who him TO the railroad station, always renem
bered his consideration for them. a man may apply th'
term loyable" TO a man, that eminently his due
Nothing bearing life under his care tha diC
not love Inn a. il capable Ii was beautiful to see hin
break from a enging group OF lads and maidens anc
hear him say: Farewell, nov must 20 TO my Mar
caret" toward whom ne manifested the same ardor O.
love- and observance at sevenyhve as III the hrs
days OF welded bliss.
II his life was lovely beyond the usual, his last III
ness and death we're beautiful and touching beyond
earth His Margaret. passed nearly two years be
fore exit and il sore trial OF his faith tha
he must remain longer That the example OF his lii'
might lack no perfection that illness protractec
bodily torture gradually growing more intense till the
Who aad fguc
and fortuie Of the spirit. that all endured with
serene smile calling forth assurances OF the mercy and
goodness Of God. Sometimes when the anguish was al
its greatest he said his attendant q" Thee must allow
me 10 groan a little" He refused anodynes and an@s
thetics saying II permitted he would retain
ms faculties unelouded." He wished 10 note the
shades OF Oncoming DEATH which were Also 10 be the
opening dawn OF Immortality. such intellect could
never be shattered Once IL seemed 10 wander making
luminous track As II his great sueriuGs might dis
quiet the faith Of favOrite daughter in the mercy OF
Providence with cearness and energy he demonstrated
two or three great mathematical problems concluding
with: So thee secs daughter that il is all clear and
right" His method Of Clarifying and refreshing his
mind even in this Illness was by the solution Of prob
lem As the end approached the glow Of the perfect
faith became luminous nimbus, the almost transfg-
urcd eountens nce-nsances OF which many have read
Of but few witnessed. HIS last words assur
tue way cearthc light broad and steady,
and the glory serene. A c. RIDDLE.
Washington, sept. 1877.
AN IMPORTANT LAW UNNOTICED.
10 the Editor or The Tribune.