Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-29
NIdowed. ChIldIess Eugenie.
Rev. Henry Ward Bescher's sermOn.l

In this last sad scene at Chiselhurst
beyond all question the central figure
was not Victoria, Queen of Great Brit
ain and Empress of India, 1t was
Eugene. In her youth brought up at
a brilliant court in Spain, and, by an
unexpected development Of events,
she was transferred to be the empress
of the most brilliant court in the
world, and then suddenly the scene
shifts. From the very top of the tower
she is hurled a refugee, not wander
er, but guest of Great Britain, and
now, as a widowed mother, she touches
the highest state of all. In all her
glory she was not so great as she is to-
day in her desolation. Not when
flashed from brow Jewels of which a
nation was robbed; not when armies
and navies were in her power and she
had so much glory; not when she was
young and beautiful did men so wor
ship and bow down to her as now
where she sits in darkness. The whole
world to-day bows its head in allegi-
ance to her, not as the empress but as
the mother
There gather about her in Great
Britain the noble queen, whe has her
self known sorrow of heart, and
whose heart is easily moved in sym
pathy for others. There are all her
royal sons and her daughters. For
the sake Of this poor uncrowned
woman they have made procession
from throne and palace to the doors
Of her humble dwelling, and from
there followed her son to his grave
They have made her grief their grief
and there are no pearls in the neck.
lace OF the queen, no jewels in all
Great Britain that are of such
priceless value as are the-tcars shed
by her there at that grave. And that
mother there in her desolation anC
grlet-she is not one step worse than
ten thousand times ten thousand
others. To the mother with her deaC
child in her lap, the dim-eyed mother
that breaks her heart over the cradle
to all the mothers of the world sh,
is related, and by her, as we'll as by
all others, in the stroke of death il
felt the hand of God. God says t.
the mourner, " Enter into oblivion
for little time what | am doing "
know not; :" but by and by, when tn,
crown of experience sits gloriously
upon their hearts, they will learn tho
mystery of Providence.
Such is the ennobling faith of tn,
grave that while it brings nations
down it lifts all up Before the moutl
Of the grave there are no mobiles, MOI
kings nor princes, but simply suffer
ing, weeping men and women. Their,
is imperial democracy in the grave
There is one other view. In the mids
of the world dies the sound of artille
ry, and while the bell began to tol
from the Catholic chapel, | hear tn
sound of another bell. 1t is the bel
of the Protestant church of that par
ish. Why did not some lightnin
smite and blast that bell that dared t
toll at a Catholic funeral? Thank
be to God that there was neither Cath
olic nor Protestant there, but tn
priest of the Church of England an,
the priest of the Church of Rome she,
tears together, and when the De Pro
funds was chanted, they sang togethe
who had wept together. May we no
hear in this the voice of the prophec
saying that the day is coming wheI
churches and sects shall lay down thei
arms, and the lion and the lamb shal
peacefully dwell side by side.