Connecticut western news., 1879-09-03

Peirce, Harvey and Henry Barnes, Mrs. Ed fmund Lawrence and others In his tastes and habits our friend was extremely simple. He hated all shams and turned away with dis gust from all afectations and pretenses. He was even unconventional; honesty truth, | simplicity and openness making with him the | true gentleman. His life has been an open | letter, his conversation worthy of an exempla- ry and consistent Christian. Many years ago
 he was elected a deacon of the church, but | such was his dstrust of himself and shrinking nature that he declined the office. He has | not been any less however an earnest and ac- | tive worker in the church. No man loved the | church more than he. Of late years he has | not enjoyed robust health yet through all his | life he has been constant attendant upon the | services of the Sanctuary. His voice was often | heard in our church meetings, and his prayers l so pointed, tender and simple, touched all our | hearts. He was ready to do his part in the
 and assistant librarian for many years. On him it devolved to look after the financial con- dition of the Society, and by his great pains l taking, care, labor and use of time, matters have gone smoothly. How much the church owes to him for its real prosperity it is imposs- ble to tell. With his general love to the church he has always been the minister s friend. No pastor has failed of finding ill him a real supporter,-a staunch advocate and | friend. It seems to have been his great bur den and care that everything should go smoothly and pleasantly around him. In his dying moments his heart went out fondly toward the church, and calling me to his side, he sent this message to the young men. While l held his hand he said, ''Tell the young men at East Canaan to do everything they can for the church. Society is nothing with out churches" He then went on to speak of his life here; how kind and pleasant he had found people around him. how much he had enjoyed hls home in Canaan. '"Ihis is a good place" said he, ''to live in." Then he added :: My aim has been to live at peace with all men. From earliest childhood my hand never struck anyone, and no mans hand ever struck me. IT have met with selfish man upon the road, l have gwen him the larger half of it. What are earthly ambitions and what is & great name! What folly to die on battle field for military fame! It is better to live quiet life, making that life good and true." And so With hIs views and living the death followed naturally on; and thus was illustrated his own saying: If man wants to die right, he must live right. It is immensely important that this order should be observed. That text should never be disjointed. ''To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" We may not speak of the gain of dying, if there has not been the antecedent living to Christ. It is the death of the righteous, not of the worldly and sinful, the end of the good, not of the sell fish and evil, that should lead us individually to say Let me die that death let that end be mine.''
 And now sadly do we feel our loss. s'Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth the faithful fail from among the children of men," Missed and mourned IS this friend everywhere. So- clety mourns; an honest, respectable and use- ful citizen has left us. The church mourns one of it's most valuable members has been stricken down. The cause ofreigion mourns good man having served his generation by the will Of God, has fallen asleep. A wife, mother, brothers and sisters mourn a lov- ing husband, son and brother has gone from the earthly relationships to the home in the skies. Much shall l miss this friend who has been such helper to me since I first came among you. l am reminded that while we weep there are other mourning circles. How sad to think of those sorrow stricken parents who are on their way this hour to desolated home, bringing. all that is left-the lifeless form of beautiful, accomplished, idolized and only daughter. Alas for the tears of earth How many and bitter they arel
 But from these bereavements we must look up ito where our dear ones have gone. Woman, why weepest thouP Whom seekest thou? Jesus saith unto her, Mary" It is J Jesus voice that we are to hear in the midst Of our sorrows; and we must think of our loved ones as having gone to Jesus bosom. We may weep for ourselves, but we must be happy in their joy. Itis not our loss that is to fill our mlnd, but their great gain. It is not in these vacant tombs of saddened memories that we are to seek our dead but hearing the angel voice, "He is not here he is risen,' look up the shining way, and through the pcdlIy gates Wnef0 the ancnOr or nope IS cast to see that form now clothed in white, radiant in glory, lowing in holy adoration, or wearing the conqueror's crown, and striking the gold en harp in exultant joy Oh, who knows the things which God hath prepared for them that love him? Can we not dry our tears when we think of the honor, the company, the service, the glory to which our departed friends trusting in Christ, have gone2 We must not be paralyzed or disheartened, or leave our work undone but reused te greater exertion do with our might what our hands find to do. Our brother was particularly fond of the hymn, ''Nearer my God to Thee. He called for it but night or tive before his death, and though not practiced singer him. self sang through the first stanza. The author of that hymn also composed another which was sung at her own funeral. Let us make the sentiment of this hymn our own:
 ''He sendeth sun, he sendeth shower,
 Alike they re needful to the flower;
 And joys and tears alike are sent
 To give the soul fit nourishment;
 Al comes to me or cloud or sun,
 Father, Thy will, not mine, be done"
 "Oh, neer will at life repine,
 Enough that Thou hast made it mine;
 Where falls the shadow cold in death
 yet will sing with fearless breath:
 As comes to me or shade or sun,
 Father, Thy will, not mine be done."