The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-27
Funeral Services of Rev. DIR.
Plumer.

pastor, and which was appropriately dressed in
mourning To say that the church was crowded
would not fairly describe the congregation
which filled every available seat In the sacred
building; and after the church was packed the
Sunday School room, on the Broad street side of
the church. was thrown open, and all the availa-
BILE space there was soon occupied.
AS the remains were brought into the church
the congregation rose and the organ PLAYED a
solemn requiem. When the remains had been
placed upon the table arranged for that pur-
pose the choir sang Abide With Me-"
Address of DR.. Preston.
AT the conclusion of the familiar hymn DR..
Preston addressed the congregation. He said
that DR.. Hoge and himself had been appointed
by the Synod of Virginia in session at Martins
burg to represent that venerable BODY in the
funeral services. He spoke of the griefs of this
Synod, and of all the Synods for the loss of such
man, who had never negligently or Indifferent
ly done the work committed to him by the
Church, but always with eminent success. He
alluded 10 the fact that DIR. Plumer's longest
pastorate was with this church, and that very
many of those who were introduced into the
church by his ministry had preceded him to the
heavenly rest
He mentioned how DR.. Plumer strove to be
like his divine Master in comforting those that
mourn, and said that it was possible that his
most important work was in this ministry to the
suffering.
The Church mourns, he said, only because he
was taken away when he had reached matu-
rlty rlpeness of experience, that fitted him
eminently to serve the Church by his counsels
Other Services.
DR.. Preston having concluded his remarks the
choir sang the 18th Psalm" What sinners
value resign" &C.. and the Rev. w E. Jud-
kins, pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal
church, read the 18th chapter of First CORN
thians; and Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D., of.
fered an appropriate prayer, at the conclusion
of which the choir sang the 69Oth hymn.
Address of DR.. Hoge.
Rev. Dr. Hoge, who had been assigned the
duty of delivering the funeral discourse, at the
conclusion of the hymn, spoke as follows:
l have witnessed many affecting scenes in
this church, but none combining so many ele
ments of solemn and tender impressiveness as
this. The memories of years long gone by come
freshly back and fill this place The name that
has been on so many lips today, in connection
with this funeral service, is linked with the as
sociations and the recollections of the whole
lives of many here present. To large number
of this congregation that name has been house
hold word, and the form of the man of God who
bore 1t familiar to them from early childhood.
The look ne wore-the tones of his voice-his
slow and measured step-the strange power of
his presence to arrest attention and to awaken
interest-these can never be forgotten.
And there are others who remember him with
a still more sacred regard because bound to him
by the tie which connects the saved soul with
the instrument of Its salvaton-the Christian
child with the spiritual father-for there are
those among the older members of this church
who will ever bless God for the awakening SER
mon and the pastoral counsel by which they
were led to receive the consecrated emblems of
their first communion at his hands Here also
are W IN he 10 Il
forms of trial through which they have passed
long since his connection with this church term
mated, have been comtorted by the assurance of
his sympathy and love by the letters which it
was the custom of his whole life to write to those
who were in any trouble, that he might "com-
fort them with the comfort wherewith he himself
was comforted of God"
Moreover. there are few of those here present
today who have not seen and heard him in the
pulpit That was his throne. There he proved
himself the master of assemblies and whenever
it was known that he would officlate in anv
church in this city, that was the signal and the
assurance of an OVERLOOKING audience Those
who did not care for the ordinances of Gods
house, and rarely attended any church, came
when it was known that he would be the preach
or, while those who loved the sanctuary and
proved their devotion by their regular atten-
dance, and who had heard him oftenest, were
among the most anxious to hear him again,
whenever the opportunity was afforded them
Thus when we remember how he was linked
to this community in the many ways by which
he indelibly impressed himself upon our people
we cannot wonder at the affecting demonstra
tons of this hour, now that all who can, have
crowded within these walls to pay the last sad
tribute of respect and affection to the man and
the minister, the friend and the father. whose
hand we shall not clasp again until I" this mortal
shall have put on immortality" and whose voice
we shall not hear again until it mingles in the
anthem which the choristers of heaven sing to
the glory of the King of kings.
1t is not true that out of the fullness of the
heart ready utterance always comes. There
are times when the fulness of emotion makes
silence more natural than speech and to-dav
feel that my more appropriate place would be
among those who weep beneath this pulpit than
among those who speak from it-for when I
look upon this berea7ed family. upon this vast
mourning assembly, and remember whose dust
1t 10 which this coffin encloses, feel how in
competent L am for the duty assigned me-a
duty assigned to me only because of the peculiar
relations 80 long sustained to him.
But for DR.. Plumer, would not have made
my home in this city. While yet student in
the Theological Seminary, he paid me visit
and invited and advised me to come to Rich
mond on the completion of my studies there.
The only church of which have ever been
the pastor was projected and fostered by him.
lie preached the dedication sermon of our bouse
of worship, and during all the years since our
| acquaintance commenced there was never a rim
pie on the smooth current of our intercourse
An intercourse characterized bxy L,nJro-. =