National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-12


been converted through his efforts He was q
most earnest worker, and did not conolder any
sacrifice too great TO be made In the perform
anco of his Christian duty. In the words Of
the superintendent, "He, of all, was tho one
that could have been least spared"
THE OBsEQU1Es.
The funeral of the late George Philip Hirth,
the young man who was murdered last Wcdnes-
day evening on p street, was sOlemnizcd yes
to-day afternoon at 3 o'clock at Mount Zion
NJ. L. church, corner Fifteen h aud r streets.
The church wns draped in mourning, aud at
o'clock it was given over to the police, so great
was the crowd expected This proved TO be u
wise measure. BY ! o'clock people began to
assemble in front Of the church. and at
o'clock such a crowd had gathered ms would
have filled the church twice At 2:30 o'clock
the number had Decn augmented to such
degree that no church In the city
could have held IL. BY 3 o'clock the
multitude had become numberlcss, and
IL was estimated that not less than 10000
persons were present The streets all about
were completely blockaded, the crowd extend
ing far more than half square on every
street, aud on X street the line bOrlercd Four
tecnth Still, crowds came from all direc-
tiOns--mcn, women and children, rich and
poor, Of all denominations. There were ten
pows reserved for the immediate mourners.
The church WAS filed, the doors were closed
to the excellent arrangements by Undertaken
w. r. Spear, most ably assisted by the police
and the officers Of the church, every ono
within was made comfortable, aud tho aisles
were kept comparatively clear, aud the vast
crowd outside Ito its credit was very
orderly. Every one spoke in flushed tones.
At the residence of the brother Of the deceased
OF Pierce street, near Fifteenth, from which
the remains were taken TO the church, there
was similar scene. a great crowd gathered
there and escorted the remains to the church.
There was no service at tile house other than u
prayer by Rev. Dr. Owen. AT o'clock the
funeral party, consisting of his mother aud
brother aud other members of his family Miss
Sinclair, tho .fdacco of the deceased, aud u
number of near friends, entered the
church aud moved mp tho right aisle,
Dr. Owen reading from the ritual. TIE caskct
wns covered with floral offerings, among them
q beautiful crown, and a pillow of japonicas,
with the initials G.. p. II. in immorteles was
deposited in front of the altar
THE SERVICES
were commenced with hymn, ASLEEP in
Jesus" DR.. owen then read the burial SER
vice amid the sobs of the bereaved. Ho then
proceeded to make few touching remarks,
saying, what thy hands find to do, do it
with all thy might. What | say unto one ! say
unto all. Watch, for yo know not when the
Son of Man come upon you. If you would
have the evidence of this, fix your eyes upon
| the youthful face that now lies before us. In
| the morning of life, permcatcd with vitality,
consccrated to God, having witnessed the
! blooming of flowers scarcely twenty-onc sum-
mCrs, with murderOus strokes the aSslssins
| felled him to the earth aud sent his spirit to
| God. What security have we to depend upon
for tomorrow when thieves walk abroad ?
| Docs not the injunction come upon MS, be ye
| always ready? He had thanked God thou
sand times that he tHirth) was ready. Over
| four years ago he sought aud found the
| SavOur's love. lie was converted through the
| instrumentality of the Young Mems Christian
Association. He heard the blessed word of
! life while passing the corner of Seventh street
and Pennsylvania avenue. God touched his
| heart. In looking round for some place
! in which he might lend his services TO the
| Lord he found Mount Zion church. The
| register of the church shows that ON December
3, 1876 he nobly camo to the altar und pre-
scented himself for probation. He WAS re-
Ccived ,by the pastor, Rev. w. !. Mckcnny.
| When he accepted the covenant he meant bust
ness it was a true pledge never to be forgot
ten. He was much In communion with God
| Oh how lie loved the Sunday school His
| heart ana hand were In tho work, and he WAS
always ready at all times to do any duty. lie
was u teacher aud had n class Oh, how hc
loved It! 1t was bread to his life
| anu water TO MS soul Tic was elected
president of the Sunday School Mis-.
sionary Society. How noby, truly, faithfully
he worked ia that capacity! How well he re-
mumbcrcd when he (lIirthl finished up the
work Of the year, what a radiant smile lit NJ
| his cOuntonunCe aud what comforting words
came from his lips. lie could see him where
he stood aud stated that this has been the
/ best aud happest year of all my lie;' that il
had been tho most successful in missionary
] II4 al i'm uIit In lapl
aud provide for the young peoples work, Oh
/ how 1t has grown! He was the lead
! ing spirit lie was elected steward, aud
| his counsel was most wise. Tho poor, the
destitute, the humble will miss him. In
all his life, said the doctor, he hal never
seen a young man so fully devoted to the work
of God and was so systematic in carrying
it out. There was not destitute family il
all the city that had not seen him. While
other young men were seeking pleasure fol-
their own qualification he was thinking of hi
responsibility to God. lie never knew a mort
unselfsh young man. lie was willing to d
vide his last dollar, and did it cheerfully. Hi
faith told him it was right. Whom he wal
told that this and that family living in n dan
gorOus part of the city were in need, aud tina
there was no way OF getting supplies to them
he would say, Leave that with me" and h,
would walk miles and carry q heavy baske
upon his arm, and would then cit up al
night with any one who was sick and open hi
store next morning as cheeriuly as though h,
had been taking his needed sleep all night
His last act was on Wednesday, about
o'clock, only an hour before his transition +,
glory. Oh how he will be missed, not onl,
by his family" Here the doctor was over
come by his feelings aud had to paus
in his remarks. "lle was always think
ing of some good to DO" no continued
ION his desk, after his foul murder
was found the following, written to som
one not converted: And the spirit and tn,
bride say come; and let him that hearoth sa,
Come and Lot him that is athirst come; an,
whosoever will, let him take the water of lif
freely and with his accustomed modesty 70
his name signed the chapter aud verse. TheI
the othor TO show the condition of his hoart. /
wo hold it up to the light we can see the crimson
there, pointing to the paper. This he ma
placed in his vest pocket near his person, an
the blood went through 1t was wrtteA an
prepared to send to a friend near his heart, tina
} he wished 10 lead to his Rcdeemer. A porto
of It had a part Of the same verse on it MS tn
} irst-"WhOsOoye will, &C." As we think
the human side, how dark, how strange, hO'
mysterious The divine.side, thank God, wa
bright when he fell, no ross. His work wa
done aud he was lifted and entered the pearl
gates into the golden realms of Heaven. Ii
us follow him as he followed Jesus.
} Rev DR.. W. !. McKonney, the former paste
of Mt. Zion church, read beautiful poeI
Vrittpu by n VOuuu man one of tho deceased