The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-19
The Funeral of DR.. Robinson.
Address of Rev DIR Palmer

Address OF Rev. DR.. Palmer.
The funeral services of the Rev. DR..
Stuart Robinson were held in the Second
Presbyterian church, in Louisville, on
the 18th inst. The Courier Journal saws
Although it had been publicly an
nounced that the funeral ceremonies
would be concluded at the church, that
no carriages would be provided, and that
the burial would be private, yet the i'm
pulse of the people could not be sup
pressed, and parties provided their own
vehicles, and the procession that followed
the remains to the grave was simply
remarkable. 1t extended very many
squares and was one of the largest ever
seen in Louisville
More than forty ministers, represent
ing the Southern Presbyterian, North
ern Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist,
Baptist, and Cumberland Presbyterian
Churches, were present to testify to the
general sympathy which was felt by the
whole Christian community. The SER
vices were opened by the Rev. DIR. Pratt
who was followed in prayer by the Rev.
DIR. Humphrey. The funeral address
was then delivered by the Rev. DR..
Palmer, of New Orleans, who spoke as
follows:
A mournful service is before us to-day.
for great prince is fallen in Israel, and
in the presence Of this revered and silent
form there is no room for anything but
slghs and tears. Even they who shall
speak-who must speak-fnd a great
grief surging up from the depth of their
hearts and meeting with no word on the
ups large enough to utter it. 1t were
simple mockery to pour our human ap-
plause into the dull, cold ear of death -
especially when the immortal spirit has
passed the approval of the Jud ge and
stands with the glor fed before the
throne. The scene is too solemn for the
impertinences Of human speech, for we
bow before the sovereignty of Him who
giveth none account of His ways to the
children Of men. When Louis XIV Law
embalmed in state with the glare of day
shut out from the grand cathedral and
the funeral lamps shedding their dim
light upon the scene, Massilon, the great
French preacher, rose before the audience
and uttered these pregnant words, "God
only is greatl"
A similar feeling throws its hush over
this assembly to-day, and human insig
nifcance walls itself beneath the majesty
of God; yet before these precious re-
mains are committed to the keeping OF
the tomb, l must be permitted to speak a
moment of my dead friend. Forty-eight
years ago we were brought together in
our youth as members of the same class
in distant college, and for two years sat
side by side in the same classroom. The
recklessness of youth caused me to for
felt those privileges of instruction, while
he, with character more mature and mind
better balanced, continued to the end of
the course and bore away the honors OF
high and acknowledged scholarship.
From this point our paths diverged,
and it was not until after the lapse OF
twenty years that we again met as min
listers Of the same Church on the floor Of
the General Assembly. Since then, like
two streams springing from the same
source, our lives have run side by side to
the present moment. Holding the same
views Of divine truth, we have contended
together for the same great principles of
order and polity in the Church, and pass
ing through similar domestic sorrows, we
have been in full accord upon all oues-
tons, whether Of Church or State, which
have agitated our times. When the dis
patch was received announcing his death
shadow as OF a great cloud fell upon
nv heart and / have ooroe from for fo
look for the last time upon his pale face
and to lay my hand upon his bier and
utter friends benediction over his grave.
But now that l have opened my lips
what shall l say Of my dead friend? He
had great heart, whose affections gush-
ed forth fertilizing life wherever they
touched, and making the earth to bloom
with richness and beauty. 1t was heart
that throbbed in generous response to
every cry Of distress from whatever quar-
ter it should come. Not wasting itself in
the common-places Of speech, but with