The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-08
Onr Contributors.
WE MISS HIM.

y
of how we ministers ought to conduct
funeral service. At such a time, the
minds and hearts of survivors are so SEN
sitive to all impressions, that the smallest
and most trivial circumstances are apt to
make most indellible impression. 1
was sitting on the stairway, in our coun-
try home, weak from disease, and deli
cate and sensitive boy at best, when Rev.
Stephen Taylor, one of the saintliest of
men, stood in the hall near me, and con-
Quoted the service. After preaching a
most excellent gospel sermon to the
crowds who filled the house, porohes, and
yard; instead of pronouncing as he said
useless eulogy,' he would ask the
simple question, evil he be missed ?"
And then, amid the sobs of family, and
friends, and Sons Of Temperance, and
elders in the church, that question rang
out, until it seemed to me that all hearts
would break at our irreparable loss
Somehow that old question comes back
80 me at this time, with new poignancy
of grief, at the loss of one of my oldest
elders, who has now been in heaven
nearly year, and whom, think can
say, have missed every day since his
sudden death.
Just one year ago, we were together at
the General Assembly, and having lived
In Charleston fifty years ago, it was to
him like beautiful dream, to wander
once more amid those old familiar scenes.
Constant in his attendance on the sessions
of the Assembly, and making friends
with SCORES of it's members, the whole
scene was fitting close to useful Chris
tian life and the fitting prelude to the
q General Assembly and Church of the
first born, that are written in heaven. -"
He was one of those modest, solid, sub
stantial, "judgmatic" men, whom a pas
tor learns, as by instinct, to trust in.
Never hasty in judgment or oficious in
advice, he was balance wheel to the
whole machinery. We wanted four hun
dred dollars once for some church pur-
pose, and the deacons asked him to state
the matter to the church Standing on
the pulpit stairs, he explained in few
words the object, and looking around the
congregation, slowly said, II have known
this church forty years, and all that it
ever needs, is to know its duty" The
amount was handed in before the week
was out.
He was a Chancellor-which, in this
State, means Judge of Chancery Court,
where the process Of law is always
slow, and its judgments supposed to be
founded on equity. This will explain
the humorous remark of rolicking, zeal
Gus, high pressure, lay exhorter of my
acquaintance. Discussing with him one
day, new measures, revivals, zeal, etc.,
commended in exalted terms, the holy
character and enlightened discretion of
my dear old elder. ooh yes" said he,
"He is good man, he is noble man,
he will go to heaven sure, but he aoiU 90
through Chomce,y.'
A brother deacon of our church, full
VI LII pulSej anu VI COuISeJ uuCGudUlOu dS
well, was once urging the need of some
special services, when he said Now
you must remember We are not all alike.
We are different in character and dispo-
sition. There is Judge F., why, that
mans grace can keep green and flourish
ing on the dev: but such as I, must have
showers now and then, or else we are
gone"
Dear, good, gentle, loving, patient old
man, how we do miss him In four years
there was scarcely a service of any sort,
winter or summer, sunshine or rain, when
amid the faithful few, or the great null
titude, I did not see his locks, white as
the drifted snow, and that smile, which
was a perpetual inspiration.
A few weeks before our last summer
communion, as we walked away from
church, he took me by the arm and said,
in an eager nervous way, l want you to
read the 3O3rd hymn and prepare COM
munion sermon on the general sentiment
Of that hymn. 1t commences
And is it so? "A little while.