The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-08

ureIOl conteut AZ, pernspr, ever iaiir W eLy %
us here. IL We could all enter into this spirit,
We should bring more singing into our wcrks,
We might make our lives a continuous song. A
melody that beginning at the cradle should not
end in dirge at the grave, ss now 90 ofsen IL
does. We're our hearts thus at rest and filed
with the calm consciousness OF duty well and
faithfully done.
Another thought 10 unsel6shness. Tne very
root and groundwork OF worthy hie. Toll
ing not because he must, but because he loved
to. He might have shrunk from it., and many
young man, wrapped up in his love Of self
would have done Il. But be was happy be-
cause he was making some one else happy. it
was not himself, but others. Oh, it is q rare
grace, and but few have the heroism TO pTsC-
tice it, for it leads over rough way; the way
the Master went, and we all love pleasant
paths. But Il there are any real triumphs IN
this life, they are found in the path OF self de
NAL aud unselfish love for others. II ever this
desert world is to blossom as the rose, Il - 10
be when unselfsh lives like these shall bring
Life and Joy and beauty into il. Let Us honor
these heralded lives that Announce the eom
ing Of that glad milenial day, they are worthy
they claim our admiration and our praise.
But let Us not expend all our thought upon
matters OF this life only. Let US contrast it
seriously and soemnly with that other and in
fntely greater life beyond. Has not death
spoken to Us in the week that s gone, 10 hn-
guage that cannot be misunderstood, that We
are not immortal here, that we hold very
slender and precarious existence upon this
earth, and ought to be ready TO leave ,t at r
moments warning. That We ought not 20 bind
ourselves down, and tie our hearts so firmly 10
this earth; that when the messenger comes, as
| soon he wall come TO us 10 al, Ee shall rot
have to wrench us loose and break .hCCssud
strong cords that hold us here. II there was
any one act Of hIs lite over which our young
friend might more have rejolsed than any
other, il was the act Of preparation TO meet his
God in peace. AS We sit here in this calm hour
Of memory and retrospec,on, il 10 the ore
thing upon which ws.love most 20 dwell. TIE
one bright spot in al the heavens above eyr
heads. without IL We sboad III here o-day
broken hearted and barred in a href 30 deep,
20 vast, that We could only wiring orr hspcs
and moan for An irreparabls LOSE. But heaven
sheds wide radiance upon this dark world.
Life 10 beautiful and bright, even the humhiest,
II the reflection Of heaven be upon It. I. IL
very very dark without il. II life ends here
when the sudden rush OF darkness eones aud
our little taper Of life expires, then Il is trsg
sdy, . very midnight OF gloom. But We love
to think it u not 80. Heaven lights up ,hs
life with reflection Of other worlds they robe
it in shining eolors, in sunshine and N ya;n-
bows, glory OF the LIE that now is and promise
Of that which 10 70 come.-In the ue rest con
fdent.
We have gathered here to-day 10 jcin IN this
little obsequy to the memory OF orr friend !;
Let us make il pleasant and bright; lie. us d-
vest it OF al gloon. We need not mourn TOO
greatly over such Life, let ne rather rejoice, it
s so full OF promise and the assurance OF
heaven. II is fitting and appropriate that We
should take our places here in this, his and our
own spiritual home. that we nigh; speak few
kindly words Of farewell and take the lessen or
his life 10 be an INSPIRATION to us IN all The days
! and years Of toll that are to come. How shoold
these spiritual homes become ,endesred 10 usl
What wealth OF tender Recollection centers
. about them Type OF the heavenly home
, faint symbol OF the perfect love, JOY and peace
that is to reign IN the great heavenly home
circle above. An : what meaning has this lit
tie structure already to many who sat here from
Sabbath to Sabbath. We ought 10 grew tender
and our hearts become soft as We enter this, 20
e many so sacred portal, for associations dear a.
those that fill our homes, rest here invisible.
All. il these walls could but reveal the m
pressions which they conceal. We sls here to-day
e in a structure wonderful as those acrOes The
sea. with their carved tablets and scrolls mon
the walls. But they are Within us; they are
written upon the walls OF our hearts IA char
I acters or an undylng remembrance, and as We
= come here TO think and learn OF the other hCme
beyond it seems that II should come nearer to
: us because OF the associations that mate this
{ home go tender and the other home 20 real.
{ Is il not well then. that into This little Bethel,
e "ths house OF God, this gate o. heaven" we
should come and bring our choicest memories
y OF earth. that we may enter here st Nmes and
= SIT as IN the presence OF great and holy cam,
|. and let that soothe our sorrows, and brighten
our hope and strengthen our love Tor heaven.
Thus reverently we come to ha!low ouJ spIr-
Q itual home with one more tender iecolseeslon
n that shall make this home the nearer ard that
a other home the clearer in all the after years.
May God bless and strengthen may He ten
derly lead by the hand, and cause bic fsce grae-
}. iousy to shine upon you. And II n .he fu-
!, ture your affections cluster about the memory
OF our sorrow, and il seems difficult 20 divorce
: yourself from it, pray God that SO yen SO
e there to weep a. sometimes you viii. you may
n
:, ing to stand beside you.
Let me close with single word fron he
9. language of these flowers. They have stood here
n dumb, silent, while have been speaking, yet
:, with what an eloquent language OF suggestion
u have they addressed you. They have tod oil
= the sympathy Of friends. told it IN worde that
% none but these delicate flowers could have ex-
I, pressed: they have told of the value CT Ett'e
l, things, these slight testimonials, little in ihen-
Is selves, yet very much in what they reveal
70 They have tod OF the beauty OF a manly char
= acter, told it by these faint emblems of peia
)i and leaf and bloom and color; they have told
IN OF a fragrant memory, that which comes 20 the
n mind, pleasant as comes this odor 10 the sense
- They have spoken OF the purity OF holy life
10 this hly-whte spotless as We love TO think are
IN the angels in heaven. They have spoken ,oi
is our hopes OF an Immortality beyond death
THIS yne clingiug 20 this cross, faint. yet beau
u tiful symbol OF our faith cnging 70 HIM who
IS, is "the resurrection and the ife.' Let the
n. flowers speak their simple yet wonderful elo
auence OF color and odor and leaf and bloom
y beautiful thoughts that have sprung up ont o.