Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-25
a TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD.
Remarks of Rev. Or. stebbins at the Fun
eyal Of 3 3 Reddiur


paid by Rev. DIR. Stebbins at the funeral
of B. B. Redding in San Francisco We'd
Eesday:
This large concourse of citizens and
friends attests how widely the sympathies
of the occasion reach, and what respectful
regards gather around the afflicted house
hold of our late fellow.citzsn. The men,
hers OF that household, in lively and CRATE
full appreciation Of your respectful wishes,
come here to this public place OF religious
ceremony after private prayers at their own
dwelling, which were quite sufficient as
the voice of their sorrow or the calmness
of their trust. Their hearts are their own
consolation, and the light that shines there
is rot comprehended in any darkness
Private grief, above all other human expe-
riences, attests the grandeur of the solitary
sOul, to which the world, even in its hap
piest moments of feeling cannot say a
word, but stands with its finger upon its
lips IN silence and awe, as in a superior
presence.
There is, however, a sphere of general
and public sympathy which, while it does
not intruGe on private feeling, allows ex-
preston to the great common sentiments,
permits US to admire and dwell ON the
eternal SUBMITS of human excellence, or to
walk abroad in the genial landscape of in
telIectual and moral beauty. There are
men who, when they die, make the strong
impression on us of how little there was in
them that could die, and we feel inclined
to say instead of :" In the midst of life we
are in death, " in the midst of death we are
in life. When those 60 from US, either
through the long, weary path OF earthly
Ia.i,,,o hut ba ,rl
the heavenly messenger, who have left us
the fair inheritance of their intellectual
and moral life we feel that that life is pe
culiarly theirs, ard however distinct OF
indistiact cur convictions may be in regard
to the destiny of men, we say, Here gen.
eroas expectations are justified. And in
the exalted enthusiasm of unselfsh trust
we exclaim, 8 Lead me on my hopes," for
there ia nothing too good or too great Tor
these. When we discern and feel the in.
tellectual, moral and spiritual life of man
we give immortality the benefit of our
doubt and say, Why should such creature
die: Life is his natural sphere. And in
stead of asking, Shall he live? say, How
can he die?
Our fellow. citizen, Mr.. Radding, was a
fine example of q man engrossed in the
usual struggle of business affairs, vet
keenly Interested in some OF the highest
objects CT thought and study, and sens-
tive TO all those human relations that arise
IN the great sentiments of justice, benev.
olence and good will. By constitutional
bent and tendency to observe external
things, facts and phenomena, the sphere of
natural science was his field. He had the
patience of pursuit, the careiulness of COM
parison, the impertubabilty at confused
and contradictory facts that characterize
the scientific temperament Had he de-
voted himself to scientific studies as his
vocation instead of his avocation, he would
have been an investigator, and held an
honorable rank among the foremost men of
our time. His fondness, amounting to en-
thuslasm, Tor studies that concerned the
order and method of nature, was the natu.
raj expression OF that love of intelligence
for its own sake, which belongs to nobler
minds that find their happiness in their
own activity.
Unlike the distinguished Englishman,
philosopher and man of business, George
Erote, he had no talent for and no interest
IN abstract idehs or speculation. On this
account, ardent disciple of Darwin as he
was, he sometimes construed the principles
OF that great philosopher too widely. and
made science overlap the domain OF cause
Had has speculative talent been equal to
has talent Tor the observation of facts he
would not have fallen into that common
error but such was the native rectitude CT
his mind ard its affinity for truth that he
saw that science, such, has nothing TO
do with cause, but is concerned with
method alone. Whatever science in it's
sphere vindicates az method, order. law.
invariable sequence is true, but beyond
Shat 1t utters no word.
In my last conversation with Mr..Red.
ding We were sitting IN the open evening
air, M front OF the principal mountain in
northsrn California. which rose above in
saller grandeur. We were talking OF man,
his iture and destiny, and of God, his be.
ing arid providence. He concluded talk
Of an hour with saying 81 cannot com.
prehetd these things, but when | come to
the law of right and wrong in my own
mind it seems to includ s<>Hr>SIIn In
that ftadel be resteIrssa was silent <e
said little about RI on er.en. 70 rsfer 70
theology that III had unite opterown
s en e'u great m1 .nd religions common
of fac perceptions and true
fee;nes he made strong impression. His
n,ind and feeling, ripsned by experience,
were mellow, bland and tolerant His in.
IS tolletb was as honest ss his heart. / could
newell discern-and | have seen him in a
pincl that his Judgment was clouded by
prejudice. Neither have l ever seen tn !,
rays IT truth, of facts, of men, of things,
refraite in him by low vapors of the mind
He was singularly fitted TO aiffuse happi.
ness ironnd him by his genial manners and
ready. sympathies. His smile was bene.
dictidn upon little children, and women
loved him for his pleasant intelligence aud
the purity of his motives. His death is a
common loss, and, | may add, a common
grief, for the usefulness of his life was even
exceeded by the beauty of his spirit Let
us bear our loss with confidence of future
gain, and let us cherish our grief as the
tribute OF our sincere respect and admiring
love.
What is excellent
As god lives is permanent.
Hearts are dust hearts loves remain.
Revere the Maker fetch thine eye
Up TO his style ana manners Of the sky
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