The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-04-29
MYRA's MEANDERINGs.

Memorial Tribute to a Good Mana Beau
tiful Sermon from DIR. Thompson Easter
Scenes at Trinity.
New ORLEANS, April =, 1882.
MY DEAR FIoY:
When last wrote you, the darkenine
gloom Of Good Friday was gathering
about us and yelling the Easter bright.
hess aud glory. Now the gloom has been
all dissipated like fogs, before the Taste,
sun Of righteousness, aud in token thereof
the temporary lnll in the beau monde has
given place to the accustomed entertain
ments of the springtide. The joy and
Thanksgiving born Of the gracious prom
Use Of the Resurrection, and all the great
Truth implies, is but ieebly and INSULT
GENTLY commemo1atea by a round OF
SECULAR ADJUSTMENTS. Rather should it
generate III our lives and hearts the sweet
and abiding sense Of peace and the outer
virtues that follow ia its train and find
fit expression i'll the worship of the Sane
tnary and the higher joys and efforts OF
the earnest soul.
Asa most appropriate prelude to Easter,
the Rector Of Trinity Church held, last
Saturday night, u memorial service in
honor Of the deceased Of the parish, and
especially OF those who had passed away
during the year. Ever since the begin
ming Of his rectership here, six years ago,
he has never failed to dedicate Easter
eve to the hallowed memory Of the cher
ishea dead and exquisite floral offerings
are sent to the church as memorials, and
assist as adornments of the chancel.
The reaper Death had gathered in
among his sheaves fewer than during
previous years, but one he had claimed
whose loss was keenly felt, whose depart
ing had created such an untitled el,as,n,
and whose presence had been SO cherished
that it seemed to his hosts of admirins
friends that no time and no change could
obliterate the tender and gracious mem
cries which gathered about his name nor
cause his absence from them to be less
.sorrowfully deplored. The IN n,eneoyia,u
OF the vest1ymen of Trinity Church to
him, Col. Geo. w. Race, their brother
.vestryman, was an exquisite white satin
cross, beautifully garnitured with hand
painted flowers, OH the top of which
rested q snow-White dove with pinions
ontstretched, as if about to fly. There
was such beauty and finish about this
lovely memorial, which suggested many
"reminiscences of the days that are no
more, and SO unique it was, that it seemed
to eclipse the floral designs, which do not
vary particularly from year to year. The
young girls of the parish gave a delica te
expression of their thought of Mr.. Race
III a large deliberately constructed cross.
made Of his ;favorite blossoms. Bat the
sweetest tribute that was bestowed upon
MN was tue grand and richly deserved
.enconlinn Of DR.. Thompson, in his memo
rial sermon. He described his life of
usefulness and honor, his unilinching
integrity and answering allegiance to a
high duty; how he had been u pillar of
the parish, instant in season and out Of
season." and how he had sustained and
encouraged his Rector Us his cheering
and hope giving words and deeds, who
had grown to trust him and RELY unon
him as on few others. True and stead
last, faithful and earnest, 4e bore among
all men without reproaci, the grand old
name of gentleman.
You may be sure there were many
moistcned eyes in the church, and the
preacher himself seemed SO affected as to
he almost unable to give ntterance to his
loving thoughts of his true hearted par
lshloner and friend. I never felt more
sensibiy the ncarness of the Beyond, the
1thinness of the veil that separates the
Visible from the Invisible, than when
listening to the words Of Dir. Thompson.
who preached on tLis OCCASION npon the
intermediate state, and the Dead in
PARADISE" 1t seemed that we were really
encompassed about with u great cloud of
witnesses who joined in the same praises
and prayers with us, cherished the same
hopes, purposes and aims, and who tli
umphed in our successes and victories
and sorrowed with us in our losses and
failures.
I'VE that remain on the earth are only
q small handful. All the greatest souls
and srandest minds have been gathered
INTO the company OF the redeemed. There
are aoo in Greenwood alone, not to speak
OF other cities of the dead' The doctors
lalih IN the great resurrection truth is SO
"ntaitering, that his assnriag words were
most comforting to all present, and |
think there was no lingering, questioning
doubt III the minds Of those that left the
church OH the eve of Easter.
The universe which the philosophers
speculate about is mere clumsy. cranky
machine il it has only place for man in
it three score and ten years, if its bright
est stars and lights die ont forever Do
men believe in the indestructibilitv Of
the force that sets stone rolling down
the bill, and dare question tho imperish-
;'o,e nature Of the force that dwelt in
Dante, in Milton, in Shakespeare A
great modern writer has said that we do
not know anything. True. We do not
know ourselves, our small life here in its |
possibilities, powers, limits and mean