The daily gazette., 1882-01-04
THE LAST SAD RITES.

former pastor Of Central Presbyterian
Church, this city, after Which Rev. j.
Howard Nixon, ID. d., present pastor,
read chapter Of the Scriptures and
spoke as follows:
This sudden, and, to our shortened
sight, untImely death, which has called
US here together IN sympathy for the liV.
Ing and Ia sorrow for the dead, is fol-
dlneut again OF the Divine word, where.
lug II says: sit shall come to pass that
| will cause the sun 10 60 down while
II Is noon; will daiken the earth in
clear day " So II has been with the life
oil the friend so silent before you. II
would be- strange, indeed, ii this COM
munIty did lot feel NJ though IL bad
been struck by,a blow. Fore more than
thirty years our friend has been foremost
ia the ina ustr:al aud mercantile pursuits
Of this city. At 1S years Of age he en-
tered Into active liie, and many here 10
day have been witnesses OF how he had
labored, aud Of the ultimate success
which his industry had achieved.
These friends have grown up with
him. He has met them IN business lite,
and they know him as honorable. His
whole life has been spent here, where be
was born; aud nov that he 10 dead, these
frieDds whobave known nlin best, t,gather
as sincere mourners and to bear witness
that, although he adhered To business,
perhaps too well Tor his physical good,
he never sought IL at the risk of their
friendship and esteem.
Colonel McCOmb was strong man.
His very personal bearing indicated
that, and his conversation confirmed
the impression. Added to this was q
strong will, which made him tenacious
Of his purpose. He was conscious OF
his strength, aud his consciousness
gave force to his conviction aud selfs
reliance to his spirit. This, he some-
times confessed, led him To uncon-
sciously disregard the judgment and
opinion of others. He was not cold or
harsh. lie was as strong in his a1ec-
tions as in intellect and will, insl4nced
nowhere SO we'll as In his final life.
He reveFed has mother, and from his
twelfth year, when he jOyiully threw
into her lap the FIRST dollar he had
earned, until she died, her comfort
was his chief concern. Whatever be
was to the outside world, his wife and
children, in The circle of their own
home, knew we'll tho. strength Of his
affection. Bat alas, alas how all
human strength become weakness in
the hour Of death. In moment the
strong STAFF was broken There has
been much thai was grand and beau
tilul In his life, aud there is something
almost tragic i'll this sudden dea Ia
which, 10 moment, has snatohed him
from earthly successes, friends aud
home. Oh, my frleRds, is not this
then a repetition to US of the old
waning which says in substance, let
no wise man glory in his wisdom
Aud 80 it is not 10 earthly successes
We must turn. he has passed from
earth. We must think OF what lies
beyond, for his true citisenship Is now
in Heaven. In hls early manhood he
united with the Hanover Presbyterian
chm ch. He also Joined in the ieorga.
nizaJion Of the Central p esby teFlan
church, and he was one of the most
active promoters of the enterprise. As
a trustee of the church and a teacher
in the Sunday school, he was most
active, and his seat at the c)mmuniOn
table was seldom vacant. For more
than five years as pastor, have had
opportunities to have proven to me,
the tenacity with which he adhered to
his Christian faith. About three
weeks ago he was with US at COM
munlon, and upon returning home, he
spoke of the great pleasure the service
had been to hln, aud how he had been
touched by the singing of one particu-
lar hymn. He had leayned to sit ct
the feet of Jesus in meekness even as
little child. For such man, death
Is not death, but transition ; but the
swallowing up of mortality to bloom
in a lifo thai will be eternal. This sun
has not gone down in noDn-has not
dropped into darkness. 1t shall rise
again flaming in the forehead of the
morning sky. For God has said He
that bolieveth on Me shall have eternal
life.
Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, d. D., Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese OF Delaware,
next spoke. lie said
The comparison OF human life to the
vegetation OF the earth is familiar to
all. 1t is one Of the greatest analogies
stamped upon heavenly things. II is
the parable Of Gods teaching. We
are 40 more than the lilies of the field,
whose bright glOries wither so quickly
beneath the chilling blast. How deep
ly are We remembered of the truths of
Holy Writ when We think 1T was only
but yesterday that he for whom we
mourn was III our midst, the very plcs
ture of perfect manhood. He was one
who seemed to have risen to the very
top of human life. Nothing had been
taken from his usefulness. He had
arrived at the elimination of success,
50 far as the world can give it. He
had gathered that wealth which is so
much of human desire, which enables
the man to do SO much for others.
de was occupying position of emf
| nence anu was honored. What was
there lett but for him to enjoy the
fruits of his success? But God's way
il not our way /; We are like the grass
which withers when the spirit of the
Lord breathes upen as. How sad was
the transition to the friends who meet
here not 10 exchange congratulations,
but to mlngle their tears with the
mourners. Under such circumstances
where can we look for helpS Where
is new that energy, force Of character
and Ohe strong will that brought him
through the vicissitudes of a business
lifep Where is now the beaming eye,
the warm grasp of the hand and the
kind expressions of affection and sym.
| path7p Those that have known them
| will know them no more. At a time