The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-04-04

ON SABBATH, hARcH 10Th, 1883, A
TIE SYNAGOGUE 'MIcKvA ISRAEL
BY REV. ISAAC P. MENDEs, RABBI o
The CONGREGATION.
HE is gone at length-he is laid to til
dust,
| Deaths bands his slumbers breaking
In coffined sleep of the good and Just
| Is sure and blissfu1 waking.
His peoples heart is his funeral urn :
And should sculptured stone be denie,
him,
There Willis name be found when in turl
We lay our heads beside him."
These words, beautiful in thei
childlike simplicity, recall to ou
minds the painful truth of coun
try's loss and couutry's grief; yea
they remind US of the sudden blow
which has come upon US, and which
though very hard to bear, yet bids
the pious Jew utter with calm sub
mission: "BIessed be the righteou.
Judge" Alexander Stephens is deaG
Alexander Stephens has been gath
cred to his people; the sickly, enact
ated frame is now cold and lifeless
whilst the great and noble soul which
once Inhabited it has been transplan
led by angels upon the sunbeams O
immortal bliss and eternal honor
Well may We weep; we'll may we min
gle our tears with those Of the vas,
multitude, for the man whom Geor
gia mourns lived aud worked for he,
welfare with that conscientious hon
esty which marks but few of to.day'e
heroes. 1t was in the peace, in the
council or in the privacy of his owu
chamber the same zeal for the com
mon good, the same utter forgetful.
ness of all save duty, gained for him
the well-merited reward, a good
name, switch Is better, far better
than rich perfume" Raise we the
curtain of the past, and his memory
lives once again, those days when
might conquered right, and for the
first time in the history of civiliza-
ton science we thrust aside-and
contrary to it's teachings, "the blue
and the gray" mingled to produce
the rich crimson Of the life's heart
blood-that unhappy period which
called from all the sacrifice Of life.
property, all save the honor of a
good name;" above the din was
heard the warning voice of Georgia's
statesman, counseling forbearance,
and painting 10 vivid coIors. the re.
suit of the threatened conflict. "Your
wives will be widows, your children
orphans and yonr mothers childless.'
But when, in spite Of all remon.
STRANGE, the gallant South went forth
to conquer or to die, to suffer hard
ships for the love of mother, home
and country, when overpowered in
body yet still unvanquished in spirit
and determination, Alexander Ste
phens was found in the ranks of the
prisoners marching with his fellow
to the dreary prison,
shackled, guarded and deprived of
earth's greatest boon-liberty. In
peace also the brilliancy of bis i'm
mense mind shed light upon his
works and reflected honor upon all
that he undertook. Who that heard
lis patriotic and soul-stirring ora
ton on the occasion Of our Sesoui.
Centennial could fail to recognize
the pious God-fearing statesman, the
humble servant of God, and who
thought, alas! who thought that that
much loved voice was falling upon
our ears for the last time in life?-
Ay, who thought that even at that
very moment angels hands had be:
gun to fashion the golden crown Of a
good name" which Israel's wise
men have taught can only be bestow.
I'd on the day of death. Yet all this
ls but too true. Our pilot, our guide
has fallen at the helm, and our old
ship is now tossed on the troubled
waters Of uncertainty, and We who
are left can do naught but weep and
wonder and hope for the future, trust.
ing to that Great Pilot on high who
rules and directs the winds Of the
world, and who now must guide US
I'LL his new instrument be appoint
ID. My friends, forgive me if in
awelling upon this sad and mournful
event / have re.opened old wounds;
forgive me if ! have struck mourn
Ful chord on memory's harp which
has found responsive echo in your
own hearts; but when duty bids us
ay on her altar the offering which
should come from US, I could not
Keep silent for I am anxious to hurl