Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-03

MDCC, XC, VIII
The sermon is prefaced with an account Of
the drowning accident and notice of the
young men who were its victims
PREFACE.
As the following excellent Discourse will
probably circulate beyond the neighbourhood
where it was delivered, it has been thought
proper to preface it with some account of the
connection and melancholy fate of the unfor-
tuuate young persons al whose interment it
was preached.
PARDON TAYLOR was the son Of the Rev.
| HEZEKIAH TAYLOR, minister of New Fame,
and was an apprentice to DR.. GEORGE II. HALL,
| of Brattleborough. EDWARD PALMER was the
son Of the late JOSEPH p. PALMER, Esq for
merry of Framiugham, in the state of Massa.
| chusett5, and was au apprentice to Mr. BEN
| JAMN SMEAD, printer, Of marlborough
| These young men were nearly of an age, both
having passed their 7th year.
striking sweetness aud similarity of tenn
| per, engaging manners. and assiduous atten-
| ton to business, had not only endeared them
to their connexions but naturally united them
in all the ardour Of juvenile friendship to
this friendship PARDON TAYLoR, undoubtedly,
sacrificed his life.
On the morning Of the "a Of July, 1797,
number Of young men went with them into
| could not swim, unaware of the boldness of
the shore, advanced about one rod into the
water, with Il young man of the name of Ea
| ton, finding himself suddenly beyond his
| depth he was greatly terrified, and immedi-
ately caught bold of EAToN, and in such a
manner as they both appeared, to their COM
| penions, to be in imminent danger PARDON
| TAYLOR, who was near the shore, rushed, i'm
| mediately, to their relief EDWARD PALMER
| then left EATON, and seized his friend with
| one of those convulsive grasps, common to
| drowning persons. PARDON TAYLOR, though
an excellent swimmer was so ontangled, that
| he could not save his friend, or even extricate
himself they both sank together, never to
| rise with life. Their bodies were found in
| about 30 minutes, aud every means used to
reAIimate them, but in vain. Thus an unfor-
| tunate and generous youth, who, Drawing ev-
cry danger, and looking upon everything
dear to himself, as of little consequence, when
his humanity was to be exerted, fell an un-
timely sacrifice in attempting to rescue his
friend from death.
Their funeral was attended from the house
of Mr.. SAMUEL DICKINSON, the following day,
at two o'clock, p. NJ.
The solemniti-s were opened by an evan
gelical and happily adapted prayer, by the
Rev BUNRER GAY of Hinsdale-The follow
ing Discourse was delivered by the Rev Will
LIAM WELLS, of Bratteboro', (ate of Brooms.
grove, in England The performances being
accompanied, occasionally, with affecting mu.
sic. A pertinent prayer, by Mr. WELLS, clos
ed the funereal services. Their remains
were then decently inferred in the same grave
To be just in some measure to the charac
ter of Mr. TAYLOR, it must be observed, That
he was diligent and faithful in business, amia
BILE and benevolent in his disposition. mild anG
engaging in his department, kind and dutifu
to his parents-unlformlv exhibiting re
markaGle acuteness OF intellect. In fine, he
promised TO be an useful and valuable mem
ber of society, and an honour to human ma
ture
OF Mr. PALMER, it may be said, That jds
blooming in youth, he afforded TO his conuex
ions and friends the highest and most hatter
ing prospects of becoming eminent and use
full in his profession; and if a winning mod
esty, benevolent temper, an honest heart
and an expanding genius, will embalm hi
memory in the minds of his surviving friends
his unhappy fate will forever be regretted
and never forgotten.
The text of the sermon was the familia
passage from job The Lord gave, and tn
Lord hath taken away blessed be the nam
of the Lord" In its style of thought AM
expression the sermon is not notceably dii
| lbItnN nun AIhA VI hAo HitnChh AoJs ~ thhu
, no advantage of the peculiar and distressing
circumstances of the occasion to pile up it
horrors or to oppress and terrify the minds o
those who listened to it. Its three leadin
thoughts are
l. That all the blessings we possess in thi
world are the gifts of GoD. The LORD gave
, II. Whenever We are deprived of our en-
jOymenta and friends, the hand that take
them away is the same that gave them. Tn
a LORD hath taken away. Aud therefore,
III, We have occasion and should be in
| disposition to bless GoD when he takes away
as well as when he gives.
OF bereavement and the loss of friends tl
preacher says, Il can say nothing but that
know it is right, because the Lord hath don
= it," And this is the teaching throughout
whatever comes of joy or of afflction, is
be borne or enjoyed, with thankfulness {
4 submission, because "the Lord hath done it.
The modern pulpit adds little on solem
occasions like this to what of consolation an
70 admonition Mr.. Wells sums up in one of h
closing paragraphs;
''Do earthly riches make to themselvt
wings? Let us lay up for ourselves treasur
in heaven. Are our nearest and dearest rel
tions mortalY Let us cultivate an aoquai
q tance with the world above. Let us set OF
! affections and have our conversation in hea
en- And then, in little while, we shall
l. to be with our friends that are gone befo
u.s. and enjoy the inconceivable pleasure
II friendship with them, which viii, in every r
! spect be delightful, and never be broken
interrupted. Then we shall see what abu
l. dant cause we had to acquiesce in the allie
ments of providence, and be satisfied with o
. affections as well as our comforts, and to sa
l., THE Lord gave and the Lord hath taxi