Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-08
NETHODISM'S SORROW.
HOMAGE TO THE MEMORY OF
BISHOP PIERCE.

Il
HOMAGE TO THE MEMORY OF
BISHOP PIERCE.
The Services at Trinity Last Night-The
Church in Observation-Disclosures Upon
the Dead Bishop-Incidents from His
Life RecaIIed-Tributes to His Charac-
ter and Virtues.
The large congregation that filed Trim
ity Church last night and sat beneath
the silent habiliments Of mourning in
which it was clothed in respect to the
memory Of Bishop Pierce, was an eYi-
dence OF the great love which the
church bore TO its revered and honOred
leader. Everywhere were visible the
solemn embIems OF tribute and respect.
The pulpit, where fifty years ago the be-
loved Bishop stood and preached, was
covered with black. Upon the desk stood
a cross Of immOrtelles with bank OF
roses at its base. The altar rail was
wound with Grape. The galleries were
draped in festOOns, and the pillars
were wound with black and white.
The entire interior of the church bore to-
kens of deepest mourning. Within the
altar rail By the side Of the communion
table sat the pastor Of the church, Rev. t.
t. Christian, Rev. W. III. Hayes, Of Wes-
ley Monumental Church, and Rev. G. w.
Matthews, Of the New Houston Street
Church.
In opening the solemn service, the pas
tor announced the hymn:
Servant Of God! Well done!
Rest from thy loved employ.
The battle fought the victory won,
Enter thy Masters JOY.
The voice at midnight came,
He started up TO hear;
4 mortal arrow pierced his frame,
He fell, but felt no fear.
The hymn was sung by the congregation
led bv the choir. and as the thoughts Of
the great man, whose memory 1t recalled,
came TO the minds Of many in the large
congregation, tears fell upon the open
hymn books and strong voices trembled
as they uttered the solemn notes.
At its conclusion Rev. W. NJ. Hayes Of
fered an eloquent and devout prayer in
behalf Of the church, stricken by the
death of its noble leader. The cOngrega-
ton sang. at the conclusion Of the prayer,
the hymn
"What though the arm Of eOnquerng Death
Does Gods own home invade.
What though the prophet and the priest
Be numbered with the dead"
As the last line was sung the cOngrega-
ton became seated and scTiptural selec-
tions from different parts OF the Bible
were read. Among them were these
verses:
Genesis 1s:25-"shaI not the Judge of
all the earth do right"
First Samuel 3:1S-"It is the Lord; let
him do what seemeth him good"
PsaIms-39: 81 was dumb. l opened
not my mouth because Thou didst it."
Acts 2:I4-sThe will of the Lord be
DONE"
Second Tim, ": :, 81 have fought a
good fight, | have finished my course,
have kept the faith; hencefOrth there is
laid up for me a crown Of righteousness
which the Lord, the Righteous Judge,
shall give me at that day; and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love His
appearing"
Acts 2I:24-''For he was a good man,
and full of the Holy Ghost and Of Faith
The congregation and choir then sang:
He has finished his work and his journey Is
The war Is accomplished, the triumph begins;
He laid down his aTmOr beside the cold river,
And brilliant with stars Is the crown he has
won.
The pastor, in abiding to the great
sorrow which had befallen the church in
the death Of its beloved Bishop, remarked
how eminently fitting it was that the
memorial service in tribute TO the great
work he had rendered MethOdism and
the world should be held in Trinity, of
wards Presiding Elder Of the district, and
years later, where he presided over the
deliberations Of the annual Conference,
and sat in the same pulpit which was now
draped with the sOrrOwful emblems OF
mourning. Referring TO his early life, the
pastor told the story Of his 81 years OF de-
VOtiOn to the work of the ministry. seeking
the salvation Of souls and the advance
ment of the Masters kingdom. He paid
a high tribute TO his character, calling
him the embodiment of virtue and happi-
ness: frank, unselfish and faultless,
his life benedictiOn TO all
with whom be came IN contact. He
alluded to the last public service
Of the Bishops life, his rededicatiOn Of
the Goshen Church, how even then his
strength was almost gone, and he was
hardly able to stand in the pulpit, vet he
responded 10 the call made upon him as a
devoted servant of God. He referred to
his last sermon preached at the CulbertOn
camp ground, and how those who heard
his matchless elOquence upon that
occasion declared it was the grandest and
most powerful effort Of his life. In con-
clusiOn he t0uchingly alluded TO the final
scene at the deathbed, when,
upon the verge OF eternity, he uttered his
last words, crest, happiness and peace
fOreVermOre." He had previously SAID:
Brethren. we might have glorious love
feast here this morning, but my strength
is almost spent, and il l don't talk as
much as you think l ought, don't think
nv Heavenly Father is angry with me,
for He is not. Everything is perfectly
clear and brfght.1 ssSuch men," said the
pastor. ssnever die. Though their bodies
become dust, their deeds live after them
forever"
Hon. J. r. Saussy spoke of the Bishop
as a citizen, and paid an eloquent tribute
to his character and the virtues which
made his life that Of pure, noble Chris
tiau.
;. B. Adams, Esq, spoke Of him as
pTeacher-the greatest the church had
ever known; great intellectually; great
as scholar, heaven-bOrn, heaven-taught,
and heayen-directed, he made full
proof of mis- ministry and demonstrated
that be was an apostle indeed.
MIR. John Houston alluded to the Bishop
as a Christian, giving up all his worldly
ambitions To become an humble, timer
ant Methodist preacher with one great
purpose in his whole Iite-that !Of saving
souls.
At the conclusion Of the addresses the
congregation bowed in silence and Rev.
G.. W. Matthews offered the closing
prayer. The choir sang the hymn:
Up to the beautiful gem OF life,
Gathering home! gathering home.
D 10 the tMelilu- WueEe cOntlA no 5LElAG
The dear ones are gathering home.
Gathering home! gathering home.
Never TO sorrow more. never TO roam.
Gathering home. gathering homei
Gods children are gathering home.
The benedictiOn was pronounced by
Rev. W. N. Hayes, and the congregation
slowly lett the church, conscious Of the
great burden Of sorrow it had been called
upon to sustain.