The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-12


Mr. Pckard, of the firm of n. e. Rice & Co.,
Messrs A. P. Kitching, A. Cutting, w. H.
Sands, j. L. Bruohell, of Boston, and Mr.. f.
Irsch Of New York.
The remains we're placed in the front parlor
10 an elegant casket, covered with black broad
cloth. which bore silver plate with the in.
scription
SAMUEL E. SPRING.
May 10, 18I2--August s, 1884.
On the casket rested large clusters of white
roses, large star Of raHsies, and superb
ivy wreath, the ends fastened with pansies.
Beuta,h the casket we're two magnificent floral
wreaths. one bearing in green Jefferson white
ground of flowers, the letters V. G. A. al d P.
Ca tribute from the Veteran Gunner Club.
In the window, was the NEST elaborate and
beautiful floral design ever seen in the city. 1t
was pillow some three feet square, com posed
OF all the rsrest flowers tremendously grouped.
In one corner was beautiful anchor, in the
diagonal corner, a floral sickle resting on a
sheaf of wheat. The centre was composed of
white flowers and bore in English yiolet,, the
legend an Metnoriam." The emblem was
the tribute of Southwick & Sands, we'll known
Boston merchants.
Toe services were very simple and wers con-
Quoted by Rev. G. W. Buck, Mr.. Spring =
former pastor at the Park street (Unitarian)
church. They commenced with the hymn.
Nearer Ny God to Thee" exquisitey sung By
qnartetto composed OF Mrs. Chase, Mrs
Cloudy, Messrs. Thurston and Shaw, followed
by the usual burial service read by the clergy
mal T0en came chant, after which Mr..
Buck spoke as follows:
Whenever death occurs, they who survive
instincilvely look az the career that is closed
aud make estimate of its value and importance
Its sigDlticance is now rounded ont ia in a
manner complete; We Can regard it as whole
and ask what worth has ii? What service has
Issued from it to God and maj? This INQUIRY
even sapplants the obsolesceat concern about
the expression of hope" So o1y1ousJv ia a
lie mat IS fuil OF goodness in hopeful condi-
ton, IN reference both to time and 10 eternity.
Among those v no were acquainted With Mr..
Sprlng there is no obsearity or hesitancy In the
view taken Of his completed career. There
Is 10 computing and balancing of dsjected
Fragments of his life to ascertain a fayorabl,
prrpunderance. There is no pro and con. and
We are here now-his bereayed family, and sor-
fow1Dg trlends-to render, not Judgment. bur
tribute OF affection ADD applause; sincere,
spontaneous, qnreserved tribute OF Election ard
applause. Atasl we are here also to say a fare
Well word to all that remains to us of him who
was SO recently with Us in familiar and below
ed presence.
IL Is hard to comprehend that be is to be
known among us NO more, save in memory;
and III the continuing influence of his life;
t1at man so full OF life that he made alive
all things about him, whose touch OH
lapguishing or budding enterprises seemed
almost creatiVe,-there was such power
OF vitality In it,--wbo was the ami
mating spirit of every social circle
IN which he had part; even In presence of his
lnanimate frame, it is hard to "make 1t true
tnat that masterful spirit has been mastered by
physical iDfirmity.
How profoundly, how painfully the event Of
that quickening presence, endeared BY con-
slant, daily and hourly affectionateness and
loving kindness, is felt in his own immediate
family circle, dare net even try to think
You, his relatives IN remoter degree; you his
more intimate personal friends; you his asso
ciates in business; you, bis colaborers in the
higher talks of citizenship; you, too, lament
today the kindly voice that is silenced the
helping hand that only death could stay. And
to some among you, cut off by remoteness OF
residence from frequent intercourse with Mr..
Spring III the days gone by, bat chershing
none the lees tAcit com panionship with him,
and hoping still to meet him from time to
time. to you the world itself will seem TO have
suffered loss and to be less worth living in,
use this opportunity, speaking for you all
to say what We could not say to him while he
was with us. Words which would then have
been an ungraceful impertnence are now a
sacred tribute OF justice and love. Over his
sleeping clay, in presence of that "shrined
ideal OF excellence" which he has now be-
come, some expression may be permitted oil
cur sincere reverence and affection.
To this embodiment of Gods gracious boun.
tii0lness we must here and now bid farewell
1r .NkxNf t,.1r1 IT, -
give BIN the last goodbye on the threshold OF
his final journey; IL remains to us only to say
here to him, Farewell! We trust him freely
to the Goodness that sent him into the world,
AID made him what he was, and expressed
itself through him. We trust hira to the in.
flute Compassion whose work ne pursued 10
helping the poor and needy. We trust thai
fine spirit to companionship with good shirt:
in whatever realm of being.
And SO, TO this life, well rounded with its
three-score and ten OF years, well filed with
good aud noble work, hallowed in loving re-
membrance by US all, we bid farewell. Fare.
we'll dear friend, dear brotherl Faithful ser
yant in every righteous cause, born of God, to
God returned, farewell! farewell!
After prayer by Mr.. Buck, and the singing
OF the chant "Thy Will be Done" by the
quartette, the benediction was pronounced
and the remains we're taken to Evergreen fol
interment. The pall-beareFs we're Joseph
Walker, Hon. William ". Thomas, Ira p
Harrington, Hon. Nathan Webb, Hon. Jacob
Mcclellan, j. S. Winslow, Horatio N. Jose
and Gen. Samuel j. Anderson.
During the funeral all the principal Offices
and stores in the city were closed. The flag on
the City Building was at half.mast, as were
many flags on the shipping in the harbor and
private flags in different parts of the city.