The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-24

cline to bury the victim OF contagious
disorder, or who will care more for their
reputation than for the opportunity of
preaching the gospelto publican and harlot
l do not deny it; for l know ministers
who have had this work to do in default
of others. But it is no common and GER
tainly no psrdonsble conduct. once
saw poor wretch, who had been aban-
doned by her husband, cared for to the
last by comparative stranger of her own
sex. This good Samaritan was familiar
with the police courts, and her "girls "
bore as bad a name as any in Cheyenne "
(Which is locality, and not a place. but
she did her whole duty. The physician
told me that he was hidden to spare no
expense the undertaken told me he fur
nished his best coffin and supplied his
finest carriages and as 1 was the clergy
man myself, and had certain friends with
me, can easily establish the propriety of
the rest of the affair. 1t was as quiet as
boarding-school of the highest class.
That funeral, going to the cemetery,
passed-one to the right, the other to the
left-a wedding Iarty from fashionable
church. l saw the strange contrast from the
sidewalk-the same number of carriages (;
in the one case, filled with women in
black; in the other, filled with women in
white. There could not be sharper dis.
tinction between the pure and happy and
the lost and sad. Yet that funeral service
Gf was correctly informed some five years
later resulted in the salvation of one per-
son. and perhaps more than one.
What shall we say, however, OF those
exhausting, excruciating burials which
to my own self only-I incline to call
"howling funerals - l certainly know
places where it would be esteemed mat
ter of disrespect for the newly made
widow not to come downstairs shrieking
and moaning. During the ceremonies all
is quiet enough. But afterward it breaks
out again-"Oh, my dear husband -
"Oh, my poor, dear child !" And have
sometimes gone to the grave with pro-
cession OF mourners who would have done
no discredit to Palestine in the days OF
Christ. For my own part, L invariably
began to culver all over when l heard the
first lsmentation, and am thankful that
for considerable time 1 have not en-
had sooner meet that than to have fu.
neral-as once / did where the whole
family were deaf. They sat about the
ooffiu with their hats upon their heads,
stolid and sad. l felt as if it was solemn
farce and yet, fully two years afterward,
a man sought me out in distant place
to thank me for the kind words which had
"helped him 80 much"
We must not mistake the extreme Of
| emotion or the extreme of calmness
Deep and true feeling may be beneath
both of them alike. But | have seen a
man in Mysteries at his wife's death, who
was married happily six months later
Aud l have seen a stony, fearless grief
which ten years have scarcely touched OF
modified. Therefore l close as l began
If there is any part of minister's duty
| in which he comes closer to the heart than
in this, do not know it. And those
commit grave error who think to rele
gate the responsibility of this service to
set forms and invariable expressions. To
certain extent this may be proper
enough; but then, if ever, the Savior's
own sympathy should be shown and the
| Savior's own method followed. Even the
most unpleasant or distasteful circum
stances can be turned to account; as 9
skillful general will often be able to util
ize rough country better than smooth
one, for his campaign. And let no one
think that he can safely neglect such
services and yet keep in unison with the
hearts to whom he brings the story Of
peace and good will.
Pere Lacordaire we'll said that it was
equivalent to new discovery when he
| hot hn Of r,ot
intended for the comfort of the human
heart. And we shall vindicste our claim
to be the guides and friends of men in
proportion as we show ourselves capable
of dealing successfully with the gloom
and darkness of the valley of the shadow
Philosophy and science cannot do it; but
the Spirit of Christ can always teach u;
what will be for the solace of the SOUL
Rev. Samuel w. Du6ield, in Christian
| Union.
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