, 1885-06-16
IN MEmoRIAm.
A Service Dedicated to the Memory OF
A. II. Converse.

morning the service was of unusual inter
est, being in remembrance of one of that
church's most liberal members. The
pulpit had been very pleasantly arranged
with flowers the choir, under the direc-
ton of Prof. Pasmore, had selected an
thcms appropriate for such an occasion,
and in the most pleasing manner did they
render their very appropriately selected
music. Among tho audience could be
seen many of Mr., Converse's warmest
friends, who usually attend services else
where. but had been attracted to this
church on account of its being the only
way by which they could show respect 10
a friend who had been taken Ill, had died,
and was buried far away from a city OF
people who could not do otherwise than
remember ono who had in so many ways
befriended them. Our report of tho ser
mon by the Rev. Mr., Field will only do
justice in so far as presenting a few
well remembered expressions. The
pastor selected these words from
lisa. 81: 6: We doall fade as the leaf
and said in substance, the bible abounds in
SMILES. 1t is an Oriental book. Its SMILES
are drawn from earth and air; the feel
ings and associations of men. The smile
of our text is one Of the most forcible
used TO illustrate the decadence of power,
which must end in dissolution. See that
leaf. A common thing, a little thing, a
mystery Not long since it opened its
tiny petals under the influence of the
warm spring sun and moisture. 1t grew
like an exhalation, aud in a night was a
perfect leaf, Of a healthy deep green color,
rejoicing in the sunlight, sporting in the
breezes. But suddenly there comes a
change. The color becomes sallow. Per
haps there is q red flush upon the cheek,
the juices dry, the brown of death comes
on apace, and with a convulsiye futter it
drops to the bosom Of the earth, dead.
Nothing but a dead leaf. Men tread them
under feet, or gather them for burning.
The Prophet says, as fades the leaf so do
we. Irecall a time when seated at the
open casement of my window, | gazed
li%stlessly on Il beautiful landscape. At
my feet rolled in quiet majesty, the still
deep river bearing on its bosom innumer-
able leaves all Of gay colors. The banks
of the river were graced by stately trees,
and beyond stretching away in the dis
lance to the lofty mountains. lay the
smooth green meadow, with here a tree,
and there a shrub, to diversity the river.
The mountains seemed blazing in autumn
nal glory. All the trees putting on their
gaycst dress to die in. Distant things
fail to impress US. But CHANGING at the
river and the trees on its bank. | belleld
a scene that brought reflection. The
trees that a few days before were clothed
in virgin green had now put on their
richest varied dress. And ever and anon
a leaf dropped from the parent stem,
fell into the deep, dark river
and was carried away to the falls and the
rapids below. Now one came Pickering
down, now two or three together. but all
fell quietly into the dark va,crs !
thought how like human lifcl with meas
with the leaves. it IL but n rttle ~rus,line
Journey from the cradle IN tbe er,ca
Death breathes unon rs and ee fan ou;et
" into the Stygian waters. and are horne
silently.-where? Like the leaves we
come into the world in yirgin n,rity
Like them we are soon covered with The
dust and de6lements of the world Like
them, we are visited with heavenly show.
ers and for the time the dust is removed
Like them. we are shaken by the storms
and troubles of this life. and tossed lifbsr