The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-10

Substance of the Address Made by
Rev. DR.. Andrews at the Funeral
of Mrs. Edwin Barksdale-

'Wn V1cllm-
ss0ur ewes have seen the steps Of age
Halt ferbly to the tomb
Our ewes have seen the rosy lts
of Youths soft cheek a1sRys
And fate descend IN sudden nlght,
On naznhood's middle day
The old adage, however, is surely YER
fed in this instance Death has now
selected a shining mark, bright ana
shining mark. Those who knew her, |
viii have only to summon before their
mind the beautiful vision aud TO remem-
her her charm in the social circle to
allow the business Of her claim 10 oelhg |
q shining mark.
We may speak Of her characteristics |
as bright snd shining mark under two
first. in Whist she was ID
herself intrinsieally; second, IN what
she WAS to others. She possessed IN an
eminent degree the three qualifications
necessary 10 bestOw attractions ana en-
gagedness upon woman-beauty, gehtie
ness aud usefulness. She was oiesseu
beyond the generality of her sex, IN the
personal charms bestowed by her Crea-
tor. Beauty is one of the most pleasure
giving and cheering influences IN the
bounteous economy of Pgovidence. The
most beautiful of all Gods creatures Is
beautiful woman. The most beautiful
of all objects is the human face. 1t
possesses more of the elements OF beauty,
color. regularity, motion, and above all,
The soul-Iight beamingfrOm the eye.
But woman might be beautiful and
vet forbidding in. her association; the
very imperiousness arising from her
conscious gifts might make her superc'l-
ious and unpleasant to Others. Our
departed friend added to her beauty
that other characteristic of gentleness.
According to the testimony o. one who
knew her most intimately, and whose
association with her in domestic .lile,
gave him the best right 70 know, she
was never known to be thrown OF OF the
balance of a beautiful and consistent
| eouipoise of temper. She had kind word
| for all. and threw a halo over all her
association by her Winning and kindly
manner. Y
Beauty and gentleness, however, do
not make the complete woman. one
might possess them and yet be negative,
and have no characteristic to make her
presence and association valuable to her
| friends. But she addedsto these qualiti-
cations that other one Indispensable to the
| well-beiBg of others-that is, usefulness
| She reigned az queen over her domestic
arrangements and considered it incon-
sistent with neither gentility nor refine
ment 70 take hold and guide with her
oYn hands the minutia of the househol q.
| / could present an engaging picture oil
! herself as told to me by friend as be
once saw her in the performance OF her
daily domestic duties, but forbear.
! In the relations she bore to others, and
in the beautiful fulfllment OF those
obligations, she is proved to be shining
mark. She sustained every family
relation possible to woman - sister,
daughter, wife, mother.
La this materialistic and selfish age,
large relationships are not appreciated
| Parents desire but one child to be born
| to them. Young persons desire to marry
| into a family where they will have nc
brothers and sisters. The tendency Is tC
escape as far as possible claims that
might arise from a numerous connec-
| ton. But | believe that the truest
happiness and the highest development OF
life come from the broadening effect of
many associations. | believe that the
human heart takes on its noblest, puresl
characteristics as it responds to the at
lection ELECTED and the services demand
ed by the ties of kindred in any and all
degrees.
Our friend was blessed of God in
sustaining all these ties and IN so happily
and acceptably meeting all their claims
as to make her death to be a sad inter
! terence with them.
She adorned the character OF sister
and filled with tender affection this
sacred relation. Nothing is more beau
tiful than the love of sister to sister-no
intimacy is nearer, no influence
more productive of good. Thus
the loye of sister to brother
what an amulet it is 70 exercise
evil from the pathway and to keep the
brother pure and good and true!
She was a devoted daughter, gave to
her mother unseltish love, and received
from her mother the fondest affection
| The mother was not privileged to be
| with her in her last moments, being IN
a distant State, watching by the bedside
of another daughter, who lies in crit
cal condition, but daily the trembling
wire was put into requisitlon TO convey
news and messages of sympathy. And
doubtless a power more subtle than
cleo srical current and of swiftef wing
assembled often to the great white throne,
even heartfelt prayers for her welfare.
In the parents of her husband she found
another father and mother as tenderly
loved as her own and by whom she was
loved and caressed as an own daughter.
Their loss will be perhaps more sensibly
felt. as she was the light of their house
hold, and the helpful, happy minister to
| their wants.
Then when we come to that other re-
| ll-wife-esteemed by tne Creator
| himself to be the nearest and most
sacred relation, because He says husband
and wife are no longer twain, but one
flesh, and because He said it is not good
| for man to be alone; will make a help
meet for him Oh what a shining mark
| the dread destroyer claims when he
| snatches from the husbands warm EN-
brace, the beautiful, gentle, loving wife.
have never experienced it, but have
often thought that of all desoiate expe
| riences. this exceeded. 4 friend of
mine, who was thus bereaved, expressed
the feelings he had about thus: "Ohl
sir, | feel as il the one-haf of me had
been ruthlessly torn asunder, and the
bleeding tendrils and quiyering nerves
were left still exposed"
/ have purposely reserved the other
relation for the last-the sacred climax
of this sacred series, sister, daughter,
wife-mother. All! who can.ever sup
ply mothers love and care to the three
little babes too young to know this
grievous loss2 Even though the fond
foster mother might occupy the relation
nearest In blood kin, and though all the
wealth of her womanly heart might be
lavished upon the precious, helpless
ones, still no real substitute can be
found for mothers self-consuming love,
no touch can be so tender and soothing
in its ministries.
In view, then, of what this departed one
was in herself, intrinsically, and in view
of what she was to others, think you
that have drawn too gloomy picture
in attempting to prove that death has
snatehed shing mark from our midst?
But in addition to the other sacred
ties she had formed and helpful o0liga-
lions she had assumed. there is still
another more sacred, far, and more pro-
missive Of reward. She was a true
Christian. She was a child of God
About three years ago she Joined the
Methodist church, the church of her
husband, and hand il hand they we're
making their way to that brighter and
better world. l don't know any picture
any more suggestive of the joys Of Eden
than a young husband and young wife
Joined to each other hand and heart,
and together Joined in the sacred ser
vice of God.
She made no death-bed speeches, be-
cause circumstances did not call them
forth. And there were none needed, for
consistent life and loving devotion give
sufficient testimony. | knew of an