The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-27
NGERSOLL'S ELOQUENCB
Over the LifeIess Form Of Court
land Palmer.
AN EPISCOPAL MINISTER
Follows the Eloquent InhdcI's Ora.
tion with Religious Services.
The Dead Mans Desire
Carried out Yesterday.

NEw YoRX, July 26.-Foiiowing is thu
address OF Col. Robert G. Ingersoll to
day at the funeral services over the re
mains OF Courtlandt Palmer:
My FRIRNDs:-A thinker of pure
thoughts, speaker Of brave words, anG
doer OF generous deeds has reached thu
silent haven that all the dead have
reached, and where the voyage OF every
life must end; and we, us friends who
even now are haStening after him, are
met to do the last kind nets that man
may do for man-to tell his virtues, to
lay with tenderness and tears his re.
mains ip the secret place OF rest and
peace. Some one has said that in the
open hands OF death we find only what
has been given away. Let us believe
that pure thoughts, brave words and
generous deeds can never die. Let us
believe that they bear fruit forever to
the well-being OF the human race; that Il
self-dcnying life increases the moral
wealth and gives assurance that the
future will be better than the past.
A free and independent man, one who
demanded reasons and demanded free
dom and gave what he dcmanded-one
who refused to be slave or master-such
Il man was Courtiandt Palmer. He was
an honest man. lie gave the rights lie
claimed. This was the foundation on
which he built. TO think for himself,
to give thoughts TO others-this was Il
privilege and right, duty and Joy
with him. lie believed in personal in
dependence and manhood. He invGsti-
gated for himself; majorities We're moth
Ing TO him; no error could be old enough
or plausible enough TO bribe lis judg-
nent. He was believer in intellectual
hospitality. He insisted that those who
speak should hear; that those who Ques-
toned should answer; that each should
strive, not for victory for others, but
for the discovery OF truth, and tllat truth
when found should be welcomed by
every human soul. He knew that truth
has 10 fear of investigation, that it has
no fear OF being misunderstood, that it
loves the day. lie knew that its enemies
are bigotry, fear and darkness; that its
friends are freedom, bravery and light.
He felt that the livingEare indebted to
the noble dead, and that each should
pay his debt; that he should pay it by
extending to the best OF his power the
good that has been done; that each
should be the bearer OF the truth.
This was the religion OF truth within
the reach OF man, within the circumier-
cnce OF the unknown; religion under
stood by the head and proved by the
heart; religion that appealed to rea-
son. 1t was IL religion to develop the
civilization OF the human race b. en-
lightenmcnt and education, by teaching
each to be noble enough to live for all.
This is the gospel OF man, the gospel OF
this world; this is the religion OF hu-
manity. This is the philosophy which
COntenIplates not with scorn, but with
pity, with admiration and with love.
He denied the supernatural, the phan-
toms and ghosts who filled the deludGd
land OF fear. There was but one religion
for him, religion of pure thoughts,
noble words, seli-denying deeds, the re-
ligions OF hope and help. History Was
his prophet, reason his guide, duty his
deity, happiness his end, intelligence the
means. He knew that man must be the
providence OF man. He did not believe
in religion and science, but in the relig-
ion OF science. lie lived and laborGd
for his fellow man. lie welcomed light.
According to his light he lived. The
world was his, country, to do good his
religion.
There is no language to express no.
bier creed than this, nothing grander.
more comprehensive, nearer perfect.
He was afraid TO do wrong, and for that
reason he was not afraid to die. He
knew the end was near; he knew his
work was done; he stood within the
deepening twilight, knowing that for
the lust time the gold was fading from
the West, and that there could not fall
within his eyes the trembling lustrG Of
another dawn. He knew night was
coming, but in that night the memory Of
generous deeds shonG like stars. Words
can pay tribute 10 the man who lived
his ideal, who was turned aside neither
bv envy nor hatred, nor Contumely,
nor slandGr, nor sCOrn, nor fear What
words will do we do with love and JUS
ticc. Farewell, dear friend, the world
is better for thy life. The world is
braver ior thy death. Farewell, We
loved You living, and We love you now.
Colonel Ingersoll finished by reading
one OF Mr.. Palmer's poems.
Religious servivGs were read by Mr..
Palmer's pastor, Rev. DR.. X. Heber
Newton.
The services we're short and simple,
and US nearly us possible in accordance
with the arrangements made by Mr..
Palmer before his death.
4 few months ago Mr.. Palmer wrote
the following letter TO Col. Robert e..
Ingersoll, not having at the time, us he
told his family, any fear OF death, but
wishing 10 be prepared for an inevitable
event:
NEw YoRE, March lG, 1883.
Ny DEAR FRlEND:-When, after my
liie's fitiul fever, shall start upon the
long sleep OF death, want I. b. Wake
man and you to say above my ashes the
last good bye wOrds-he first, you
second. No more than fifteen minutes
each. When use the word "ashes" l
mean it literally, us l wish my remains
to be cremated. fit be thought best to
make my funeral public one, wish
Siegiried's Funeral March performed. l
shall write to Mr.. Walter Damrosch to
this effect. shall not be buried from
any Christian church, nor do wish any
Christian hymn sung. Let one song be
paeNn OF triumph.
Very atrectionately yours,
CoURTLANDT PALMER.
up. 81 have shown this to my wife.
G. PALMER"
Inrcrson Not Acquainted with Him.