Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-28
THE LAST SAD RITES.


The funeral of the late John Van Sick
len was held at the College street Cougre-
gationdl church at O'Clock Tuesday al
ternoon. Long before the appointed hour
the seats, except those reserved for the
family ana relatives and the com pauies of
the Burlin 1ton fire department, were flied
with friends of the deceased who
ha gathered to pay their last respects.
Most of the places of business We're closed
during the funeral and the quarters of
several of the companies of the fire depart
ment were appropriately draped. The
emblem OF the Hook and Ladder company
at their rooms was draped in mourning as
were the windows of the EtAans' parlurs
aud the entrances TO the rooms containing
the apparatus of the Hooks, Boxers ana
Ethaus'. y black streamer was hyiug
from the flag pole on Burritts block,
where the parlOrs of the Euhaus'
are located. The several companies
Ot the fire department met at their respec-
tive rooms AT O'Clock, and 1T 10 reached
the church, where seats on either slue the
centre aisle had been reserved for them.
In front of the;I sat the directors and Of
Ulcers of the Howard national bank, lmme-
diate friends, relatives and family of the
deceased and the bearers. Miss Macon
Der, VINO presided at the orgtu, played Il
/
the cnurcn. The casket was surrounded
and almost completely buried in a pro
| fusion OF flowers. Among the mum Der
was "A broken shaft from the Ethaus, an
anchor, bunch of jtcquemiuot roses, a
wreath ana white cross, all from the
Volunteer Hose company, an anchor of
white from the lambda Ioia fraternity of
the University, IA basket Of cOlored flowers
| from the burlington Gun cub, an anchor
from the engineers Of the Burlington fire
department, beside pillows, wreath-,
baskets and cut flowers from the family
aud friends. Mr.. Robert Roberts ha I
general charge of the arrangements and
the bearers We're f. Perkins, b. j.
Derby, f. II. Parker, A. G. Spau ding, +.
l. Taft and A l. Birrows. The service
were opened With the singing OF the
hymn, Jesus, Son of Mary, Hear us" by
quartette consisting of Miss Lemol,
Mrs. Sibley and Messrs Walker and Mills
Rev. l.. q. Ware offered prayer and read
selections of Scripture. Rev. &, +. Carter
then paid the following eloquent and
worthy tribute to the deceased
MR.. CARTER's REMARKS.
The occasion which calls us together is
so exceptional that some expression seems
demanded touching the matter which
rests so heavily upon our hearts and, in
deed, in the MIDST of this enveloping sad
ness there Is ray of brightness in being
permitted to disclose some things that
am sure will bring quiet JOY to all our
! hearts. A startling catastrophe has be-
| fallen one of our fellow men, in such a
! way that all hearts are shocked. When
ever death comes, there Is Oud of mys-
| terry attending IL, and Significance before
| which the soul of man stands still with
reverentlal awe. Frequent and certain as
/ it Is in human experience we never become
altogether wonted to it, even in its most
natural aud expected form. But when it
matches self against a tower OF strength,
and the vigor of young manhood, gloris
Gus in its prime, yields TO its fell stroke
| then those who stand by and behold are
of the uncertainty of human life, while
their hearts are fused together in the com
mon sympathy of human mortality and
suffering. Not friends alone but all men
! feel bereft in such loss. And all the
close and tender sVmpathies are intensi-
| fled as we find common cause of grief
around this bier. Acquaintances, com
rades. associates, friends and loved ones,
all strive to help each other bear their
mutual sorrow, and your presence here
to day signifies that you would lift each
Others burden and lind common strength
at the throne of grace.
The painful circumstances OF this event
are all too vivid in our minds to need any
rehearsng, for such details, after once
they have been faced, had best be set
aside to allow the thought to move on lines
| where II may gain strength, where per
chance it may find that eternal view In
which 1t shall be enabled To endure. After
all the human explanations OF such an
event have been canVassed, how natural