The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-31

Death of Rev. Sidney. Z. Riser.
Rev. Sidney T. Riser, pastor of 5h
Lutheran church, of this place. died OF
Friday night last after painful illness O
a month. aged "a years. He accepted ;
call from the Stanton Lutheran congre
cation in August last and from the frs
sermon enthroned himself in the conf
dence and affections Of the church. Hi!
health. at that time was delicate, suffer
ing from the effects of malaria, contracted
! in the lowlands Of his native State, South
Carolina. But his condition did not pre-
vent the faithful and unremittlng dis
charge Of all the duties OF pastor ano
preacher. He was constant in season and
out of season, in his domiciiary visits: the
work OF the Sunday School, and III all OF
| The various duties relating to his consre-
! cation. Although this was his first charge.
| he was equal to every demand, and had
grown in the affections OF his people to a
degree that he became almost an idol, eX-
erting an influence for good that was so
manifest as to be recognized throughout
the community. His gentle, tender nature,
his deep, absorbing piety, his robust and
well disciplined intellect and wide and va>
ried culture conspired to make him useful
shepherd to his flock; an effective laborer
in the vineyard Of the Lord. In the tenn
pest and in the calm: in the shadow and
the unshine--through all of which he had
pa, sed-there was no Variabeness Or
shadow of turning with him. Burdened
with a sense of the great responsibility
that pressed upon him-conscious OF the
difficulties ana emDarrassments which en-
vironed his church, and measuring the
trust he was called upon to execute aud
the labor perform by the highest standard
of christian, dots Win slDgeness OF
purpose, a devotion to bis work and chris
tian courage that inspired hope and conf
dence. He was a genuine follower OF
Christ; noble, brave preacher Of the Cos
peI winning. sympathetic friend, be-
loved and esteemed by all who came with
in The circle Of his acquaintance.
The funeral services in the Lutheran
Church. OIL Sabbath last, were very impress
sive. The audience room was crowded to
its utmost capacity, while almost as many
more were denied admittance for. want of
room to Sit or stand. The remains were
preceded in the church by Revs Snyder,
Painter, Beard. Willis, Mcfarland, Hui,
lihen and Gardner, with Mr. Hammond,
M, ?. Funkhouser, II. B. Brown, Charles
and J. J. Prufer, and C. E. Berry, as
pail arers, the choir singing an appro-
PIRATE hymn as the procession moved to
the chancel Rev. Dr.. Snyder opened
the service by reading from the Scrip
lures. and Rev. G., Beard followed in
prayer. Rev. Mr.. Painter then delivered
an able and feeling sermon, based on
the Esd verse of the 10Th chapter of Jer-
emiah-his theme the experimenting and
directing providence of God in the affairs
of men. Dr. mcfarland closed with
touching allusion to the heroic mould Of
the christian character Of the deceased,
his labor and love fer bis congregation
the influence of his brief presence upon
the community and the peace and conf
dence and faith of his last hours. 1t was
solemn occasion, There was scarcely
dry eye in the large audience and as the
cortege moved to the last resting place
there was not one who did not feel that
the church had sustained a great loss,
aud that the cause Of christianity had
been robbed of faithful and useful ser
want The death of this gifted and prom
ising Young minister, taken away upon
the Threshold Of his usefulness and in
the bloom of his manhoOd-torn from
mother and sisters and friends and con-
gregation at q time when the future
opened up with SO much hope and assur-
ance. is one of those mysterious Orderings
Of Providence that the ken of man cannot
penetrate Or understand. Faith in the
wisdom and loving kindness of Him who
notes the stricken sparrow and holds the
destlnies of men and peoples in the hollow
Of his hand. is the true source Of solace
and comfort to the bereaVed land to Him We
commend the Borrowing mother and sis
tiers in this hour of their great trial,
At the cemetery the largest agsemblage
of people of all classes and conditions,
ever seen in that city of the dead, had
gathered to pay the last sad tribute of re-
apect to the deceased, testifying their
warm affection and tender attachment for
the gifted young minister, whose brief Ca
reer of usefulness was so suddenly closed.
Dust to dust was responded to by tears
ard signs as all that was mortal of Sidney
Riser was hid from human view.
The following resolutions were adopted
by the members Of his church
WHEREAS it has pleased Almighty God our
Heavenly Father, in the wisdom that sees the
end from the beginning, to call from his labors
our beloved Pastor Sidney Thomas Riser
Resolued. LIST, That while we deeply feel his
loss, We sorrow not as those who have no hope,
but with abiding trust in the love of our
Heaven y father we accept this Visitation with
su bnissive hearts.
Q. That we bear testimony 10 the earnest
spirit and faithful labors of our departed pastor
and to the good work which, with the blessing
of God, he accomplished among us.
Sd, Th9t we enGeaYor with the help OF God,
to secure the unity and harmony for which, in
his last hours, he prayed, and that, as the best
evidence of our love, we carry forward with
greater earnestness the work of God in our
congregation
18th. i hat we extend our sympathies to the
bereaved family, and commend to them the
precious consultations of the Gospel of Christ.
There is nothing more soothing than a
richly favored cigar, especially after meals.
Try the VIRGINIA SEAL.
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