Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-02
CouRTLANDT PALMER.

Funeral of the Noted Thinker ut Hin
Fate Home in New York-Eroquent Ad.
dress by Colonel Robert Inserson Over
the Bier of His Friend-The 1emains
Cremated.
NEW YORK. July a6.--The late home of
Courtlandt Palmer at III East Twenty
first street was crowded almost to suffo-
cation by the friends who came to attend
his funeral services. The Nineteenth
Century Club. Of which Mr.. Palmer was
the founder, was largely represented in
the gathering. The remains of the de-
ceased advocate of freedom of thought
reposed naturally in . rosewood casket,
which was laden with-howers, in the par
lor of the house. Among the friends in
attendance were Mayor Hewitt, President
Foster Of the Board of Aldermen,
Assistant District Attorney Jerome,
Rabbi Gottheil, Moncure D. Conway,
Raymond Perrin, Daniel Thompson,
Cyrus Butler, DR.. Able, Mrs. Beard. Peal
Eytinge, Robert Blissert John l. O'Sulli-
van, the Spiritualist, T. H. Bailey and
DR.. Thomas Robertson. After Macgrane
Coke had sung THE Evening Star" song,
Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, in accord
ance with request made by Mr.. Palmer
some time before his death, delivered an
address. He said:
MY FRIENDS-A thinker of pure thoughts q
speaker OF brave words, and doer Of generous
deeds, has reached the silent haven that all the
dead have reached. and where the voyage of
every life must end; and we, as friends who
even now are Fastening after him, are met to
do the last kind acts that man may do for man
to tell his virtues, TO lay with tenderness and
tears his ashes in the secret place OF rest
and peace. Some one has said that in the open
hands or 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 and add for
ever to the well-being OF the human race; that
a self-denyng life increases the moral worth of
man and gives assurance that the future will
be better than the past. A free and independ-
ent man, one who demanded reasons, and de-
manded freedom, and gave what he demanded
one who refused TO be slave or master-such
man was Courtlandt Palmer. He was an
honest man. He gave the rights he
claimed. This was the foundation on
which he built. To think for himself, to
give his thoughts to others-this was q privi-
lege and right, duty and q Joy with him. He
believed in personal independence and in man.
hood. He investigated for himself: majorities
were nothing to him; no error could be old
enough or plausible enough to bribe his judg-
ment. He was believer in intellectual hos
pitality. He insisted that those who spoke
should hear; that those who questioned should
answer; that each should strive, not for VIC
tory over others, but for the discovery of truth,
and that truth, when found, should be welcomed
by every human soul. He knew that truth
has no fear OF investigation; that il has no fear
of being misunderstood; that it loves the
day. He knew that its enemies are bigotry
fear and darkness, and that its friends are free
dom, bravery and light He felt that the living
aro inda fnd 10 fla Il
should pay his part; 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
deed within the rearh of man within the cir
conference of the unknown: religion under
stood by the head and proved by the heart;
religion that appealed TO reason.
1t was religion to develop the
civilization of the human race by enlightenment
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 the religion
of humanity. This is the philosophy which
contemplates, not with scorn, but with pity,
with admiration and with love. He denied
the supernatural-the phsntoms and ghosts
who filled the deluded land of fear.
There was but one religion for
him: a religion of pure thoughts noble words
self-denying deeds-the religions of hope and
help. History was his prophet, reason mis-
guide, duty his deity. happiness his end. intel
ligence the means. He knew that man must be
the providence of man. He did not believe in
religion and science, but in the religion of sci
ence. He lived and labored for his fellow man.
He welcomed light; according to this light he
lived. The world was his country; TO do good
religion. There is no language to express a
nobler creed than this, nothing grander, more
nearer perfect. He was
afraid to do wrong. and for that reason
he not afraid to die. He
knew the end was nigh; he knew his work
was done: he stood within the deepening
twilight, knowing that for the last time the
gold was fading from the west, and that there
could not fall within his eyes the
trembling luster Of another dawn. He
knew that night was coming, but in
that night the memory Of generous deeds
shone Ike stars. Kind words can pay a trib-
ute to the man who lived his ideal, who was
turned aside neither by envy, nor by hatred nor
contumely, nor slander. nor scorn, nor fear
What words will do we do with love and justice.
Farewell, dear friend. The world is better for
thy life. The world is braver for thy death.
FareweN. We loved you living and we love
you now.
Colonel Ingersoll finished by reading
one of Mr.. Palmer's poems. After an in
termission of five mintes, religious serv-
ices were read by Mrs. Courtlandt Palm
er's pastor, Rev. Heber Newton. Mr..
Palmer's body was taken to the crematory
at Fresh Pond, L. L, where it will be re-
duced to ashes this afternoon.