Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-01

not unnatural feeIing-the tie between
pastor and people is strcng one, and in
this case it was one of peculiar strength.
1t is no secret to this community how
nobly and how successfully this young
man had possessed himself of the conf
dence and affection of his church. It is
no secret in this community as to the
warm place he held in the hearts of those
for whom he was spent His term of
service was short, but it was long enough
for that. You gave him your love; you
gave him no more than he deserved. You
ought to have loved him, not only for
himself, but for his work. He came to
you when you needed him. And in
speaking to the people Of another church
[ may be allowed to touch delicate mat
term all brotherly kindness 1 may say
that he came to you at a time when it
required faith and courage to undertake
it. For your sake he was content to en-
dure, and. turning away from other OPP
portunities, he consented to assume your
leadership. And how successfully, your
present cemented and increasingly pros
porous condition as church and people
is enoush to show. Was I not right in
saying you ought to love him and honor
his memory for his works sake, and as
you follow his body to the grave, do so
with a deep sense of loss?
But if [ have spoken of your confidence
and love for him, can speak no less feel
ngly of the love he bore you. You could
not know him without knowing that this
church was IN his heart, and what L want
strong even in death. am glad that it is
my voice that tells to his people that his
last expressed thoughts were for them;
chat his last words were for them; that his
last uttered wish was for them, and that
his last uttered prayer was for them. 1t
was in the providence Of God my fortune
60 enter bis chamber just before his death.
Seeing me he called me to him, and spoke
to me for few moments in a strain OF
earnest speeeh-the one burden of which
was his people. You for whom he had so
faithfully labored. You among whom he
was called to lay down his life. You will
not censure me if [ tell you that he prayed
that charity and brotherly affection might
prevail among you. You will not censure
me if tell you that almost if not his last
prayer. was that all differences among you
might be healed, that all seeds of discord
might die, all jealousies be forever buried
and that you should stand with one anoth-
er as one man in serving God. When [
ventured to tell him that God having used
his life for you, might also use his death
| for you, he replied, 'Oh, hope So" My
| friends, as leaned over your dying pastor
and listened to his words for you and
about you, l learned lesson for you and
| for all Christian people. How often all of
us allow little petty things to come in and
not only make our feelings unbrotherly,
but become drawback on our work for
God. AS bent over your dying pastor and
listened to his words, L felt that he saw
| these things in the light of that other world
I into which he was entering, and saw how
small all such things looked compared
| with work for the gospel. If any one thing
more was needed to make you work for
the gospel, that one thing is furnished
you in the dying words of your pastor.
will simply close by saying let it
| be for your comfort and consolation
| that the same gospel he preached to you
| in life, was sufficient to him in death. and
I that with perfect faith he passed away.
! 10 To- CT oapt bof oil 10
we'll and that he was about to join the hosts
| of the redeemed above. His death was not
| only confident, but triumphant. Let it
comfort you to know that Death appeared
| to him only as friend that came to open to
| him the gates of the eternal city of God.
| The touching address of Dr. Mcfarland.
so peculiarly touching under all the Cir
cumstances that attended it, was listened
to by an audience over which the stiffness
of death reigned. and of whom, but few
saw the speaker, save through eyes blinded
with tears.
| AT THE CEMETERY.
| After the benediction, which concluded
| the service, the funeral cortege moved
out of the church, the choir singing
sAsleep in Jesus" When the procession
reached the cemetery. it was found that
large crowd of persons, most of whom had
failed to gain adm ission to the church,
had assembled there to await it. The
services at the grave were conducted by
| Rev. Mr.. Snyder.
The burial lot which had been purchas-
ed by the church, after Mr.. Riser's death
by strange coincidence joins that in
which lie thu remains of the lady who pre-
ceeded him as an occupant of No. IL
Washington street, and who died there.
Mrs. Riser returns to South Carolina or
Monday next, with her daughter, Mrs
Hayes. Her daughter, Miss Mamie, will
remain in Stanton some time yet.
ACTION OF THE CONGREGATION.
The sorrowing congregation have adopt
ed the following resolutions expressive of
their feelings:
WHEREAS It has pleased Almighty God, ou
Heavenly Father, in the wisdom that sees thu
end from the beginning, to call from his labors
our beloved Pastor, Sidney Thomas Riser
Resoloed, 1st., That while we deeply fee
his loss, we sorrow not as those who have nc
hope, but with abiding trust in the love of oul
Heavenly Father we accept this visitation
, with submissive hearts
2. That we bear testimony to the ear
nest spirit and faithful labors of our departed
pastor, and to the good work which, with tn
blessing of God, he accomplished among u.s.
3. That we endeavor, with the help of God
! to secure the unity and harmony for which, il
his last hours, he prayed, and that, as the bes
evidence of our love, we carry forward witt
greater earnestness the work of God in GU
congregation.
4th. That we extend our sympathies to the
bereaved family, and commend to them tn
7 precious consultations of the Gospel of Christ