Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-17
ALARGE FUNERAL.
Funeral of Miss Martha M. Lendrotn Address by Rev. MT. KOsPchen-

A LARGE FUNERAL.
 Funeral of Miss Martha M. Lendroth
 Address by Rev. MT. Kospchen-
 An Impressive Scene.
 The funeral of Miss Martha M. Lendroth took place yesterday afternoon at o'clock from the house, No. Arch street, and at 2:3O from Zion Lutheran church. The church was filled to overfowing with sor- rowing and sympathizing friends. Rev. Mir. Koepchen of Meriden, late of Zion church, officiatsd and delivered feeling and eloquent sermon, which is given be- low. During the services Miss Emile Neebe, head soprano of the choir, beauti- fully sang solo entitled cover the Stars there is Rest" Professor Bolser accompa- nied on the organ. The choir also sang selection. The deceased young lady was member of the Zion church choir and clerk at BaIlerstein's and was very highly esteemed, and her death is much lamented. The floral tributes which were about the altar presented a very beautiful sight Among them were the following: "Gates ajar," young people of the church; s'vacant chair" from the clerks at Ballerstel n's; mounted heart, Mr. Charles Nachelaidt; stgates ajar," Hugo family; anchor, Young Enterprise club; star, Paul Raush; heart, Mrs. Raush; anchor, MT. Conrad and Dave Raush; pillow, Sister" Philip Lendrotn; broken column, MT. Charles Menge; ana bouquets from friends.
 The pallbearers were Fred L. Neebe, Charles Spreyer, James Connolly, George Miller, Fred Leusmann and John Miller. CIoIJ o. Tao.oJ xroro tl,a 11ndartakara
 Rev. MT. Koepchen's remarks at the sol emn occasion, translated, are as follows:
 Martha ssSaid I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of Goda' St. John xii, 40. These words of our savior have been full filled by the death of this friend of Jesus. Martha has overcome the world by her faith and now sees and enjoys what she believed while on earth.
 Jesus, her heavenly bridegroom, has brought her to her right home-to his father and to her father. At the throne of the lamb, which was slain for our sins, she now stands washed winter than snow by the blood of Jesus Christ and is singing the "Holy Holy! Holy!" of the heavenly angels.
 The grace of Jesus was her stay,
 And peace had blessed her dying day.
 But by following the call of Jesus into eternal life and departing from us, she has wounded her many friends, whose hearts are filled with sorrow and whose eyes are filled with tears. We see only the corpse of our friend and cry out with David, q Samuel 1, 28), eve are dis tressed for thee; very pleasant hast thor been unto us; thy love to us was wonder full"
 Only short time ago the deceased stood among us like a scented tree fllec will blossoms, promising good and delicioul l fruit She was like rose blossom whicl was just beginning to open beautifully be fore us. None of us thought that ou hopes would vanish so soon; but God hat concluded otherwise, and the unexpecte, | event happened. While the cold hand o death has left leafess and unfruitful tree 1 standing, he has crushed this costly plant while thorns and missiles have been al l lowed to grow, this rose has withered. The untiring feet of this friend of Jesu l are now laid together for her last rest ! The hands which have so often caresse, | her parents are now folded.
 The mouth, which had loving word fo all, is now closed for this life.
 Her true eyes are closed, her young Tiff fled and her withered body will soon lowered into a cold and dark grave. Gov
 cred with earth, flowers and tears we shal
 never see our Martha again during ou
 earthly life.
 Truly everything appears as if our LOT
 Jesus did not love her nor us; as if he ha ! poured the fullness of his wrath upon hi
 children, and had turned his mercifu1 fac
 from them.
 But we hear from the word of God ths
 he has only thoughts of peace when h
 takes your child to her heavenly home
 for not only has your daughter learned
 understand the words, "I have loved the
 with an everlasting love, therefore, wit
 loving kindness have drawn thee"; bu
 God also tells you through his servant
 "Jesus loved Martha" St. John ii, 5.
 If we were standing at the coffin of a aged person, it would be easy for us to se that God was merciful in taking him hom for such an aged Simeon often pray
 "Let thy servant depart in peace," an
 wishes to depart in peace.
 A young person like Martha does nt speak in that manner. At her age Chri tians do not fully understand the expre
 sion, "The wages of sin is death, an
 therefore they do not wish to leave tn world of sin. If we are not careful in sue ! a case we might think that such blossol
 had withered too soon, that her body wa
 too soon prey of death.
 But this would be @ great mistake! Wh'
 ever can die blessed is always ready to d. . l part from this world. Whoever can d
 blessed never dies too soon; he cannot d
 soon enough. Whoever dies blessed hs ] ! achieved the aim of this life, namely, lii , everlasting in heaven.
 , To be sure, Martha was not free of siI ], but was sinner like all the rest of u :, Christ, however, not only died for h. I sins, but also washed her clean from a ; sins when she was baptized, and theret
 made her to child of our heavenly fathe
 Only last Palm Sunday she again pron
 ised to be true to her heavenly father an never leave him. Then there was joy ! heaven when the angels heard this pron ise. God took her to himself that she migl not be in danger of falling into the snar | of the world and satan and thereby lo l what he wanted her to have-everlastir life with Jesus.
 Truly, God loved Martha Her dyir hours were the most glorious and the mo blessed of her life on earth. Death was u
 loving messenger of God, who led her ] the heavenly wedding; her coffin is h ! bridal carriage; her grave is the door whie ' ! is closed after the bride has entered in 7 the heavenly wedding hall; her shroud , l her bridal ornament. It is well with O, ! friend, for she has gone to see her heave ly bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and will T l main with him forever.
 Before she could taste of the poisono'
 enjoyments of this life, before she cou be drawn from God by misleadir
 friends, she has gone to her heaven | father.
 Is there any reason why you should GOT plain and mourn the death of your daug
 ter and sistera You can mourn her deat as relatives ands friends, but not i, Christians. Remember you were not h - real parents, only foster parents. Her re father is God. He created Martha-bot and soul; he preserved her till she die ! he defended her against all danger and pr tected her from all evil. He redeemed and purchased her with the precious bio, and innocent suffering of his beloved so Finally God took her into his holy fami through holy baptism, not as his servar but as his child.
 ECan you blame God for calling his | loved child home? Can you blame him f not wanting to leave her in this vale tearsa Will you mourn because she is ready with God, where she can nevermo be harmed? Will you mourn because she already in the everlasting light, while !, must wander in this valley of death? c are you sad because she already reaps t harvest after such short time of to