The Press., 1890-05-01


 as minister of God. His words were rich in consolation his sympathy touched the profoundest depths of our afflicted hearts his words, and his manner, and that gentle influence that springs spon- taneously from the being of every good man,-the pressure of his hand, the ten- derness of his voice, the intuitive feeling that he stood before us divinely authorized to administer the spiritual sacraments of holy grace--with all these blessings, say, he has enriched many of our homes. This departed friend stood to us all in the position of one who instructs, com forts, encourages and leads. And, as in the realities of the past, so among our re- membrances in the years to come, he will again stand among the school children, he will again speak to us from the pulpit, we can again visit him in his study, he will again visit us in our aff1ictions, he will again stand beside the graves-those upon the Knoll and those upon the Hill-the graves of those we loved. Thus 1t is that his memory will always be dear to us, for he loved us and gave to us the service of his best years.
 But it is not alone in his relations to others that we must consider this friend of ours. We should look at him also as one who preserved the purity of his own char acter. The very hour, I think, that MT. Maxham died was preparing discourse in which was using this mans life to it. lustrate the text: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" The pure in heart Such was our friends. His life was pure because, so far as we knew. it was free from the contamination of evil thoughts and evil desires. He had met temptations, as have all of us, but he had avoided or overcome them, had not allowed them them to find lodgment in his heart. The world has had multitudes of greater thinkers. men of greater execu- tive abilities, but should not know where U look for any one purer in heart, except to Him who stands as the examplar of the | race. And we can not doubt that the purity of his life admitted our pastor into the "more immediate presence of God" We can not doubt that God rewarded him with that great blessing of a conscience at peace with itsef-with the consciousness that he had done his duty as best he was able. And now that he has gone from us, we believe that he has entered upon his higher reward. Always, think, when he oficiated at funerals among us, he used to point our minds to the fact that heaven is all about us, that perhaps the one we had lost might even then be lowering near us, though we could not see. And then he would direct our hope to the land where ''there shall be no night, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever !'
 So we whom he instructed may believe that, though we mourn hls loss, he has en- tered upon his higher ministry, has met the men and women who have done so much, in all time, for the enlightenment of mankind, has met also those whom he so dearly loved ln their earthly forms.
 His new life must be a happy one. His soul must be young and fresh again. We can not doubt that the future opens to him that which, in his earthly strength, he so
 much desired, life of joyful, Immortal endeavor."
 ADDRESS OF HON. E. H. HYDE.
 We have met together today in loving
 remembrance of him who for nearly a
 quarter of century was pastor of this
 church, and the friend of this people. If
 1 consulted my own feelings should re- main silent. The memories of his gentle
 and loving spirit, his infinite charity in
 word, act and thought, his quick sympa. thy for those in trouble or distress, his never -tiring patience, his manifold kipd- nesses and ministrations to his fellow, men, these memories, as they come surg . ing over my mind, make me almost afraid to trust myself to give voice to my thoughts i, on this occasion. But he was my most in. innate friend. l knew him as we'll, per- haps better, than any other man.
 My relations with him for more than 8 quarter of century, in joy and in sorrow, were of the most intimate and confidential nature. And I remember that I stand here almost alone, the last sentinel, as it were, of that generation who were the , leaders in this church when he first came among us. How few of that generation there are left; only three or four in Staf ford, and not as many more out side some of them with us to- day, and all oi them uniting wI.N ns in spirit in these services in memory of their beloved pas tor and friend. Under these circumstances I say, standing as do here at the very awaiting simply the summons that shal release me forever from all earthly cares
 and duties, cannot refuse the urgent so 5 licitation of the pastor of this church, il the presence of these friends who hold his memory so dear, to pay my tribute of af 5 lection to that most saintly of men, the
 Reverend G. V. Maxham.
 shall not attempt an eulogy, nor to an 3 alyze his character, nor to measure his at tainments, either moral or intellectual. 4 l word of reminiscence, few allusions tt a those things about him which you al u know, must suffice.
 j. Brother Maxham came to us in 1864 Brother Borden, who preceded him r preached his last sermon as pastor of thi J, church on May 9th, 1864. The societ, realized the importance of procuring nev l. pastor at once, and the older and nor :, prominent members were very anxious t, a hear and obtain MT. Maxham, who wa
 then settled in New Haven, as they be e lieved that he could do much to build u, T. the church. At the request of commit e tee appointed for that purpose. consisting l of Brothers Elijah Fairman, Eliab A. Con | verse and Moses B. Harvey, all of blesse, memory, went to New Haven to try an, O persuade MT. Maxham, whom had know l. for some time prior thereto, to come her 1T and preach as a candidate
 At first he would hardly entertain tn l. proposition, first, because he disliked l. 1T leave New Haven, and, secondly, because > as he said, this society had had for pas 1T tors some of the most eminent and dis IT tinguished men in the denomination, an [ he realized that this pulpit would not b Il an easy one to fill. After laboring wit n with him, however, for the greater part c e the night Git was after two o'clock when