The Press., 1890-05-01

ture, and host of other godly men and women who preceded Brother Maxham into the land of eternal love and light, and with whom we know he is now holding sweet and blessed communion.
 As we gather here in this church which they all loved so well, in commemoration of the man who was SO dear to them all, are we not almost conscious of the pres- ence of their spirits, and do we not surely feel the blessedness of their benedictions
 Mir. Maxham was pastor o: this church for twenty-two years. During all that tune his daily life was with us, and of us, and for us. Early and late, in season and out of season, in health and sickness, his chief thought, his labor and his care, was for the welfare and happiness of his people. Broad in his sympathies, he allied himself from the commencement with every move ment, no matter from what source it sprang, that tended in his judgment to the elevation of the moral, spiritual or intel lectual life and thought of the town of Stafford, and he did much to break down the sectarian barriers that, to the discredit of Christianity, had in times gone by done SO much to prevent unity of action, and thns to impair their usefulness for the general good among the churches of vary ing denominations in the town.
 His interest in public schools, of which he was superintendent during a greater part of his ministry here, was intense, and we are indebted to him for our first free high school, the expense of which was paid by a good friend of his and of this so- ciety.
 He loved young people and childre, , and it was one of his greatest pleasures tu watch them in their innocent amusements, and to give them advice and encourage. ment in the more serious affairs of life. His time and services were always at theii command.
 will not speak of him as preacher, eloquent, earnest and persuasive; but should do him an injustice not to allude to that quality of his as pastor which SC endeared him to his people, his supreme sympathy for them in all their troubles, trials and afflictions.
 As we all know, to those ill trouble and distress, to the homes of the bereaved and the mourning, he came as blessed spirit with words of sweet sympathy and consola tion, and many heavy heart and broken spirit has been given new hope and new life under his tender and loving ministra tion.
 As time passed on he came more and more attached to Stafford. His home here. his church here, his friends here, be came almost sacred to him, and know il was one of the severest trials of his lift when feeble health, advancing age, and ( sense of duty to tue church compelled him to sever his connection with it, and tt change the whole current of his life. dare not trust myself to speak of his sor row at thus giving up associations whict were almost 8 part of himself, but car say, and do say, that to the very last hi heart and his great love went out to ant abided with this church and this people.
 One word more and I am done. In my more than quarter of century's inti macy with this man learned to know th' marvellous gentleness of his spirit and thu wonderful charity of his nature. It wal almost divine. He was man of strong will, firm convictions and earnest feeling yet, say it to his honor, that in all m, long acquaintance with hIm never heard him speak harsh or an unkind word o any human being.
 Thus, my friends, offer my feeble tri bute to the memory of the pastor whom revered, the man whom 1 honored, ant the friend whom I loved.
 Blessed be his memory.
 CLOSING REMARKS BY REV. T. c. DRULEY. Does any one suppose that Bro. Maxhan was man whose integrity, goodness an, manhood were so great simply because h was minister? It may in truth be tha the whole bent of his nature led him t find his best and most fit place for work il the ministry. But does any one suppos that this man would have been less good less true to himself, whatever might hay been his avocation in life? Gan any on even imagine Bro. Maxham being trick and dishonest as merchant, insincere an selfish in any profession can anyone con ceive of his being anything but true, uI right and honorable man, whatever he ma have done for livelihood If such COT ception is impossible then his virtues ca be initiated by every one in every walk ( life. Any one can be an honored and respected man by living as he lived.
 We have heard from his friends to da that his whole nature could find no sur resting place short of eternal goodnes. Now whether this broad, generous, devou tender and sympathetic nature was but seed thought of Gods universal love, C whether this nature could find nothin that satisfied mind, heart and soul but tn thought of eternal goodness, in either cas what wonderful confirmation of the fune amental truth-God's everlasting, omniI otent, fatherly love for all his children the church to which he gave his life an powers, which he loved so well, and ( which he was so bright an ornament. A has been already said his best monumer is human hearts. He has impressed hin self on human hearts and human lives, an has given them the impulse that has mad them more noble. These impulses of hi in these hearts will go out from them other and younger lives, and from these still others, and who can tell how far int the fruitful ages of eternity this impuls