The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-11-27
with the family, the church, his native

sudden death.
1t is now the Autumn of the year and
the leaves have fallen. He has died in
Life's Autumn and passed into the Win
ter of the grave.
But, our friend is not dead; he lives
again; and is gathered with the good,
who have gone before him; and, while
we weep. to-day, many of our loved and
departed ones are again together, ming
ling in happy scenes around the throne
in heaven.
Come what will, God is good and
merciful. His ways, though not our
ways, are right and true. We will not
murmur, but cling the closer to our
Heavenly Father. Yet, we must
mourn; grief is itself sacred. Jesus
wept at the grave of Lazarus and we,
too, may weep and find solace in our
prayers and in our tears.
There was period In the life of our
Lord, when the strokes of death came in
rapid succession, appealing to his SYM
pathy and power to heal and save. The
centurion's servant lay sick and he has
tened to the Savior, saying, "Come and
heal him lest he die;'' and Jesus healed
him. Then Jairus pleads for his little
daughter, who is at the point of death.
When Jesus reached the home, she was
dead. But he took her by the hand and
called her back to life. Next, funeral
procession is seen going out of of city
a young man was being borne on bier
to the grave. Jesus says, "Young man,
] say unto thee arise and he that was
dead sat erect. Later still, he comes to
the tomb of Lazarus. Four days has
been the burial; but, at the words,
"Come forth" the dead returns to life
again.
These events occurin chronological Or
der, but the climax is furnished in our
Lords own suffering and death. After
the scene at Bethany and Jesus last pub
lie address to his disciples and last pray
er, then follow, in quick succession, his
arrest, his trial, his crucifixion, his bur-
ial and his own resurrection from the
dead. And now, he says, because [
live, We shall live also" ''I am the resur-
rection and the life: whatsoever liveth
and believeth in me shall never die
This death of our departed friend has
been sudden. But good men have pray
ed for sudden death. Rev Albert Barnes,
the Bible commentator; and Henry Ward
Beecher both died suddenly. They were
glad that the Master said, "Behold; [
come quickly" One burial, yesterday,
of a man from this same parish, was at
ter long and painful illness; our broth
err, before us, was called "quickly" out
of the world. But Gods way. and time,
and place, and manner are best. "Thy
will be done.''
Mr. Beardsley has lived and filled many
positions of public trust and usefulness,
and has died after long and honorable
service for his fellow men. He has held,
at times, almost every office within the
province of new England township to
bestow upon one of its citizens. He has
been in the State Legislature, making his
influence widely felt there for the public
veal. County appointments have been
held by him. He has had special apti-
tude for and made himself useful in the
settlement of many estates. But the
one position by which his life has been
identified with the public, more than any
other, is in holding the office of town
clerk. This position is as dignitied and
important, calling for as much ability
and fidelity as, perhaps, any other with
in the gift of the town; and, yet, for 30
years he has held this office, performing
faithfully its duties; some years being
elected by the suffrages of all the people.
Bodily ailments had led him to think
of soon resigning this trust, with its care
and labors; but, if he must die now, it
may have been better that he should fall
at his post, faithful to the last.
The deceased has ever been interested
in the welfare of this town, where he was
born and brought up, ever taking deep
intereft in its affairs, civil, educational,
secular and religious. In earlier life, he
was for some years teacher in the pub
lie schools.
But, better than all, his life and labors
have long been identified with the Christ
ian church. Wishing well to the other
religious denominations, he has ever
been an earnest, active, Jealous, consist
ent and continual worker in the &C.
clesiastical society and church of
Trumbull, of which he was a
member. His voice and influence have
been felt for years in the Congregational
parish in behalf of righteousness and of
all that is pure and peaceable and good.
In his death, one of the strongest pill
lars in that sacred temple has fallen. He
has passed from the church militant to
the church triumphant.
AS husband and father, who could be
more devoted and more loved than he in
his home. To this, the affection, so deep
in the hearts of wife and sons and daugh-
tiers, bears incontrovertible testimony.
He lived to see his children grow up and
fill places Of honor and wide influence in
life.
But orr friend has gone! The present
seems to be harvest for the great reap
er, Death. You will readily call to mind
the recent demise of some of your ac-
quaintances in this community. A few
weeks ago, stood over the the lifeless
form of a beloved daughter, dying at 25
years of age. Many of you were present
to sympathize with me; and, in other
ways, this community generally manifest
ed their sorrow. Never did I love the
people of Trumbull more deeply in my
life than when they came to me in that
hour of my overwhelming grief.