The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-11-07

Eloquent Memo rial Sermon Preached
by Rev. ". II. Garter.


by Rev. W. ID. Garter.
Last Sunday was All Saints Day, and,
as is his usual custom, Rev. w. 81. Car
ter. rector of st. Johns Episcopal church,
preached an eloquent sermon in memory
OF the loved ones who had gone before.
He took his text from Revelations vii,
.: "Lo, great multitude, which no man
could number, stood before the throne"
He spoke as follows:
Over ], 200 years ago the heather Pan
theon was converted into a Christian
temple, and dedicated to All Martyrs
The date was early in May, which was
afterwards removed to November 1, and
the name changed to All Saints, for in
the early church, and especially as men
toned in the book of the Revelations, the
word saint was understood to mean
martyr, and those who were considered as
conspicuous martyrs for the faith had
special days set apart in which their
memory was revered. But the number
grew to be SO great, and there were SO
many who were none the less martyrs be-
cause their namts were not generally
known, that this day was selected to
commemorate All Saints The church
will not willingly forget any of her chill
dren who have suffered for her. She
knows that the names, cherished perhaps
in only one household, have place upon
the book Of life in common with those
whom the world has honored. She con-
siders them no less worthy of grateful
remembrances; she believes also that
many have testified t. their faith in the
humble paths Of daily duty, more difficult
to tread than tue road which leads to the
martyrs crown; and so now she COM
memorates as saints all those, whether
living or dead, who serve God honestly
and faithfully. She accommodates her
self 10 the language of common use when
she speaks Of her departed children as
dead; to her better knowledge they are
the only ones who live. We are the dead
Restricted by the hindrances, weakened
by the temptations, hampered by the
limitations, all imposed by the body, we
can know nothing of what is really living
u1til the body leaves us for the grave,
setting us free to experience what true
life is. Nor does the church believe that
they who have gone before are removed
from us beyond the reach of either love
or hope. To cherish their memory is not
all we can do They are still of the one
family with ourselves, h wing common
interest in our affections, in our faith and
in our prayers. We love them still, but
with love from which time has taken
the warmth of the earthly feeling. We
love them with that unselfsh affection
which would not bring them back to US,
but would take our thoughts to them, as
with that great multitude which no man
can number they wait before the throne
Of the Lamb. 1t is not only our privi-
lege but our right to claim the one COM
munion of saints, whether with us
they still live and serve or have gone on
| AACO CAC AOoC vi
To-day the church commentaries All
Saints, and especially suggests that each
church household should remember those
of the spiritual family who have been with
us in earthly years and have left us for a
time since last All SAINTS. The number
is the smallest for many years, and there
are some things worthy Of notice There
is not child among them and all are
men except one, whose brief married life
ended in January. When younger she
was one Of our children here, but she
moved away from this city, returning
only when her strength was so far ex-
hausted by long sickness that her days
among the friends of her childhood were
few. Her body was committed to the
dust by the church, from whose ministra-
tions l trust she received strength and
comfort.
1t is strange thing in our expe-
rience that the corporation of this par
ish should lose two of it's members in one
year, both connected with the vestry for
nearly a quarter Of a century; elected to
their duties almost at the same time and
| entering upon rest so near to each other
| esteem as great privilege my personal
friendship with both of them, but cir
cumstances brought me into closer rela-
tionship with him whose next door neigh
Dor had been almost during the whole
Of my residence here. Increasing in6rm-
tiles compelled him of late years to give
up active work in the p .rish and even to
cease attendance upon the services so
dear to him; long after he was unable to
be with us at the noon services he was
present at the early celebrations, and
through all he was ever ready with his
counsel and advice. 1t is to him we are
:v,doh%od fOr Tho v,1ov, 0c Tho oL,,-~l