Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-03
DIR. JOHN &. EDWARDS
The SOLEMN FUNERAL SERVICES AT
couRr-srREET CHURCH.
pr ,. Powsn Gariaad's Glowing aud Fer
vent Tribute 90 the Memory OF
the Dead Pastor.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.l


large numbers could not even find stand.
inc.room. The following was the order Of
procession on entering the church;
Tuz PROCESSION.
First All the Protestant ministers of the
,.fv and visiting ministers az honorary
rail bearers. Following these came the
sg'ive pail bearers from tho Board Of Stow
rris. |. II. Adams, Camlllus Christian,
J,hr 7. Pettyjohn, r. Pollard. William A.
Strothcr. and J. w. Watts, bearing the cas-
Next came the passive pall-bearers from
ne Ioardof Stewards. Messrs- A. Forsberg,
j n. Gillian. J. W. Iyey, George III. Jones,
= u. Lavinder, w. II. Twyman, and DIR.
N. B. Hatcher.
Tho foral-boarcrs were: Mcssrs. j. ID.
Nurrell, J. n. Seay, i. Z. Shelley, T. ID.
CHRISTIAN, I. y. Christian, Peter Ainslie
". " Heby, Sidney strother, and james
4 Gregory.
The family Of the deceased followed. and
tie procession closed with the members Of
Marshall Lodge, No. 80; Hill City Lodge,
H. 1913; Bethel Lodge. n, 4. NJ. and A.
81. and De Molsy Commandery. No. 4,
Knights Ieulplars.
THE SERVICES.
The solemn services were begun by the
rl1r singing the hymn. Hes Gomez
Rev. Dr. Lambeth. Of Centenary church,
then read the first and second verses Of
HYMN No. 5S7.
Az the CONCLUSION of these hymns Rev.
Dr. Amiss offered a fervent prayer. lie
thanked God that although the Church
md the Conference was bereayed the dead
preacher had died in the faith. He prayed
DIVINE comfort 20 the bereaved family, aud
that the children may live ana die as had
their plous father
Rev DIR. Hall, of the First Presbyterian
church, read the FIRST part of the burial
ritual. Rev. DR.. Felix. of the First Bap-
tl-t church, read the second part.
At the conclusion of DR.. Felix's reading
Mrs Hurt sang in q pathetic manner the
HYMN, Jesus Is Mine" and there was
scarcely dry eye IN the large audience.
TRIBUTE 10 HIS MEMORY.
Rev. J. Powell Garland read a
sketch Of the life of Dr. Edwards. and paid
the following glowing tribute 90 the
memory Of the deceased DIR. Edwards
was no ordinary man. II estimated by the
visible fruits of his ministry. lie has left
hut few, II any supcriOTs But few lives
have been go abundant in the happiest aud
hest results. His long and faithful
ministry. embracing period of lfty-seyen
wears, was ia demonstration OF the spirit
aud power, and God gave him many souls
for his hire. As u preacher he was one OF
the most eloquent aud impressive Of the
time in which he hved-indeed of any
tune. In his sermons there was a most
learning. intellectual power, argument,
md tender. persuasive pathos. His ser
mons were the product of mind OF yigOr-
Gus vitality, of careful discipline, and of
rare culture IN all the essentials Of pulpit
efficiency.
BoLLING FIRE.
HIS was a stvle that kindled as il went
NJ VAS % rolling fire of emotion and thought.
There was q living spirit in II. He hung
himself into nis theme, mind, heart and
,4ul. and his speech glowed with the i'm
pa-slOned utterauCes OF oOnsecrated
heart. The freshness and intensity aud
uout of his discourses, their mastery
compactness of thought, their deep and
faryid spirituality, added 10 his familiarity
with the whole range of theological litera-
ture, placed him in the front rank of pull
IItOrators.
NO COMPROMISE WITH SIN.
With profound conviction of the truth
% the Gospel aud realizing cOnsci GUS
ness of its value and necessity, he declared
lovingly yet fenrless,.-. the whole counsel
q God and mac .5mpromaiise wi, with sin sin:
inspired by deep and solemn conviction
of duty and genuine love Of God, and
neither the favor nor the frowns of men
moved him from his fidelity TO the truth
s,he believed IT, He never sweryed line
from what he believed TO be right nor
0hatrt nor trimmed tile ITulu IOI inc hhht
II reputation or popularity.
WON THEIR ADMIRATION.
If any differed from him on any of the
great moral questions with which he came
In contact or matters involving the best
policy of ecclesiastical government 1t only
served 10 win the admiration Of those who
never doubted the honesty, the conscien-
tousuess, and purity of his convictions
and utterances. In all Of his public and
private acts we see the man of conscience,
az humanity, of Justice, Of truth, Qnd OF
honor. 70 his own heart the truth of God
was precious. and he loved 10 preach it
aud 20 see sinners accept 1t. His strength,
bis culture his heart, and his life were
given to Christ. Every thought and mo-
TIVE aud purpose and plan OF hls long and
laborious Gfe, all were held in beautiful
eubordinatiOn to heroic devotion to the
cause and honor Of his Master.
oyER HALF A CENTURY.
For ffty-seven years he thus served mis-
ministry with the genuinepess of his
pietv the eloquence Of his words. and the
conservation Of a noble life. But now his
work is done; his toll and labors are ended,
and be has entered into rest. But though
We shall see him no more in the flesh, yet
h. will live embalmed in the memory OF
hundreds and thousands as a great ana
GOOD and precious man.
BISHOP GRANBxRY's SERMON.
Al theconclusion of DIR. Garlands eulogy,
Bishop Granbery came into thepulpit. The
Bishop said: " Though dead, he speak
eth" With these words IA foundation
De began his tribute TO the deceased. which
Tor IT, usefulness. beauty, and correctness
bas rarely been equalled on any similar oc-
casion. II was the heartfelt utteranee oil
longtime friend in honor Of a grand man.
Tho Bishop began by saying that DR.. Ed
wards was first on the roll of the body
o. which he belonged here--meaning tho
Conference. and that he had been trans
terred 60 the roll above. With what ten
derness. eloquence, and power has, ne
spoken 20 YOU from this pulpit, ana 10
other charges from Maryland to Callfor-
MA. and from the Potomac TO the Gulf,
and he Will continue 10 speak on through
this unfinished year of bis pastorate, whle
Dis life Is not only speaking To his family,
but 90 other large audiences, that they
should work with God. HIS long, active,
and fruitful ministry was dwet upon al
length by the Bishop.
OONsECRAIED PREACHER.
His frame, he said, was not robust one.
but be was possessed with conservation 10
Lls work as preacher. He united popu-
lrty and success from the start: Ills
characteristics as "a minister were skllfuuy
analysed, among them being those OF
lively fancy. He was never dry or oaIe'
nc lid not strain after figures OF speech
they came spontaneously and continued
ul until the winter Of old age.
Second. The instructyeness OF ms ser
mons, lie was sound as well as earnest
and eloquent IN scriptural exposition.
son or THUNDER.
Third His power of exhortation, he APP
Piled the truth. He pleaded with men, no
va, d son 81 thunder sometimes even ter
nc ~ his warnings, but he was equally
happy in the application of the precious
promises OF the Gospel.
Fourth. He did not weary his auditors,
and though aftor preaching at length, from
the irst word 10 the peroration, interest
was excited in bis sermons. tie was . re-
N'alHt. Very many were converted under
hs preaching who are now in the ministry.
PRgAcRKB AND PASTOR.
While great preacher he was equally