Passaic City record., 1891-01-08
A TRIBUTE OF WORTH.


Ofthe Late Rev. j. Paschal strong.
When Stephen fell IN death it is re-
corded that devout men carried him to
his burial and made graat lamentation
over him. We are here to-day, not in
deed to lament over the death of mar
tyr to the Christian faith, but believers
and 1aborers in common that with devout
hands we may carry to its burial a min
lister of the Lord Jesus Christ, who. like
Stephen, fell at his post.
From the position we occupy the re-
trospect fills the mind with valuable
reflections. We look upon the cold, pale
face in the coffin and ask who was this
man? The question opens the cells of
memory and bids to apply the power of
analysis.
We recall the youth of his fathers
house at Flatbush, l.. l., which, at that
time, was not inappropriately called a
village of palaces. We see him at the
academy, brimfull of vivacity preparing
for college under the careful training of
his uncle, Rev. DR.. Campbell, whose re-
mans were Yesterday laid in the earth
at New Brunswick He graduates from
college and enters the office of the most
distinguished law firm on Long Island
to prepare for the profession of the law.
He is arrested by the grace of God and
constrained to enter the ministry. He
was one of four brothers who followed
their father in the choice of profession,
and so IN early manhood he began his
course.
Those who knew him from his youth
up will testify to his sterling qualities.
They will approve when we refer to his
conscientiousness. His aim was to do
what he thonght right. 1t was so in his
choice of a profession. The law pre-
sented advantages, for personal prefer
ment and for the better provision of
family, but he heard the call of God to
enter the ministry; and he could not be
disobedient to the Heavenly vision.
This conscientiousness always character
lied him. 1t entered into his prepara-
tons for the pulpit. He would not go
into the sanctuary without the beaten oil.
1t made him indefatigible in his pastoral
visits He went from house to house
through cold and heat as light and a
help.
He excelled in his manner of present
ing the truth. He could not handle the
word of God deceitfully. He endeavor
ed to give the people not his opinion or
what he thought should be, but the mind
of the Spirit. He sought out the text,
and furnished that as the food for the
flock over which God had made him an
overSeer.
To an active intellect, wealth of
illustration and a vivid imagination he
added a mode of address fervid, often to
excess, so that the truth of the living
God was rendered attractive and driven
into the conscience with irresistible
force.
His personality was power. He exhib-
tied his heart in his face. His visits to
the homes of his people were welcomed
in the coming, and the parting was
always too soon. He looked the soulful
minister that he was. In their griefs he
was such as the sorrowing wished to
have near them. His sympathies
responded to every call, and often in the
reaction they bore too hard upon himself.
But who, let it be the child, the man of
affairs, or the aged saint, having need of
a pastor, but always bore with them the
impression produced by the presence, the
words, and especially the prayers of
this model pastor.
Our brother was consecrated man.
He felt that he was ''called" and that he
was ''set apart" to the ministry.
With him it was not a perfunctory
office, but every part of him was given to
his master. 1t was Christ, first, second
and last.
When Aaron was consecrated to the
priesthood Moses put the blood upon the
tip of his right ear, and upon the thumb
of his right hand, and upon the great toe
of his right foot-the organs of reception,
of service and Of progress.
So the blood of COnSecratiOn WAS 11DOn
the whole of this mans being. He was
entirely given up to the work of his
commission received from his master.
This was exhibited in his life, in his
public service, in his intercourse with
others and in the privacy of his house
hold. His study and his closet were
often places of revelation, as was the
Holy of Holes to the High Priest of the
temple.
Accept this as an outline sketch of
him whom devout men will carry to his
burial on the morrow.
What was his life work? Read the
inscription on the plate of his casket
He was not old i'll years, and those who
were near him are aware that he moved
about with almost the buoyancy of
youth.
But his earthly career is ended. We
view him again and then take a survey
of his several fields of labor, and ask
without receiving reply, ITO what pur-
pose is this waste?" Oh no! We may
not know the purpose in his present TAX
ing off, but we are sure there is no waste.
The alabaster box of precious ointment
was broken over the Savior's head
Who can sum up the results of such a
life? 1t is said the air is composed of
three gases which can be separated from
each other. Science also tells us that
there is also another element entering
into its composition, which the chemists
skill cannot arrest and RETAIN and this
fourth element is necessary to pure air.
So the results of a devoted minister's
life are not all visible or tangible. The
reports of them are never complete; they
cannot be fabulated. There is some
thing outside the figures which cannot
be reduced to a formula, and that exter-
nal something, that uncaught armora,
that subtle influence which emanates
from man as virtue proceed from the
garments Of Jesus, was very marked in
him. whom we now remove forever from