The record-union., 1892-07-18
THE DEAD STATESMAN.
Funeral Services Yesterday of the
Late Newton Booth.
An Eloquent Tribute to His Memory
by Rev. j. b. siIcox-Impress-
i've Funeral Services.

The Congregational Church was filed
yesterday with sympathetic throng in
attendance upon the funeral services of
Ex-Governor Newton Booth. The as
semblage was a representative one and
included many prominent people Of the
State, while the services, conducted by
Rev. >. u. Silcox, were very earnest, inn
presslve and marked in their sincere and
touching simplicity. The music was es-
peclaIly tender and touching by both the
organ and choir, the former being pre-
sided over by Mr.. Dunster, and the choir
being quartet, comprised Of Mrs. Ross,
Mrs. Howard, Mr.. Cohn and Mr.. Boards
lee.
The services opened with the hymns,
Come Unto Me- and ''When Our Heads
are Bowed in Grief" scripture read
ing followed by Mr.. Silcox. who offered
also a very earnest prayer.
When the coffin was brought to the
aisle Mr.. Silcox stepped from the pulpit
and preceded the pall-bearers, twelve in
number, to the altar. AS the cOrtege
moved up the central aisle Beethoven's
Funeral March was rendered by the
Organist, while the pall-bearers, the rela-
tlves and more intimate friends OF the de-
ceased marched forward to seats reserved
Tor them near the altar. The pail bearers
We're: Hon. w. II. i. Barnes, ex-Gov-
ernor George c. Perkins, George X.
Fitch, NJ. NJ. Estee and +. NJ. PiXley Of
San Francisco, and Judge a. p. Catlin,
I. NJ. Lindley, Charles McCreary, f. r.
Dray, Albert Hart, William Roush and
Frank Miller of this city.
The floral decorations, which fairly
covered the pulpit and altar and festOOned
the ratings about, were ofnoticeable pro-
fusion, but elegant in simplicity and very
laStefulIy arranged. The flowers for the
most part were White--blossoIns with
scattering bunches Of lilac and lavender
cOlOrS. Some of the pieces consisted of
Wreaths anchors and scrolls bearing the
words, woven in white, with lavender
colOrs. Peace" ''Rest in Peace" and
"Rest," while q few la France roses We're
noticeable. On the coffin rested proIu-
sion Of lilies and feather palms. The
casket was encased in rich velvet with
mountings Of silver.
TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD.
Rev. J. B. Silcox delivered the follow
ing obituary sermon:
''They buried him in the city of David
among the kings, because he had done good in
Israel" This refers TO an able statesman Of
Israel who lived in the reign OF the young
King JoaSh. He was the guiding spirit Of the
nation. The nation owed its prosperity
largely TO his practical wisdom and executive
energy. BY his counsel and courage many rt-
forms were effected The people whom he
mad served showed their appreciation Of his
character and service by burylng him among
the Kings in the Capital city of the nation.
The honorable burial was the nations tribute
10 the goodness of his character and the eX-
cclience OF his service.
To-day we give honorable burial TO q loved
clJ1Len and hOnOred statesman because he did
good in the land and for the land. This vast
ff.if Of oil Il
attest the high esteem in which Newton
Booth was held in this city and state. We
feel in our hearts to-day TO say OF him:
''Hs has done the work OF a brave man:
crown him, honor him, love him. Weep over
nm tears OF woman; StOOp manly brOWS
above him." Good men aie Gods best gifts
to a nation. They are its strength and glory
ON GOO and GOdiike men we build our hope.
W. must never allow ourselves 10 fall into the
error OF measuring nations greatness by
JHe extent OF hef territory, the fertility of her
SOIL the richness OF her mines or the extent of
her manufactures. but by the intelligence and
virtue of her citizens, and especially OF those
VINO . are elected To direct State and
national affairs. State is known by the
character OF the men she crowns. The State
Of California conferred on Newton Booth her
highest hOnOrs, and i'll doing so hOnored her
self. IT speaks well for people when they
recognize superior worth and elevate il to dis
tingulshed station. Happy are the people
when the wise and the righteous occupy the
seats ofauthOrity.
! cannot, in the short time of this brief serv-
whom we mourn today. AS a man and
citizen he was held in high esteem and true
affection. / think can truly say that the citi-
Zens OF Sacramento were proud of him. We felt
that he was man of large mold, of mature
scholarship, of true culture of unselfish pur-
pose, OF rare ability in many directions. His
quiet, dignified, modest bearing, combined
with fine literary tastes and genial disposi-
tion, made him esteemed and loved by all
classes in the community. We feel his loss as
q personal bereavement. We are richer be-
cause he lived among us. We are poorer be-
cause he has passed from us. His earnest
thoughtful, kindly face will greet us no more
on the street or in the public assembly The
voice that was often lifted in eloquent ora
tory in our midst, pleading for justice right
and charity, is silent in the grave. His words
that for ciearneSS ShOne like lightning and
for strength thundered like lhe sea, we shall
hear no more forever. But we VIII not soon
forget him nor the words he spoke His wise
counseIs his unseInsh life Will enter into our
thought and character and make our lives
truer, purer, less selfish and more useful
True worth never dies. Death cannot touch
or stay the power OF influence. The good that
men DO lives after them. There is an earthly
well as a heavenly immortality.
He from whom we part to-day was a manly
man. In his souls broad plan there was
nothing base or craven. He lived above the
fog, in the clear sunlight of justice, truth and
love. Without modification we can saw of
him what Whittier said of another
"His face with lines of frmness wrought
He wears the look Of man unbought
Who swears to his hurt and changes not,
With the grace of Christian gentleness
The face that child would climb to kiss
True and tender brave and just,
That man might honor and woman trust
He was capable of doing many things and
doing them well. His versatile and virile in
tellect gave him eminence in many dpuart-
ments of the worlds activities. lie Possessed
business talent OF high order. His career in
mercantile life is an example to the young
merchant OF commercial industry and intpU-
ritv. His literary talents and tastes were eX
I'll n Ia find
ability and literary talent so fully and svm-
metrically developed IN the same person
Had he devoted himself wholly to literature
he might easily have taken nrst rank among
the literary men of his day. II il is true that
a man is known by the books he reads as
truly as by the company he keeps, we must
accord to him the highest hOnors His laroe
library of standard works on history science
divinity, fiction, philosophy, poetry reveal
the wide sweep OF his thought and The COM
prehensive character OF his sympathIes. His
public addreSSeS.aS well as his contributions to
literature. reveal a mind enriched and emo
bIed with the pure gold of the worlds best and
highest thought. He found among his books
noble coInpanionShip and sweetest solace. 1t
is a rare thing 10 find a man so active in busi-
ness life. 50 prominent in political life re-
tanning his literary habits. He never permit
ted the love Of gold TO dwarf his intel
lectual life as. alas, too many have done and
are doing. He showed his superior manhood
by prizing intellectual riches above material
gain. Ii is mind, not money, that makes
man great.
cannot refrain from speaking briefly of his
political career. He brought TO the service of
the state talents of the highest order. / have
read with some attention many of his politi-
cal addresses, and do not hesitate to place him
in the front rank of craftsmanship. There
was nothing OF the demagogue in his charac-
ter lie was a statesman, not politician. He
held up before the people the great. eternal
principles of justice, equity. freedom. He
knew and taught hat the moral law was made
for nations as well as individuals. Few states
men recognized more clearly than he the
place and power of moral forces i'm national
affairs He knew and taught that nothing
could be politically right which was morally
1n avsarsS al n