The Portland daily press., 1892-10-06
Funeral of samuel Longfellow.

constant attendant.
Funeral of Samuel Longfellow.
The funeral of the late Rev. Samuel
Longfellow took place from the old
First Parish church at $50 p. m. yester-
day. There was a large attendance of
the oldfesidents of Portland as well as
the family of the deceased.
The casket was placed in front of the
pulpit and on and about it were placed
many beautiful floral tributes The SER
vices began with prayer by Rev. John T.
G. Nichols, formerly of Saco, and the
son of Rev. DR.. Nichols, who was one of
the former pastors of the church. The
First Parish choir then sang one of the
beautiful hymns composed by the de-
ceased, beginning 'In Thy Mysterious
Presence accompanied by Kotzschmar
on the organ, after which Rev. J. Carroll
Perkins, pastor of the church, read the
burial service The choir then sang II
Look to Thee"
Rev. DR.. Hall OF Cambridge, Mass,
pastor of the church which Mr.. T.ongfel-
low attended, spoke of the great loss
that we have all sustained in his death.
1t had been the speakers privilege to
have been Mr.. Longfellow's pastor for
years. 1t would have been.more fitting
if the positions had been reversed. Ger
tainly no pastor ever felt that a parish
Toner appreciated the relationship more
delicately, or more generously. He was
ready to help in every way to enrich and
spiritualize the service. His many sided
ness was remarkable. The speaker
never met a more religious man. He
had his firmly fixed opinions and held
them Loyalty, but apart from them was
that spirit of religion which felt the
nearness of the divine. That was the
key to the influence he exerted in all our
parishes, making the parishioners more
earnest worshippers. In any temple he
could unite with the congregation in fell
low sympathy. Another side of his char
acter which sometimes showed itself was
the quick sense of indignation against
wrong, a sympathy with suffering of ey-
cry kind. No one had more power over
children, especially over boys, than Mr.
Longfellow, he had such an exquisite
simplicity of soul. He won the chill
drens confidence so that they felt that
in him they had a true friend. The po-
cts sensitiveness TO all that was har-
monious in nature was his. His soul vi
brated to melody and his poetic sense
fitted to it appropriate words. The name
he bore showed how well he was fitted
to this work.
Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale said DR..
Hall had just spoken of Mr. Longfellow's
gift at making friends. Something in
the simplicity of the man. the reality of
what he said, the certainty that you
went to the bottom when you were talk
ing with him, was probably the secret
of his success with young men and wom-
en-. There was no weakness accompany
ing his gentleness. All through the
hard struggle of the Republic, he spoke
with true Christian courage, no matter
who was hit or where it hurt. / hope,
said the speaker, he has left behind
some memorial of this work, done by
him in those perilous and trying times.
Frail of body, he had great mental pow
er. Only the other day received, said
Mr.. Hale, from across the Mississippi
request for one of the sermons he deliv-
cred 25 years ago that was of great help.
He has been of great value to the Unita-
rian denomination. A little book of
hymns he wrote for children has never
been equalled. He introduced in his
church in Brooklyn the beautiful vesper
service, which he largely prepared, and
which has been universally adopted in
all our parishes. What do we not owe
him? His very presence was benedic-
ton. His address at the Theological
school was step forward in our knowl-
edge Of the life of Jesus Christ Rev.
DR.. Hale closed with beautiful and al
fectihg prayer
Mr.. Kotzschmar then rendered 'Abide
with Me- most beautifully on the organ.
Rev. Mr.. Perkins offered the benedic-
ton and the congregation dispersed.
The pail bearers were all members of
the Longfellow family. They were Err
nest Longfellow, Mr.. Thorpe, W. P. P.
Longfellow, Richard Longfellow and
Richard H. Dana.
The remains were taken to the family
tomb in Western Cemetery, the bell of