The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-27
HENRY HERBERT BURGESS.
Memorial Sermon Preached by the Rev
Mr.. Wright.

At the ST. Lawrence street church
yesterday the Rev. Mr.. Wright, the pas
tor, preached sermon in memory of
the late Henry FL. Burgess, who was for
many years one of the most prominent
and honored members of st. Lawrence
street church. The sermon is given as
follows:
Remember them that have the rule over you
considering the issue of their life, initiate their
faith lR.'F.) Heb. xiii; z.
The writer of the book of Hebrews was
thinking of the living while referring to
the dead. His aim was to comfort and
inspire the surviving workers of the
Christian churches, by the thought of
those who had been foremost among
them in faith and fidelity, and had passed
awayin that stormy period of perseeu-
ton preceding the destruction of Jerusa-
lem. He calls upon them to remember
their services as the spiritual leaders of
the church, and defenders of the faith:
to consider, and lay to heart the lessons
of their life, and finally to be imitators of
their faith.
Those sanity dead were thus set before
the brotherhood as models of Christian
excellence, and usefulness; whose mem
DRY should be cherished and virtues emu
lated.
The Christian church possesses an inn
mense, and inestimable treasure in its
departed saints and heroes, of whom the
world was not worthy. That treasure is
accumulating as one by one the faithful
sons and daughters Of God are gathered
home in the kingdom of Christ Sadly
we part with them, sorrowing most of
all that we shall see their faces no more,
and mourning, also, for the vacancy that
is made in the ranks of Christian work
ers.
Such season of sorrow has come to
this church of God, and to its commune
ty. We have lost leader, spiritual
guide, who has been going in and out
among us for the past "a years; one wise
IN counsel, strong in love and great in
service. We have lost teacher, who,
with unfaltering tongue, and undying
zeal has spoken unto us the word of God
teaching us not only by the testimonies
of his lips, but by the living witness of
his daily life. We have lost friend and
brother whom we loved, and in whom
we trusted, and now that he is gone from
our presence we almost reproach our
selves that we did love him better, and
honor him more for his works sake.
He is gone, but perhaps, If he could
speak to us to-day from the heavenly
sanctuary he would say, Brethren it is
best for you that have departed" The
sorrowing disciples did not understand
their Lord, when he said unto them, ut
is expedient for you that | go away
but we know that the power of Christ's
eternal spirit is greater in the earth to-
day, then his bodily presence could be.
So it may be that the influence of our
brothers. spirit, and the Inspirations of
his life will be more influential for good
among us than could be the power of his
personal presence. Let us bear in mind,
God does not remove the workman to
crush or hinder the work but rather that
it may be advanced.
These comforting and hopeful thoughts
I present at the outset of this memorial
discourse to prepare you for calm and
thankful review of our brothers life and
work among us.
Henry Herbert Burgess was son of
The Pilgrims, and was born on the Pill
grim's soil. In Kingston, Mass, the
much loved home of his early youth,
where he grew up among a family of
twelve brothere and sisters, he first saw
the light of nature. Having received
such intellectual training as the common
schools OF his native town afforded its
you h, and which his love of good books
promoted, he began his business
life as an apprentice in Bos-
ton with prominent drug firm, at the
age of sixteen years. In the autumn of
1858 he came to this city and established
himself in business early in the follow
ing year. For thirty years he has been
at the head of the well known firm of
Burgess, Fobes &c Co. the only business
house in this city which has retained its
name and partnership unchanged for SO
long period.
It was my privilege, since Dea Bur-
CESS death, to hear the testimony of his
oldest partner to the influence Of his
CUdldCUcl uPOa UlO nANA P1Oo-
porous life of this business firm. A tes-
timony given in the presence of a COM
pany of prominent merchants to the in
tegrity and personal dignity of the man
with whom he had been in uninterrupted
business relations for three long decades
of years, and which attested the priceless
value of high character to business sue
cess. No more impressive tribute to the
moral worth of the man could be given.
While yet a young man Mr.. Burgess
was called into the arena of public life |
by his fellow citizens who recognized
the sagacity, ability and moral honesty
of the man. For two years he was
of. our city council from Ward |
one. Many will recall the valuable SER
vice he rendered the city as member of
the committee for the distribution of |
food to the sufferers from the great fire
of 1896. In 1870, and II he was Repub-
lican representative to the legislature, |
and in 1878 and IA was member of the |
senate, being at one time the candidate
for it's presidency. In his capacity as a
legislator he won high distinction among
his associates With a calm illdicia1 !