Connecticut western news., 1894-01-25
SILAS WELLS.
Rev J. c. Goddard's Remarks at the Funeral of MT SIlas Wells, iH Lake, vile, Conn.,, Jan Is, 1894.

Rev J. C. Goddard's Remarks at the
 Funeral of MT Sllas Wells, iR Lake-
 vile, Conn.,, Jan Is, 1894.
 We are gathered to honor the memory of man whose years alone would make him venerable, whose life has been iden- tified with the church and town for sev- heights of a century, and whose char ac.er is shining mark.
 The bare recital of certain facts in his life is 70 reproduce pages from the his- tory of his church. Born under the shadow of the sanctuary, he was nur- tured from infancy within it's pale. It was early in the spring of 1906, in the days of the third president of the United States, that his godly parents. Moses and Ruth Wells, presented their son for baptism, at the hand of the Rev. Joseph Warren Crossmau, second pas- tor of the church, and called over him a name of ancestral memory, and one associated in Christian thought with the days of apostolic and missionary zeal Twenty-one years afterward the young man came forward to the same place, and, in the serious words of our ancient covenant, "solemnly svonched the Lord Jehovah to be his God and portion forever" It was day when the sons land daughters) of God pre- scented themselves before Him. and in the powerful religions interest of that year, early in the pastorste of Dr La throp, no less than seventy one con- fessed their Master. In that great com pany was also Timothy Chittenden, afterward deacon of the church, and one other. the only remaining one, to my knowledge, Mrs Olive Pratt, still living at great age, ten years the senior of Silas Wells In 1883 he was united in marriage with Jane Ice, of whose five children two are here present. In 1849 he WAS married by his pastor, Dr Adam Reii, to Emily B. Carter. And years after her four daughters helped him lay away her dust in hope of a no- bier resurrection in world where fami- lies gather not in for funerals, and where the city hath no cemetery. In that same sanctuary, where he had been dedicated to the Lord. he brought in turn his own children; and there to the end of his days he worshipped, con- stant attendent, man valued and be- loved in the congregation.
 But the other part of his citizenship had not so even-fowing a course. It was given him to mount the Hill Difi- culty. and to stagger under burdens, yet throughout it all to surpish us an example of grace. He was born with frame of oak and steel, that tired not with toll
 "How iocund did he drive his team a-feid How bowed the woods beneath his sturdy
 strokep
 There stand, indeed, in the village street, two giant trees. like the pillars Jachin and Boaz in the temple, living monuments of Silas Wells. The one he carried thither on his back. he told me. the other be set in its place. And to-day the pirth of 1t is more than four teen and half feet. Those noble trees are significant of himself They speak at once of his stalwart form, and of his helpful heart For he belonged to that ancient order of natural foresters. who plant trees. and sink wells, and cast up highways for future generations to en- joy.
 In fact it was that very characteristic of unselfishness, and concern for others, that led to the imposition of bis heavy burden, so that all his life time he was subject to bondage. But his courage rose to the occasion. There was in him something of the undaunted spirit dis played by another Silas, who, in spite of bondage, sang songs in the night. And when at length the yoke was lifted, there was relief expressed in many homes. Few events in this community have given more general satisfaction, or contributed more to belief in over ruling Providence, tliau the prosperity that crowned his closing years. It was an illustration of the truth. so evident spiritually but rarely realized materially, that the righteous shall inherit the land
 And what shall say of his character? He was a man without an enemy! He was man whose moral fibre had some thing of the bone and sinew of his bod fly frame. God placed him for sixty years on one of the fairests summits of New England, and thereby infused into him that ''strength of the hills" which s'is His also" He was a man of tender heart. His eyes were dry in the pres- epce of bardships, but in memory Of wife or child they filled. Taking pride and satisfaction in sons and daughter in turn they all rose up and called him blessed; they brought him greater val ues than are known Tn market or ex- Cuhukcs
 He was happiest with children. But of all families they hailed him Grandpa Wells" clam bered upon his knee. led him captive by the hand For there was in his nature something of that winsome grace, discovered by mothers and their offspring in One of Galilee, and that led to the saying, Suffer littlt children to come unto me and forbid
 them not"
 His end was peace. There was neither struggle for departure, nor wrestling for delay. The bark had received its sailing, and sealed. orders; the lines
 were gently cast of; the tide was at
 food and SO, without rocking against
 the shore, or grating upon the bar. the
 vessel glided out to sea
 t'I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air: I only know I cannot drift
 Beyond His love and care"