The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-05-18

AT THE CHURCHES.
The Funeral of Mrs. Mackie Takes the
Place of Regular services-A Large
Congregation Present.
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH.

|
The regular discourse assigned 70
last Sabbath at this church WAS omit
ted on account of the funeral services
of Rev, Mrs. L. Mackie, which cam,
off at the usual morning hour, Rev
Mr.. Sisson, assisted by Rev. Mr.
Wood, officiating. A large audience
paid last tribute to the deceased b,
listening to the excellent sermon
preached in behalf of the solemn oc.
casion. The chancel was beautiful,
decorated with flowers, and the cas-.
ket covered with those bright emblems
of immortality. Mr.. Sisson took fol
his text, Hebrews, w, 8:
"There remaineth rest therefore fol
the people of God"
The speaker briefly noted the long
fling of all mankind for something in
which to repose and said!
"The Master has said "Come unto me
all ye that labor and are heavy ladened
and will give you rest" but the rest He
bestows in this life is. comparative. 1t i.
not complete. We are still obliged tc
| fight the battles of life, and the rest be-
slowed upon the child of God here is only
the foretaste of the fuller and perfect
rest spoken of in the text.
Life here presents many attractions, we
are never to deny that, but heaven pre-
sents more. Here bitter is mixed with
the sweet, there no bitter thing is known
Here Affections often weigh us down, there
they cease to exist. Here we suffer in
mind and body, there suffering never en-
ters. Here our eyes view changing
scene, there we shall behold an eternal
scene and one of great beauty. Here we
labor, there we rest.
The speaker noted the. brevity of
life, its great value and said:
Life is never to be lightly valued for
the few years spent here determine future
destiny. 1t is solemn thing to be born,
for having once got into existence we
can never get out, and as we stand today
and look for the last time upon the face
of one we have known we realize, as new
er before, our great responsibility and we
seem to hear voice saying: ''Be We
think not the Son of man cometi." Many
shrink from the thought of occupying
that narrow house appointed for all the
living, but with Christ as our Saviour the
feeling of fear gives way to the feeling
had by Andrew who when taken out to
be crucifed said: 81 have long desired
and expected this happy hour" 1t is the
highest prudence that we be prepared
for the change which comes to all alike
by accepting the provision God has made,
and when this preparation is made our
fear of death is removed and we look up
on it as the time of our deliverance from
the troubles and trials of this life, when
entrance shall be given us to the rest
God has prepared for all who love and
endeavor to serve him.
The speaker described briefly some
Of the JOYS Of the heavenly city AS re-
veaed in Gods word and to whom
the promise of the text reached and
said
"To those who love and serve God the
words Of the text are full of hope and
holy consolation. He then feeIingly re-
ferred to the deceased as follows:
II am almost home; tell them not to
mourn, am going to rest" Those were
the words of our departed sister on the
morning of her death and as the devoted
husband asked To be with Jesus? the
whispered reply came Eyes" "Home and
rest w e note the significance of those
words As child of God, She has indeed
gone home and entered into the rest pre-.
pared for the people of God. | was pre-
sent when the soul took its flight from
this tenement of clay and went to take
its place among the redeemed of God and
as | watched the gathering shadows fall
it seemed to me that heaven was very
near and | thought 80 death where is
thy sting, o grave where is thy victory.
No trace of fear was visible, the coun-
lContinued on fourth page.