Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-04-16
Daily gtnaehee ao,,ruaI.
MEMORIAL WINDOWS.
Rev. J. S. Williamson Of the Congregations
Church breaches About Them.

rour oI tnc memorial windows for the
Congregations church have been put in
place and were described in the Journal
of Saturday. Rev. J. S. Williamson de-
livered a sermon upon them in the
church, Sunday after noon, before large
congregation and a synopsis of his re-
marks is as follows:
We meet here on this afternoon of
Easterday to dedicate to God these memo
rails OF persons who in days gone by
have lived in this community and wor-
shipped in this church. l like the way
our friends have chosen to honor the dead
it also blesses the living-for in gcner-
ously giving us these visible symbols of
the ties that bind us to the unseen world
they appeal to the best side Of our nature
in this world. Whatever leads us to de-
veiop the sense of the beautiful, leads us
into communion with the nature of God
in all the works OF His hands and the
gifts Of His heart God is very lavish with
the beautiful. The light of new day is
presented to us with the enchanting
beauty of the sunrise, bathing in exquisite
colors the earth, the heavens, and the sea
WithSthe monotony of the cold winters
night he gives the indescribable charm and
beauty of The aurora. He wraps the
earth in blanket, and protects the ten
der vegetation from the destroying cold
with the beautiful and wonderfully vari-
ed snow crystals. He blesses with new life
the flowers and foliage of meadow and
hill by the sparkling dewdrops which
holds the visible universe in miniature
on its tiny surface. In tho wood to
build our homes, our churchGs, cur ships
and our halls--or to WARM them. He gives
beauty through the budding leaf, the
curving branch, the diversity and the uni
ty which call forth the reverence OF the
human heart. With the healing ozono of
the ocean, he gives beauty in its spark
ing, dancing waves. and in the subiimity
Of the tempest. All the footsteps of God
whether in the creation of the sand grain
or of the most distant star, in the life Of
the smallest insect as well as in man,
and in the incarnation of His son, are
clothed in beauty as well as prompted
by love. Neither should we Neglect this
element in our offerings to God or in
our service to our fellowmen. The good
is always the supremely beautiful, the
suprcmely beautiful is always good.
Here on your right facing the rising
sun is the symbol of faith, that attitude
of the love forced upon us by the vastness
of truth and the limitations of the human
spirit; that conviction of the mind which
grasps the integrity and power of God
in the material world, in human society
ana in the life beyond the veil; the clear
undismayed look into the future which
comes from conscience inhabited by
God. This symbol, appropriately, is in
memory of Mrs. Sturgis, woman whom
to know was to love, to come in contact
with whose life was to be touched by that
sunniness, humility, unssliishness and
charity which form the links binding the
human heart to God.
Her genuineness lifted her mind above
the gusts Of opinion, and gave it sub
stance and firmness making it a shelter,
and an inspiration for the souls. Her
humility was not an assumed virtue to
flatter into complacency an angry God,
but that attitude Of spirit awed before
the transformers of human wisdom, and
standards of life compared with Him
who is the same yesterday, today ana
forever.
Her unscllishness sprang from
genuine sympathy with those in less
fortunate circumstances than her own.
She lived for her children, and they in
turn We're bound by cords of love to live
for her
Her charity or the absence of censori-
BUSINESS, that deep realization of the school
of God, and the diversity of its methods
of instruction, tho belief that each has
her individual lesson, not to bo learned
by the others She could leave Judgment
to God who alone can judge perfectly
Death has only removed the physical
form her spirit is still with us, not in the
coarse rappings of spiritism, but in the
warp and woof of souls who knew her in
her stay on earth.
Next comes d musical symbol, the angel
of praise, standing with an open scroll in
her hands listening to the heavenly har-
MONIES and noting whother they arc in
unison with the music of her scroll. Most
suitable is this to the memory of Mrs
Fannie W. Millikon and most appro.
priatoly does this scroll bear the opening
words of the beautiful Christmas carol
she so often and so swcotly sang in this
church, ''hrhe Angels Sang in the Silent
Night Ter stay among MS was full of
the sweetest purest, most inspiring III
iluencos that human life can cxprcsse
Her face so full Of sunshine and peace was
an Inspiration whenever seen. We all
have mis- sed her. In social life her char
acter and conversation called forth the best
ard truest impulses. She gave her best
gifts freely and cheerfully; IS high
priestness Of inspiring music. as unos-
tentatious minister TO the poor and
needy, rs the refiner of social life, and
friendship, this window stands a monu-
ment to one of the most blessed gifts
God has bestowed upon the world, an
educated, self sacrificing, pure lovable
woman. Most iittingly did one of her
friends write Of her.
Above the din and turmoil of our life,
surging voice was heard
Its full, clear music fell upon our ear,
As from bird;
And tired steps were checked, and eyes grew
bright,
Forgetting cares, they listened with delight
Its glad song on the mornings freshness rose
And ever seemed to say,
Up. up with me above this earthly strife
Into purer way. ~.
And when the shadows cooled the valleys am
Whispered the days farewell in parting
hymn.
hbreathed OF youthful love and flowers and
tree