The Portland daily press., 1896-03-04
FUNERAL OF JOHN q. rwITcHELL.

Great Congregation Show the Respect
in which He Was Held-A Wealth of
Beautiful Flow rs-Appreciative Ad-
dress of Rev. Mr.. Perkins-BeautifuI
Music.
The funeral of John @. Twitchell of
the Twitchell- Champlin Company, whose
terrible death was so lately recorded, took
place yesterday afternoon from the First
Parish church, after prayers had been
said at his former residence on Deering
street. 1t was wise Judgment that de-
cided on holding the funeral at the
church, for Mr.. Twitchell was a man
loved and respected by the whole
sale trade of the city, and in his
social life, and in his general intercourse
with his fellow citizens had made
many friends who desired to pay the
last tribute of respect to his memory.
When the hour for the funeral arrived
there was not vacant seat in the audi
torium Of the house. The galleries were
not occupied, purple ribbons having been
fastened across the stairways The body
pews of the church were occupied
by the Wholesale Grocsrs' and Flour
Dealers Association, the mem
bers of the Masonic and Odd Fell
lows bodies in reqalia, the Cum
berland Club and other organizations
of which the deceased was mem Der and
the employees of his house. The relatives
occupied the parish house, the doors open
ing into the church. The pulpit,
communion table, and pulpit recess were
turned into veritable conservatory from
the multitude and beauty of the floral
mementoes. Easter morning rarely dis
closes more beautiful sight. Some of
the offerings, noticeably the superb arch
containing an open book, from the Bos-
ton firm, and those from the Masonic
and Odd Fellow organizations, the Cum
berland Club and the employees of the
Portland house, are rarely surpassed by
the florists skill. There were IS beauti-
full roses from Payson Tucker. There
was every possible design in the other
tributes, and the air was heavy with per-
fume.
At 2 Is p. m, the casket, borne by the
pail bearers, was met at the door of the
church by the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Perkins,
and escorted to the pulpit, in front of
which it was placed, the Clergyman
reoiting the passages beginning, ST am
the Resurrection and the Life. -
The services began with the organ in
vocation by Kotzschmar, followed by tn g
selection, "One There Is Above All 9th
ers," sung by the quartetts composed o
Mrs White, Miss Henrietta Rice, Messrs.
barnard and Harry Merrill. Then Mr..
:, kins read the Lords prayer, followed
~ Scriptural selections.
The quartette sang "Lead, Kind;
Light
Mr.. Perkins then spoke substa italy
as follows:
Somewhere at every hour,
The Waterman on the tower
Looks forth, and sees the fleet
Approach OF the hurrying feet
OF messengers, that bear
The tidings of despair.
H goes forth from the door,
Who shall return no more
With him our JOY departs;
The light goes out in our hearts;
In the cham Der over the gate
We sit disoonsolate.
My friends, we are here in the presence
of death. Such a presence more than any
thing else gives us the consciousness
God. Here is that something over which
we have no control. Here is a power
that transcends our power. Here is a
thought whose limit is hidden from our
mind. Here is a vision that lures US
to follow, but it blends with the mist and
the dark ness which our minds do moi
penetrate 1t all leads into the world
Of those mansions prepared, what dc
thou knowest not now, but thou shalt
know hereafter"
And yet death Is a step into life, as we
believe larger, fuller life. Though we
see not clearly the full meaning of g
great experience like this, itIleaves Its
Imprint upon our souls. 1t makes us
humble. 1t brings US face to face with
our lack of power. We become aware OF
our Ignorance, our feebleness, our depeu-
dence. Where we had been proud In oul
strength we are revealed to ourselves as
weak. md out of these weaker, half.
neglected cham bers of the soul, at such
time there come forth the spirits that
uphold and sustain.
We are here in the presence of death.
Nay, rather we are here in the presence
of life. One has lived in such way as
to impress his personality deeply. eter-
naily in our hearts. He has given rove.
lation of life to many who are proud that
they could call him friend. In him was
inoarnated many faculty, many noble
trait out of which has grown spontane.
ously a structure of character, whose grace
full stories rising one above another, filled
with various virtues, furnish for us
who beheld it, lasting m onument OF
| memory. Qualities and abilities that
were his, are such thatssdie not. They
have the essence of eternity. How
hearts were shocked and stricken down
| when he whose life stood for so much
ceased it's activity in our midst. That
vision of a sudden death chilled the
hearts blood of US all. This whole city,
this whole community, this whole COM
monwealth, were az one man called to
mourn friend. In the clouds aud rain
of Saturday, the word passed from one
to another. and flashed over the wires
that an honored and respected man was
dead. All hearts felt a pang of sorrow
all we're conscious of o common loss; all
wore touched with profund sense OF
sympathy for that family whose deeper
intimate sorrow was so keen and bitter.
How often in our daily life some sud
den shook will open the food gates OF
raovla tion bringing rs to ourselves