Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-31
MIR. Pnrrr,s Funeral Address.

MIR. Parry's Funeral Address.
When the telegram came to my home
that announced the death of my dear
friend, Mr.. Stoddard, the tears ca me un-
hidden to my eyes, for l felt the burden
on my heart of a great personal bereave-
ment. In his death | realized that the
mutual confidence and loving intercourse
we had shared together in the past could
never be renewed on earth. There was
certain sense of solitude as l stood with
bowed head in the presence of the mute
and melancholy mystery of his taking
away in the prime of his life. But as
thought upon it there came comfort in
the reflection that while death robs us of
much it cannot rob us of memory; what
he was, he is to us still; his words and
deeds and character enduringly remain.
They even become more distinct with the
background of the grave, and grow clearer
in the sombre darkness of the tomb.
What he was, and ever will be to those
who loved him, is mighty consolation to
our lonely hearts today.
The details of Mr.. Stoddard's biography
are of small moment in comparison with
what he was in himself The thing that
specially interests us today in thinking of
our friend is the character developed by
him in his religious, professional and pri-
vate life. In his religious life l be-
lieve that Christ was to him the most
real of all realities; hence he took
the deepest interest in the church of
Christ, and in all ways possible to him
generously contributed to the prosperity
and efficiency of the church. During my
acquaintance with him, nothing short OF
necessity was sufficient to cause him to
absent himself from divine service, and in
the pew he was most inspiring listener.
He knew the holy art of hearing. A ia
vorite text with him was, take heed how
We hear" He gave the kind of sympa-
thetic attention that helps the preacher
do his duty in the pulpit He was a spir-
tually minded hearer, being delighted most
with what was scriptural in spirit, and
what twas according to Christ Jesus"
He was a man of such repose of mind,
and such equipose of spirit, resulting from
his intelligent and fixed belief in God, that
he was like rocky headland, unmoved by
the beating of the waves of error and apos-
tacy which roll on the fretful sea of human
doubt. 1t wks for this reason that the
church leaned on him in its work, and felt
that there was something solid in his re-
| ligious convictions, and knew there was in
him excellent wisdom, sterling integrity,
and invincible devotion to truth.
In professional life he was noted for the
| judicial temper of his mind, for keen dis
cernment of equity in the cases brought be-
fore him. Thus his business was con-
ceived by him, and conducted in the spirit
of his religion. AS lawyer he seemed to
have felt that he was set for the faithful in
depreciation of the law, and for its impair
tial enforcement. His profession was one
which affords many opportunities for
trickery, chicanery and corrupt practices,
| and that he, like so many other splendid
| representatives of the legal profession,
should have kept himself so far above re-
proach, is tribute to his native worth,
and honesty, and dignity. He believed in
his profession as being Gods calling for
him, and that in it he was carrying out
Gods idea concerning himself. And so in
the practice of his profession, he loved
equity more than gain, and simple justice
more than fame.
Such being the character of his religious
and professional life, it is not surprising
that his private life was so full of bless
ings, and so free from blemish. 1t was
marked by fidelity to the trusts reposed in
him. He was faithful to the trust of home,
| loving his wife even as Christ has also
loved the church, and nurturing his chill
dren in the fear and admonition of the
Lord. He was faithful to the trusts of so.
ciety; careful of his own example; loving
| his neighbor as himself There was in
him the grace of proportion. His life was
orderly, systematic, harmonious and bal.
anced. There were but few angles OF
crevices. The curved lines of moral beauty
were upon him. The intellect was in fair
proportion with the moral and spiritual
f, life. His strictness was softened by char
ity; his self reliance was supplemented by
Difference to the judgment of others; bis
fervor was controlled by sobriety. He was,
therefore, not so much an enthusiast as a
deeply, persistently earnest man, actuated
by the Hottest of motives Therefore, all
of us are richer and all of us should be
better, because of his life. That he has
won for himself a distinguished place in
the affection and respect of his friends
and neighbors, is evidenced by this large
assembly gathered here today. All of US
who knew him delight to render him the
sincere homage of our affection and oul
tears; appreciation of what he was, anC
tears for the greatness of the loss expe
rienced by us in his death.
he Will be missed, and 10 our short
sighted vision it will seem as though hi
work must remain unfinished, and yet sucl
is not the case. His work was not hi
own, but Gods, and God has given him al
the time necessary to finish it. To ou
poor vision he seems to have died prema
turely, but to the infinite wisdom of Goo
he died not in the morning, nor at nool
time, but in the evening when the time o
work was over. He had finished the worl
which the Father had given him to do
and therefore we find him not, becaus
God has translated him.
So let no broken shaft over his grave d,
dishonor to the sacred memory of Edga
Stoddard. He finished his earthly task
and when he ceased from his service here
he entered upon the service of God in an
other world.
A Personal Tribute.
Editor of The Ph9nir.-Dedr Sir:
I II III IL IL