The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-09

| years, after long life of usefulness amongst
| us. of us and with us waiting the end
| In life men strive for Possessions and be
| longings. for estates and positions but upon
! an occasion like this we realize that that
| scrivenor has not yet been born whose hand
| could draw title deed or bill which can Sc
cure to man in perpctujty 80 much or so
little AS single rood OF ground. or any other
good thing. Nay, are not even lease
holders for season. Tenants at will only Is
the term OF all our holdings, and when He Of
whom IL has been so wisely written that The
cattle upon thousand hills are His" ."rhe
earth and the fullness thereof" AYE, the
sen, He made it"--when He calls man turns
his back upon all that he has and all that ne
hath desired; yea, even upon all his friends
and kindred nearer and dearer than all others
and goeth alone I'm nakodness of spirit To the
courts of the Infinite.
But is this quite soY / am not thinking 10
add word To the lessons of old, SO elo
duently written, nor syllable TO words
wisely spoken, lessons and words like apples
OF gold in pictures of silver, because Just in
trlnsic and true, but that which impresses
me upon occasions like this more than words.
ruorics or rituals. more than song banks of
bloom or the fragrance OF flowers ascending as
incense 10 heaven in token of affection follow.
ing the one that has gone. More TO me than
all these Is that tide Of humanity from every
walk in life, which by twos and threes. or
sinfiy' comes silently. reverently. tenderly,
thronged TO the courts Of death, 10 cast n
wreath upon the bier and to drop farewell
tear in memory of one they have known long
and loved well.
And TO me the lesson is this, IL can read II
mn A
worth we today commemorate, had an estate
the love of God reflected in the love of fel.
low men-whch he hath borne with him
and which hath borne him across the dark
river and halls him welcome TO the farther |
shore.
And now. my friends, when the time shall |
come as come full soon it must, that You or |
some of you may be called TO bear my mortal |
frame 10 the narrow house, in that day be IL |
remembered that better for me, as better for
all, than monumental shaft or funeral urn,
let the green sod which shrouds my humble
grave be but dewed with the tear of some
grateful heart, the radiance of which in the
light of His counienanco shall guide ma
through the dark shadows of the valley and |
lead me onward and upward toward that
great Nervena from whence we all are, and
we would all return. even 10 the
bosom OF God. j. W. DAVIS.
Daniel A. Cook. Esq. Secretary:
Dear Sir-I am notified of the memorial adj.
dress on Henry A. Rowland to be delivered
would be with you If could,
for there are very few men who made the i'm.
preston our late friend made on me ever
SINCE, yeas ago. we first met. l hold him up
IS noble hearted honest man, who had con-
'ictions and was ever ready TO stand by them.
Yes, this last virtue stood out in him. 1t is
me too often weak even in those who have
!ecent convictions as 30 duty. No colored
'erson who knew him. who knew how firm.
consistent and valuable were his services in
'prooting caste based on color in the manage
nent of public instruction. can refrain from
aging, God bless his memory" Joining in
our respect, remain truly.
GEO. I. DOWNING.
Newport, April Z.