The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-13

Interment In Forest Hill.
The funeral of the late ex-Judge w.
c. Ward was conducted yesterday af-
ternoon from the residence on North
Sumner avenue. Short services were
held at the house at o'clock, when
Rev. j. L. Moffat, d. d., of the Wash
burn Street Presbyterian church, read
short scriptural lesson and offered
prayer. The cortege moved to the
church at 2.30 o'clock. where large
assemblage of friends and associates
in life had gathered to pay their part
ing respects to one who in life had
been near and dear to them.
The center sections of the church
was reserved for the members of the
Lackawanna Bar association, which
was represented in large numbers,
and in the congregation were county
and city officials professional and
business men and prominent citizens
from every section of the city. The
casket containing the remains reposed
in front of the pulpit, covered with
flowers. ana in the background pOtted
palms lent their effectiveness to the
impressive picture, with the body OF
the venerable jurist, who in life was
loved and respected by everybody, as
the central figure.
TIL EFUNERAL SERVICES.
Dr. Moffatt began the service By
reading the scripture lesson and the
quartette, Prof c. b. Derman, basso;
Henry Peck, tenor; Miss Margaret Da-
vies alto, and Miss Lydia Sailer. So
prano, sang a selection. accompanied
by Miss Mabel Crist, organst. After
prayer, DR.. Moffat preached the fun
eral sermon, taking his text from
Numbers xiii, 10: Let me die the
death of the righteous and let my last
end be like his" Speaking along the
line of the text, he said:
The Bible has given us wisdom
which is not found in another book in
this world, and it reveals to us the
| pleasures and sorrows of life in all it's
uncertainties. Death is but a sleep
we fall asleep in this world to awaken
! in another, and there are few men
in this world who do not desire in
some way to learn of God and under
stand eternal life.
| Death is not an enemy, only
| limited life where we shall understand.
! There is nothing men dread so much
| as dying; it breaks their plans asunde:
and our work seemingly is left to an
other Many a human heart has tried
in vain to hold communion with the
| unseen world but we have in the
word of God all that is necessary to
reveal in life the future of the so Il.
! There isn't a soul in all this world
| possessed of mind and intellect that
does not consider the question of death,
and if we must live again the Bible
answers satisfactorily the questions
! which intelligent men are asking them
| selves.
! LEARNS TO DIE RIGHT.
But there is so much that is un-
certain, incomprehensible, that the
great anxiety is about dying, not liv-
ing, and he who leans to live right
learns to die right. Death is spoken
of as one going out of the old into the
new, out of the cottage into the pal
ace. but death itself is not considered
in the scripture, it is the life leading
! up to death. Character is the result
of living, not the upshot of the dying
hour and death simply completes
life's work and puts upon our ma
tured character, be it good or evil, the
impress of eternity. If we wish to die
the death of the righteous, we must
live the life of the righteous.
Concerning the man to whom we
pay our last earthly tribute of respect
and affection today. l need not pro-
nounce any eulOgy. The resolutions
passed by the Bar association are fit
ting and sufficient. Nothing that :
could say today would add to or de-
tract one iota from the public opinion
formed of the deceased. His life was
lived in this city, it was a long AMI
busy one. His work was we'll done.
He was genial. kind-hearted and help
full in many ways. He had the nature
that suggested the helping of those
who needed help.
"ThOse who knew him best loyed
him best: he was honest in the dis
charge of all duties, and he believed in
God and his son Jesus Christ. This
was revealed to me in my admins
trations during his sickness. He was
conscious of his need and accepted
Christ and was at peace with God. He
had no fear Of death and prayed thet
worn out casket of clay into the fuller
richer, cleaner life beyond where no
more we shall see as through a glass
darkly, but meet the redeemer face tO
face"
WORDS OF CONSOLATION.
DR.. Moffat also spoke consoline
words to the bereaved son, friends
and relatives. To the former he said:
Let not your heart be troubled. be
not afraid; remember under all cir.
Cumstances the love borne you by youn
father; you were always in his pray
ers, so live that his prayers may be
fulfilled"
The speaker advised the friends ant
relatives gathered to live so that Wher
, the summons comes to Join the in
Vulnerable caravan, which moves tC
that mysterious realm where eacr
shall take his chamber in the silen
halls Of death, they shall go. not lilI,
the slave at night but cheered anC
sustained by an 'unfaltering trust I;
God, like one who wraps the draperl
OF his couch around him and lies dowI
TO sleep.
The pall-bearers were: Hon. II. NJ
Edwards, Hon. II. A. Knapp, Cornellu
Comegys, c. II, Welles, w. A. Wilco'
and James Mahon. Robert j. Murra.
and Thomas p. Duffy were the flower
, bearers. All of these are members O
the Bar association. The ushcrs were
David j. Davis, John r, Edwards an,