The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-09
NOTED GRAVES OF The YEAR.
REV. J. q. SILCOx,s SERMON ON
DEAD HEROES.
He Deducts Lessons in Statesman
ship From Gladstone's
Life.

Rev. ]. B. silcox delivered a sermon
at the Congregational Church last
night, taking his text from Genesis
xxxv., 2O-sAnd Jacob set a pillar upon
her grave. that is the pillar Of RachePs
grave unto this day."
That pillar over the grave of Rachel,
said the speaker, was reared by affec-
ton and esteem. 1t kept alive the
memory of a noble wife and mother.
Every traveller who passed that way
would reverently pause before the grave
and reading the inscription on the pill
lar, recall the virtues of her who slept
there. Thus being dead she would
speak. Her memory, her example, her
virtues would speak Some one has
wisely said, a grave wherever found
breaches to the soul a short earnest
sermon. This is the end of all men
and the living will lay it to heart. We
cannot afford to lose our graves. Every
monument and mausoleum, every gran
lite column and marble slab wherever
found has a message for us. NO
thoughtful man can stand at a grave
without receiving personal profit Med
itation among the tombs would make
us wiser and better men and women.
On several occasions I have realized
the truth that a grave wherever found
breaches to the soul q short earnest
sermon The name Dorothea Dix on
q plain marble slab in Mount Auburn
Cemetery preached to me one day an
eloquent sermon on what one frall hu-
man life might accomplish when con-
secrated to a. noble purpose. In the
same cemetery the grave Of Phillips
Brookes reminded me of the beauty
and power of a life linked with God in
service to man Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord. They rest from
their Iabors but their works follow
them. Being dead they yet speak.
When stood at the grave of Napo-
leon Bonaparte in the Church of the
Invalides in Paris, and at the grave
Of Victor Hugo in the Pantheon, the
career Of these two men passed before
me and preached an impressive sermon
on the mission and use of a human life
in this world. Napoleon used his CO.
lossal powers for the glorification of
himself. To gain the throne of his
vsaulting ambition he hesitated not to
wade through seas of human blood.
Victor Hugo dedicated his powers to
the enrichment and ennoblement of hui
mainly. He espoused the cause of the
common people. No tears are shed at
the mausoleum of Napoleon. At Vic
tor Hugo'S grave I saw the poor of
France reverently gather and cover his
tomb with wreaths Of affectionate and
grateful esteem. At Bunllill Fields,
amid the rush and roar of London's
busy life I stood by the graves of men
and women who long ago did most vail
ant things for Christ and conscience
The grave that held me longest in that
sacred Gods Acre was the grave of
Susanna Wesley. That grave breaches
a sermon on the far reaching influence
of a mothers holy life The women
of wealth and fashion, whose aim was
to shine in society, are passed out of
memory, but this Christian mother
who trained her children for Gods high
service, is honored and loved the world
over. In that great magazine Of NOR
tality, Westminster Abbey, and in ST.
PauPs Cathedral you stand by the
graves of poets, philosophers, philan-
thopists, scientists, statesmen, divines,
warriors. Kings, Queens, men and
women who have filled history with
their deeds and the world with their
renown-" The graves that most i'm
pressed me were the grave of Living
stone in the Abbey and the cenotaph
of Gordon in the Cathedral. These
were men of high ideals and the world
Will not permit their memories to per-
ish. The righteous shall be held in
everlasting remembrance
It is because believe that God speaks
to us by the graves of the dead, that I
hold this I'm Memoriam'' service. No
man liveth unto himself and no man
dieth unto himself We belong to one
another. No single soul passes into
that mysterious other world without
having influenced in some way, some
life left behind. The little babe that
died as soon as it was born left a mem
ory and an influence, on some life or
lives. Much more is this true of those
who have occupied important positions
in the worlds work. They do not live
unto themselves. They do not die unto
themselves. They bequeath rich and
helpful legacies to us who are left be-
hind. Their life and character, their
words and deeds are heroic encourage
ments to US. Example acquires ten
fold authority when it speaks from the
grave When God endows a human
soul with gifts and graces of a super
Tor order He does SO that that richly
lowered soul may enrich other souls.
You and I are heirs of the intellectual
wealth and soul riches of all the great
and good who have preceded US For
us Homer sung and Plato thought For