Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-24
OBLIGATED JOHN BROWNS FUN
ERhL


Rev. DR.. Joshua Young, who omciated
at John Browns funeral 40 years ago,
fpow has his home In Groton, Mass.
The venerable clergyman possesses n
striking personal appearance, his SNOW
white hair and flowing beard, his erect
carriage and active step, his kindly voice
and courteous manner, all contributing
toward a most attractive presence. For
half a century he has been actively en-
gagged in the ministry, a considerable
portion of that time as pastor of the
Unitarian church in Groton.
BEING asked by representative of tho
Boston Herald to rotate the incidents con
ncctcd with the attending tho funeral OF
John Brown 40 years ago, he replied: II
had never met John Brown, but was a
firm abolitonist and thoroughly in sym
pathy with his purpose. For IL years
was a member of the vigilance commit
tee. and belonged to the abolition school
at the time the fugitive slave act was
under consideration in Boston, In Bur
lington ! was what was termed the sta
ton keeper OF the underground railroad,
taking a part in the transfer OF fugitive
slaves from one state to another. l har-
bored at my home many slave. 1t was
not difficult for me to render assistance
to escaping slaves, for l was very near
! the Canadian border.
after Browns execution, and / learn
! ed that his body was to be brought TO
his home at North Elba, l was determine
cd to attend the funeral. / waas accom-
panied on the trip by Mr.. l.. G. Bigelow,
one of my Burlington parishioners, an en-
thusiastc aboitiOnist 1t was a long,
hard, midwinter journey. We started In
the midst of a northeast rain. and when
we reached there 1t was showing hard
we travelled by cart roads, through the
blazed woods. and nearly persisted from
IoI Of hn6f n n
Vigorous man | never could have with
stood the rigors of that long and perilous
ride.
( 1--WE reached North Elba about
O'Clock in the morning and the burial took
place at ! O'Clock in the afternoon. !
happened to be the only minister there
and at the earnest request Of the family
performed the usual funeral service
There were present at the service the
widows of four members of Browns party
When the remains were escorted from the
house to the great bowder, beside which
the grave had been dug, Wendell Phil
lips took the arm of John Browns widow
Mr.. Mckim supported the widow of oil
yer Brown, l offered my arm to Mrs
Watson Brown, and Mr.. Bigelow of Bur
lington escorted the widow Thompson
to the grave.
cone incident had cause to particu
larly remember, because it was so Otter
afterward hurled in my face. At the
grave John Browns widow gave way tc
her sorrow. and as a solace to her grie
repeated the scriptura passage: !
have fought a good fight l have finished
my course, | have kept the faith: hence
forth there is lad up for me crown o.
righteousness.
The newspapers published very fully
the details connected with the funeral ser
vice, and my critics wanted to know how
could claim that John Brown had tough
a good fight and what he had done to en-
title Inn to crown of righteousness J.
is not pleasant to recall the treatment
received from former friends after tina
funeral Being naturally a sensitive
man, / suffered a great deal from the re
bluffs | received. Many persons who ha'
been exceedingly friendly to me shunne'
me on the streets, and some of my parish
toner's would pass me without sign o
recognition. My professional brethren
volunteered the opinion that I had ruine'
for life my chances as a minister of tn
gospel and was informed that some PEG
pie of the town had expressed the senti
ment that I ought to he strung up al
high as old John Brown
"A dissolution of my relations with tn
church of Burlington was an outcome o
my connection with the Brown funeral
but I continued in the ministry, despit
find a pastorate. The feeling against alb
olitonists was as strong in some portion
of the north in those days rs it was IL
the south. The sentiment was stronger II
Vermont than in Massachusetts, for, ow
ing to their nearness to New York, Yer
monters naturally followed I'M New York
trend of sentiment, rather than pattern
Ing after the people of Massachusetts.
II was we'll acquainted with William
Lloyd Garrison. | witnessed the rem
dtion of the slave, Anthony Burns
shameful day for Massachusetts. 1t wi
be remembered that John Brown. just he
fore his execution. wrote on the marg
OF paper in his cell: Z, John Brown, ar
now quite certain that the crimes of tn
guilty land will never be purGed ava
but with blood. had, as | now think
vainly fattered myself that without muc
bloodshed ii night be done How 500
this prophecy was fulfilled 1t is impos
sble to find in all history an Illustrate
of more noble. self-sacrificing life tina
that of John Brown
The Rev. DIR. Young Is native o
Randolph, Me, a graduate Of Bowdoi
college, class of 1915, and of the Harvar
divinity school, class of 1SiS. Ten year
ago Bowdoin college conferred on hir
the degree of doctor of divinity. Las
February he and Mrs. Young celebrate
their golden wedding.
JOHN BROWNS MEN.