The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
MARRIED Character of
Maj. Taylor.
NE MORTAL SERVICE
Held at Odd Fellows Home
Rev. Mr.. Covell's Eulogy.

Memorial exercises in honor Of the
late Mai. Nathan Taylor were held al
Odd Fellows Home yesterday after.
noon. Rev C. H. Covell, chaplain OF
the Home, paid the eulogy to the de-
ceased. Inmates of the institution lis
tened with gratitude to the praises OF
the man whose generosity and for
sight had iii large measure created the
comforts they now enjoy.
A large number of Odd Fellows and
| Daughters of Rebekah were in at
tendance. while every inmate Of the
Home that possibly could do so, re-
manned through the services. The
large portrait of Maj. Taylor was
draped with crepe. The services
throughout were marked with the
greatest simplicity. Rev. Mr.. Covell
took as his text THE memory of the
just is blessed" He said in part:
Every life is stored with sweet
memories Of the dead When sur
rounoed with the deepest gloom, while
looking into the open grave, there are
always a host of pleasant memories of
the departed which afford slight conso-
lation. There are always the angel
voices saying, He is not here; he is
risen l have the most profound pity
for the man who does not hear that
voice. The man afflicted with the
most loathsome disease is to be envied
in comparison with him. Even the
leper, with his foul uncleanness, is a
king beside the man who has no hopes
of ever meeting his lost loved ones in
another life.
When a man is eulogized after
death, those who bestow praise upon
him are often criticised for not having
had the same appreciation and feelings
when he was alive. / affirm this criti-
GiSm Is unjust. The same feelings eX-
list before death, even if their express
sion is not as heartfelt as when death
brings home to the mourners the ire
parableness Of their loss Is man
never kind to his friend until he is
gone? Does he never give his wife
a flower until he lays it on her bier?
Who says he does not, lies. But the
greater part of these acts of apprecia-
ton are performed in private. That
is why a public eulogy like the present
becomes necessary.
81 was acquainted with Brother Tay
| lor IL years. I can say without ques-
| ton that his was a character without
a stain At least, if he had a stain,
it was acquired accidentally in his
struggles with the world, just as
when a man ignorantly picks up a
piece of coal and soils his hand.
| Some time ago, Brother Taylor said
to me: I left home at the age Of 1(
years. l have had struggle. but
have always tried to be honest with
my employers and just with my help
"As to his motives, they were pure
and highly directed too. Ask any one
with whom he had dealings and see If II
is not said he was living exemplar OF
the maxim, An honest man is the mob
lest work Of Cod
| 'As to his principles, oh, how strong
they were. He had his eye on a dis
tant goal and nothing could stop him
once started. His life was constant pro-
gress with success at the end. His prin-
ciples were bound with strong ropes at
tached to the throne of God.
Faults he had of course. But who has
not? His unwielding Temperament
| sometimes placed him in error. But how
quick he was to forget and forgive. He
was a faithful husband. He said to me
before starting south on his last triI
in search of health 1T don't seen pos
| sBble for me to go away without my
wife and daughter Thank God his deal
ones were both with him to give theil
last ministering care to the end.
| HE was kind father. He gave al
the love fathers heart has to bestoW
and felt all the anxiety a parent
heart can feel for his offspring. He had
a devotion, nay almost worship for his
| family But he was prominent in other
walks of life. His opinions and counsels
were eagerly sought. From a penniless
| boy he came to be respected by the
whole community.
| His whole life was wrapped up in
| Odd Fellowship. He was loyal Grand
Army man, but the members of his G.
| A. II. lodge complained that he rarely
attended meetings because his Odd Eel
lows Lodge met the same night. He
| looked upon this house as his home and
| upon the brothers here living as his
| brothers. All his strength and love he
poured out upon this beautiful spot.
| You can't build monument to suct
| a character. Moses needs no monument
Abraham Lincoln needs no monument
You might level all the grave mounds
on earth and grind all the tombstonef
to powder, yet Lincoln would not pass
out OF our memory Love for him would
still dwell in the hearts of the people
or the United States. SO Nathan Taylor
| requires no monument, unless it be the
| structure that crowns this hill.
Let us not take him as our model il
life, for we have divine and far more
perfect model than Major Taylor. But
let us follow in his footsteps in so fal
as he was right. / well remember the
last time ] saw Brother Taylor. He was
! standing in the doorway of his store
and spoke encouragingly Of the benefits
he expected to derive from his south
ern trip, although we could all see thai
| he would never return alive.
Brother Covell' he said, you will
see that they have. their Sunday ser.
vices on the hill. won't you? You will
nave your reward IL you do i have
! already had my reward in being al
lowed to speak the praises Of that noble
man whose last thoughts were of the
| Odd FellOkvs' Hmm @ "A. a.