The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-14
To the Higher Life
Above.
J.COBURN.
Funeral of the Victim Of
Tuesdays Accident.

The funeral of Charles Jesse Coburn,
the victim of the coasting accident at
Lake View last Tuesday, was held from
the First Universalist Church yester-
day afternoon, and was very largely
attended by the many friends of the
deceased. The floral Offering, which
completely hid the pulpit and platform,
attested to the popularity Of the little
fellow.
Previous to the services at the church
there were prayers at the late home of
the deceased parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Alvarado A. Coburn, on Lake avenue,
conducted by Rev. John H. Matthews.
The exercises at the church began
at 2.S0 and were conducted by Rev.
Almon Gunnison, assisted by Rev.
Moses H. Harris, pastor of All Souls
Church. The funeral procession en-
tered the church, headed by the two
clergymen, following whom. came the
bearers, Walter Benchley, Ernest Gre
RE, Ray Frost, Walter N, Benchley,
Frank Pierce and George Boutelle, ali
schoolmates and Sunday school class
mates of the deceased.
The casket was carried to the altar
by six members Of the Lakeside Boat
Club, of which the father, Alvs-tado A.
Coburn, is a member A quartet, con-
sisting of Harry w. Robinson, Charles
S. Stoughton, Hoskison Gates, and
John f. Howell, opened the services
with the selection still. still in
thee" after which there was reading
Of tho GQI.tnfI1rac hU
son. Prayer was offered by Rev. M
H. Harris, and the quartvt sang Zone
sweetly solemn Thought"
Rev. Almon Gunnison then delivered
a very touching eulogy on the life OF
young Coburn, who was so suddenly
called to the higher life above. He
said in part:
1--WE come today to pay our last re-
spects to the memory Of o--~ who has
been conspicuous among us and to
sympathize with the family, whose
hearts are heavily laden with the great
loss which they are called upon to
bear. The sudden taking OF this young
life reminds us forcibly that in the
midst of life we are In death. A bright
intelligent boy, living in a pleasant
home and reared in the nlidst OF all
of lifes privileges, is suddenly taken
from among us and we feel at first
thought as if it is youth that should
give immunity from disaster and in
sure the greatest security from the evil
messenger of death. We know that
there is a time for saeaves to be gath
cred, and when one among us attains
to great age and Is taken from us,
we say that he has passed the meas
ure of his years and been gathered to
his Maker in due course; but when one
SO young, who has not reached the end
of his pilgrimage of life, but almost
before the first battle, is taken away,
such taking seems most untimely.
We are very apt to estimate life by
the length of years. We count time
by the lapse Of years and experience
by the events which enter into it.
And yet even in this case, a complete
life has been wrought out. Youth Is
a time of merriment and thoughtless-
ness. Bye and bye this period is over
come by sobriety. In the work of the
world. in the worlds theatre, this
young boy did his duty with diligence.
This fact is shown first in his attend
ance at Sunday school. During many
years he has been a constant attendant
and has not missed a session except
at the time of the recent blizzard. He
was not lured by prizes or rewards,
but by a sense of duty to his master.
This shows the solid foundation of his
little life. In it there was a large share
of manliness and resolution, which
would have made him useful man in
the worlds affairs. Such men are
sorely needed in the battle of life, and
when they are taken away, are sorely
missed He was the life and leader
of his fellows at school. We have here
in Worcester very good schools with
much home feeling. The teachers are
the councillors and friends of those to
whom are entrusted our youth. In his
intercourse with his fellows, no one was
more loving or tender than this bril-
liant youth. There is left to his school
mates naugnt but the sweetest re-
membranes.
His life. although cut short, has not
been lived in vain. His life typif1ed
in large measure fidelity. It is not
possible that God could have endowed
a young life with all that goes to
make an ideal home, and then as quick
ly obliterated that life. There is no
economist in all the world as great as
God. and while he has taken from earth
life full of hope, he has done this to
enrich the kingdom. This taking
away is simply the graduation ,sf the
boy from the schools Of earth to the
larger school of God in heaven. The
great gardener has taken the YOUNG
plant he started here in the earthly
vineyard and transplanted 1t to the
realms of heaven. Thus, while our
hearts are unutterably SAD from the
fact that we have lost the companion
ship of our loving friend, we can re-
Joice in the midst Of our tears IN
that home made heavy with grief, he
will ever remain boy. He will never
grow up to manhood. The hardest
thing in dying is the leaving Of our
friends. We have the consolation that
in the great en-going Of the world,
there are no accidents, and that God
doeth an things we'll
After prayer and a selection by the
choir. Gathering home" the benedlo-
ton was pronounced. There was a
large delegation of the schoolmates OF
the deceased In attendance who were
allowed to take a last look at the do
ceased after the services.
The pulpit and platform, which were
literally banked with beautiful flowers,
among which were many set pieces, in