The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05

great reaSoner. If there had been in ii |
anything that would not stand research |
he would have exploded the fallacy, |
for his life was a life of research. |
Young men of Washington, young men
Of America, young men Of the round
world, a religion that would stand the
test of Justice Fields penetrating and
all ransacking intellect must have in it
something worthy Of you confidence.
l tell you now that Christianity has not
only the heart of the world on it's side,
but the brain of the world also. Ye
who nave tried to represent the religion
Of he Bible as something pusillani-
nous, how do o account for the
Christian faith of Stephen j. Field,
whole shelves of the law library occu-
pied with his magnificent decisions?
And now may the God Of all comfort
speak to the bereft, especially to her
who was the queen of his life from the
day when as a stranger he was shown
TO her pew in the Episcopal church to
this time of the broker heart. He
changed churches, but did not change
religions, for the hurch in which he
was born n the urch in which he
died alike believe in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven n earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten
Son., and in h communion of saints,
and in the life everlasting. Amen.
The body of our friend sleeps in tenn
porary resting place. Hearts over
whelmed with grief cannot just now
decide where hat sacred and silent
form shall hear the trumpet that wakes
the dead. Three places are proposed,
and all appropriate. Some say let it be
in some Gods acre near this capital,
where the pillows Of dust are already
embroidered with spring flowers. How
appropriate some cemetery near this
city, which was SO long his residence,
and SO near the place where he sat in
Judgment, holding evenly the balances
that God put in his hand It would be
we'll for us sometimes to go out and
read his epitaph and recall his virtues.
Some say let him rest on the Pacific
slope, where he achieved so much for
the new state and fitted himself for so
/ great emlnence, and it would be beau
t1ful to let the whole nation bow at his
passing ~catafalQue, a funeral reaching
from ocean to ocean and 5000 miles
long, the Alleghanies and the Rockies
and the Sierra Nevadas echoing the
thunder of the rail train taking him to
his last earthly home.
But equally as appropriate is another
propose that he be put to rest amid the
graves Of father and mother and re-
nowned brothers and the New England
friends of the family in the cemetery
at S~tockbridge, Mass. After a life of
toll and struggle he needs some quiet
| place.. Old men who were his schoolfel-
| lows would lean heavily upon the staff
and watch as he was brought through
the gates of the place in which they
also will o o lie down to rest. Far
away from the jostle and contention
n rush and activities Of the great
cities he would sleep the calm sleep of
the just. The hyacinthS there would
typify h resurrection, and the SHOWS
| Of winter banked there would suggest
the robes made white in the blood of
the Lamb.
than 80 years. Your words Of personal
encouragement and good cheer give
me the right to offer words of COM
memoration. But / must leave to
others his place of burial. This city
might choose Rock Creek and Oak Hill,
and San Francisco might choose Lon
Mountain; yet if l had my choice 1
would say let it be the cemetery at
Stockridge. He would be at home there
and it would be a family reunited. but
Whatever be the place, let me sprinkle
over the newly made this handful
of heather from the Scotch highlands,
IN the hymn which the people of that
land of Andrew Melville and John
Knox are apt to sing on their way to
the grave Of some one greatly beloved:
Neighbor, accept our parting song.
4 - ~O0o ~ - 1871 ~ OA6
The Lord brought here, the ord takes
hence;
This is nc house of permanence.
On bread of mirth and bread Of tears
The pilgrim fed those checkered years.
Now, landlord world, shut to the door;
Thy guest is zone forever more.
Gone to the land Of sweet repose,
His comrades bless him as he goes.
Of toll and MOL the day was full.
A good sleep now-the night is COO.
Yea, village bells, ring softly, ring,
And in the blessed Sabbath bring
Which from this weary workday tryst
Awaits Gods folk through Jesus Christ.
May Day In Berlin
! Berlin, May despite the efforts
I the social democratic leaders, May
Day was but little noticed here.
There were thirty five meetings in the
city and suburbs, but they were sparse
~ attended and were without special
Il