Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-05-30
TILDEN COOK.

Inc following Il a brlei extract from
the words spoken at the funeral OF Til
den Cook In Nashville by Rev. w. +.
Ellis:
! Never before In all my experience
have ] 20 fully realized my inability
aud iucompetency to speak words APP
propriate to the occasion and To the
character OF the dead. Tilden Cook,
whose lifeless form lies before US 10 ii.
leuce Il yet more eloquent OF his vlr-
tues than words OF man can possibly be-
His life Is Its own best eulogy. Words
seem 50 hollow and meaningless In the
presence OF such a character. feel
that II II were more appropriate that
we should sit In silence and let our
minds dwell upon the deliueations OF
character a we saw them exempiied
10 his life. have never known a
grander character or one that ap
preached nearer to true manhood. In
the present Imperfect condition o. hu.
man nature, when strange inconsistent
cies mar the virtues Of men. truth al
most continually forbids W. to give ex-
preston TO our feelings Of admiration
and cOmpels Us 10 dispense our praise
, with restraint and measured liberality.
But today we stand in the presence OF
a character whose blamelessness spares
us the pain of making deductions from
its virtues. My acquaintance with him
revealed one Of the sweetest spirits
, that have ever met. His purity Of
, life, bis singleness of purpose. his gen.
/ tie aud manly deneanor at all times
gave to him an influence such as is pos
, sessed by few young men aud made his
life power for good that was felt by
. all whom he touched in life. His life
{ was message of love from the Master
, Whom he served. His influence has
made Itself felt upon our lives though
we have known him but short time.
, His friends were among the old as we'll
as the young.
The Vine Street Christian church of
Nashville will ever cherish his memo
, ry and the sweet songs which we once
heard from him will continue to cheer
our souls aud inspire our lives though
he sleeps beneath the sod. We shall
. miss him from our choir and from our
|, society. But he has gone TO mingle
4 with loved ones gone before aud unite
4 his sweet voice with the Heavenly cho-
I rus In the glad songs OF praise with
which he has cheered 50 many human
A lives and gladdened so many christian
q hearts. II is so hard to give him up.
He was such raw OF sunshine. His
life was so pure and beautiful and be
was so young and promising. Only %
[, him away from US into Is His own sa-
a cred presence. His death has caused q
/, shock to his many friends 10 the church
:. here such a. has not been felt in years.
While we give him up reluctantly we
thank God that He has loaned him TO
us for this short season TO teach us the
n beauties of character that are exem-
plified In his grand aud noble christian
n life.
p Never In all my acquaintance have
L met a young man whose life attracted
= me so much or inspired me more. His
4 words of testimony towards the close Of
his beautiful aud short life were bu,
the natural outcome OF such faith and
: purity. He said: IL am not afraid &c
a die, am ready to 90 when God calls
a me-" Certainly be was. Such char.
acter is ready for any thing. But he
n has left us higher consolation than thi,
"A dying testimony in the memory OF his
blameless aud well spent life. He has
a gone To meet father and mother and
sister, who have gone before.
Farewell. my friend, farewell You
have gone from among us We shall
a miss you from our number, but we can
:. not forget you No one was more uni
a versally loved than you. You have
a closed your eyes upon this world with
i all its joys and blessings, and all III
:. sorrow ana sighines But you hav,
), opened them in fairer cline w,
can not bring you back. But we con
tdently expect at no distant day U
join you in sweet fellowship TO partici
pate with our Lord in the ends fo
:, which He lives in that world of glorih
!, ed Beings. God help us to be as worth!
I. OF His approval AS thou hast been.
Young men II should speak but on,
. message to you today II would be to ex
, hort you to emulate the example o
- Tilden Cook and so be prepared as h,
- is to meet God when the summons
. comes. May the God Of all mercy sup
a ply every needed grace for those wh'
! mourn the loss OF our departed friend
etl STORY OF SLAVE.