Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-06-20
FUNERAL OF JUDaE HAGANS.
Last sad Rites Performed on Wednes-
dav Afternoon in the Presence Of a
Large Number of People.

Large Number OF People.
Wednesday afternoon the funeral
of the late John Marshall Hagans
was held at his former residence on
Main street IN the presence of an
enormous gathering OF friends and
relatives. The services were con-
Quoted BY Rev. S. v Leech of the
Nj. E. church assisted by several
other ministers.
The choir sang Home of the
Soul opening the services. The
scripture reading by Rev, 5 E..
Jones and Rev A. Cameron followed
and the funeral address by DR.. Leech
was then delivered. 1t was as fol-
lows:
When julius Cesar was asked the
question What death would you
prefer?H He promptly answered,
.One that ends quickly and comes
without warning His wish was
gratified. But not so did death APP
proach the distinguished jurist
whose mortal remains are in this
easket. For many months death
prosecuted progressive siege
against the citadel OF his priceless
life. Our late eloquent Bishop Gil.
bert Haven, when about to win his
celestial translation, said to Bishop
Mallalieu Il find the SO called Riv-
er Of Death sbut little riIl that !
can cross by solitary footstep.
1t had no such appearance TO this
Historian and Judge. While for
months he battled with the pillows.
that mystical stream separating
Time from Eternity seemed to him
a widening Amazon, through the
chilly waves of which he was to have
a long and weary passage to the
eternal shore. When John Pawson
was bidding earth farewell he said
My couch to day seems like a bed
of roses. 1t was not so in the final
experience of this fond father, pa
triotie citizen and learned Justice.
William Hunter, one OF your former
/ pastors, when he closed his eyes in
the sleep of death, said 'If | had
strength enough to hold pen |
would write how delightful and easy
it is TO die But for months past,
when Judge Hagans was often sup
posed to be slowly dying, pains rack
ed his shattered frame,-physical
nervousness worried m,-sleep fire.
quently absented itself from his pill
low,-and the effects of disease gave
him excraciating distress. His was
not the testimony OF the Spanish
Theological, Francis Suarez, who
said at the last, II did not suppose
it was so sweet to die And yet,
as he made his long and gallant
fight with the King ofTerrors, there
was not an hour in which from the
religious standpoint, he could not
say with the dying Richard Baxter
Il have much pain and much
peace"
| To me this funeral is invested
with unusual sadness | was very
intimate with this splendid brother
and devotedly loved him. Then |
think of the recent bereavements
that have come TO this family. Be
fore my ministry here began this
dear brother had recently parted
with his beloved wife, at her death
and these daughters said good bye"
to a magnificent mother. 1t has been
but six weeks since these daughters
stood by the open grave OF their IL
lustrious grandfather,-the greatest
among a princely group of West
Virginia statesmen Mailman L.
Wiley. Only sixteen suns have set
since we took from these parlors to
the tomb the body of the consecra
ted and accomplished youngest
daughter of our dead friend On
last Sunday afternoon, when the
soul of Judge, Hagans went to God,
one of his faydrite and honored neph-
ews, living IN distant city, babe
adieu to earth and illness To-day
these daughters pay their tribute OF
filial love to the memory of one of
the most indulgent fathers, | have
ever known, while two distant sisters
of this servant OF God also mourn
his death Very sad is this occasion
to me and profoundly solemn is this
hour
Men have long debated the ques
ton (Which most influences char
acter, heredity or environments"
Both had much to do with the char
aeter and lite of Judge Hagans.
Even antecedent to the American
revolution he had patriotic and
worthy ancestry, His own father
cultured son of New England, -
was a scholar. philanthropist and
a Christian. His mother was gift.
ed and godly daughter Of Virginia.
He was the youngest Of the ten child
rem whom they endeavored to train
( "a I \