The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-18
Bishop Andrevys's Sermon.

AS soon as the hymn ceased Bishop Ed
ward G. Andrews, of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, who had come from Ohio to
say the last words over the remains of his
lifelong friend and parishioner. arose. He
stood at the head Of the casket and spoke
in sympathetic voice and with many evil
dences of deep emotion The acoustic quail
tiles of the deep rotunda do not favor such
addresses. and although the bishop spoke
in clear and firm tones the ripple echoes
from all sides made it difficult for those
a short distance from him to catch his
words. He said:
Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord. who OF His abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto lively hope of the
resurrection OF Christ from the dead, TO an
inheritance incorrupdble, undefiled, and
that fadeth not away. reserved in heaven
for us who are now, by the power of God,
through faith unto salvation, ready to be
revealed in the last time.
1.-THE services for the dead are fifty. and
almost of necessity, services of religion
and immortal hope. In the presence of the
shroud and the coffin and the narrow home,
questions concerning intellectual quality
concerning public station, concerning great
achievements sink into comparative insig-
nifcance; and questions concerning charac-
ter and mans relation TO the Lord and
Civer of Life even the life eternal emerge
to our view, and impress themselves up
On us.
this world; we can carry nothing out. We
ourselves depart with all the accumulatiOnS
of tendency and habit and quality which
the years have given to U.S.. We ask. there
fore, even at the grave OF the illustrious,
not altogether what great achievement
they had performed, and how they had
commended themselves to the memory and
affection or respect of the world. but chleI-
~ OF what sort they were; what the III
terror nature of the man was; what We're
his affinities? Were they with the good,
the truth, the noble? What his relation 10
the infinite Lord of the universe, and TO
the compassionate Savior of mankend;
what mis- fitness for that great hereafter
to which he has passed.
And such great questions come 10 us
with moment even In the hour when we
gather around the bier of those whom we
profoundly respect and eulogize and whom
we tenderly love. In the years 10 come,
in the months and days that lie immediate
~ before us will give full utterances as to
the high craftsmanship and great achieve
ments OF the illustriOus man whom we
mourn to-day. We shall not touch them
to-day. The Nation already has broken out
In its grief and poured its tears and is stlll
pouring them over the loss of a beloved
man. 1t is we'll. But we ask this morning
OF what sort this man is so that we may
perhaps, knowing the moral and spiritual
life that is past. be able to shape the far
withdrawing future. l think we must all
cOncede that nature and training and, rev.
erently be it said. the inspiration of the
Almighty cOnspired TO conform man ad-
mi able in his moral temper and acts. We
none of us can doubt. l think, that even
by nature he was eminently gifted The
kindly, calm and equitable temperament.
the kindly and generous heart, the love of
Justice and right and the tendency toward
faith and loyalty TO unseen powers and au-
thorities-these things must have been with
him from his childhood, from his infancy,
but upon them supervened the training for
which he was always tenderly thankful and
of which even this great Nation from sea
to sea continually has taken note.
BORN IN HUMBLE HOME.
ut was humble home in which he was
born. Narrow conditions were around him,
but faith in God had lifted that lowly roof,
according to the statement of some great
writer. up to the very heavens and per-
mitted it's inmates to behold the things
eternal, immortal and divine. And he came
under that training. 1t is a beautiful thing
that to the end of his life he bent rever-
entity before that mother whose example
and teaching and prayer had so fashioned
his mind and all his aims. The school came
but briefly, and then came to him the
church with a ministration of power. He
accepted the truth which it taught. He be-
lieved in God and in Jesus Christ, through
whom God was revealed. He accepted the
divine law Of the Scripture. He based his
nope on Jesus Christ, the appointed and
only redeemer Of man. and the church, be-
ginning its operations upon his character
at an early period of his life, continued
even to its close to mold him. He waited
attentively upon it's ministrations He
gladly partook with his brethren Of the
symbols or mysterious passion and redeem
ing love OF the Lord Jesus Christ. He was
helptui In all of those benefcences and
activities, and from the church to the close
OF ms lie he received inspiration that lifted
him above much of the trouble and weak
ness incident to our human nature. and
blessings be to God may we say in the
last and final hour they enabled him conf
IDENTIFY, tenderly TO say, 1t is His will not
ours, that will be done
such influences gave to us William Nc
klnley. And what was he? A man of in
eorruptible personal and political integrity.
l suppose nobody ever attempted to APP
proach him with a bride, and we remeIn-
Der with great felicitation at this, time. for
great financial difficulties and perils en-
comprised him he decided to deliver all his
possessions to his creditors that there
should be no challenge of his perfect hon.
esty in the matter. man of immaculate
purity shall we say? No stain was uDon
his escutcheon; no syllable Of suspicion
his character. He walked in perfect and
noble self-control.
LOVED HIS FELLOW-MEN.
THAT this man had somehow wrought in
HIM suppose upon the foundations of a
very happily constructed nature-a great
and generous love for his fellow-men. He
believed in men. He had himself been
brought up among the common people. He
knew their labors, struggles, necessities.
He loved them; but think beyond that it
was to the church and its teachings con-
corning the fatherhood of God and universal
brotherhood of man that he was indebted
for that habit of Kindness, for that gener-
osity of spirit, that was wrought into his
very substance and became him so that
though he was of all men most courteous,
no one ever supposed but that courtesy
was from the heart 1t was spontaneous,
unaffected kindly, attractive, in a most
m degree A
rover circle of those to whom he was per-
sonally attached, l think he was also in
the greatness of his comprehensive love to-
ward the race of which he was part. IL
any man had been lifted up TO take into
his purvieW and desire 10 help all classes
and conditions Of men, all natiOnalities be-
side his own, ii was this man.
shall / speak word next OF that which
l will hardly advert to? The tenderness OF
that domestic love which has so often been
commented upon? l pass il with only that
forth fully the unfaltering kindness and
carefulness and upbearing love which be-
longed 10 this great man.
And ne was a man who believed In
right, VINO had a profound conviction that
the courses OF this world must be order ed
| in accordance with everlasting righteous
ness this worlds highest point of good
will never be reached; that no nation car
| expect success in life except as il con-
forms 10 the eternal toss OF the infinite
| Lord and pass itself in individual and col
/ lective activity according 10 that divine
will. 1t was deeply ingrained in him that
/ righteousness was the perfection OF any
/ man and OF any people Simplicity belonged
| TO him. ! need not dwell upon il and / close