Evening journal., 1908-02-10
LIVING MANS
FUNERAL. SERMON
Pastor Hopkins Says 1t VIII
Do Some People Good to
Hear What Might be Said

"A Living Mans Funeral Sermon"
was the subject Of a sermon preached
by the Rev. T. J. Hopkins in Delaware
Avenue Baptist Church last night. The
preacher pictured what might be said
over some people at death.
1T will do some people good 10 :-aar
what might be said over them after
they are gone, provided they live to the
end as they are living now" said the
preacher Perhaps it viii help to let
them see what a difficulty a minister
has selecting a text, and putting to-
gether suitable remarks for a wicked
mans funeral.
Let us suppose that some unbe-
liever has been stricken with a mortal
disease, typhoid fever, pneumonia, or
has fingered long with consumption
and has succumbed. And let us sup
pose that you were the person Then
you are dead. The day for the funeral
has arrived and this is the time and
the place where the last respects TO
the deceased viii be shown. The con-
gregation has assembled, waiting for
the funeral procession to arrive. At
length a sound is heard at the door
of the church, which is made by your
easket as it is taken from the hearse.
Presently the sound of feet treading
softly in the vestibule is heard and
soon the minister comes up the aisle,
leading the pall-bearers, who are
carrying all that remains of the de-
parted. They are followed by grief
/ stricken relatives and a few close
friends, while softly the organ plays
some funeral dirge. After all are seat
ed the choir rises to sing. But what
shall they sing?
1T must be remembered that Il is
no easy matter to select appropriate
hymns, for the choir understands that
the deceased never was religiously in
clined, so what the congregation hears
/ is song adapted to the living
/ The Preachers Part
Now the minister arises to read the
Scripture and pray and then to take
a text. What part of the Scripture
shall he use as a point Cf departure?
In view of the mans life, what shall
he say? Well, this man in life crossed
occasionally at least the threshold of
the saloon. He was also a great man
for amusements and not vesy discrimi-
mating as to kind on the religious
.side OF life he was often heard to say:
My wife represents religion in my
home AS for the church, he attended
when there was stereopticon lecture
a musical or a Christmas cantata. AS
for the Word of God, he used TO read
fragments Of It in the Sunday school
naf aaf 14aN 4
he had outgrown the Sunday school, at
the age Of eighteen. AS for preaching
he heard sermons only at church fu-
neral Of a friend; If II was at a house
he remained outside so as to be out
of reach of the preachers voice. And
as for preachers. he was always un-
easy in their presence; the only time
he wanted to see one was during his
last illness, after the doctor said he
must cross the mystic river. And even
then, one day when he seemed little
better he sent the minister word not
to come. But growing worse again the
preacher was sent for and the dying
man in the last hour professed that he
was saved and ready to go.
Now. what shall the preacher use
as a text Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord?" His familiarity with
the statistics has taught the preacher
that those who recover from what they
supposed was their death bed. usually
turn back to the world. Shall he use
"Enoch walked with God and was not
for God took him?" He knows the de-
ceased did not in life walk with God.
Shell he use I have fought a good
Inghtg But what fight did he engage
in against evil? His death was not
a mastering out from a long conflict
for righteousness. He was a rebel
till he stood face to face with God and
was forced to surrender.
Text to Fit the Case
what difficulty for the minister To
be true to what he breaches on other
Occasions he can't speak on these pass
ages. He must choose one that fits the
case or speak to the living. He must
use the thief's prayer. or take a text
which refers exclusively TO the living.
This he will do. So he announces text
It is: All things, even death, work to-
lgether for good to them that love God,
or And his disciples took up the corpse
and buried IL and went and told Jesus
and he exhorts his hearers to tell Jesus
their grief, for none Is too great for
him.
Now. in view of these things, are
you going to make IT so difficult for the
minister to say anything in reference TO
you when you are gone, or that Will
comfort those who remain? or will
you now begin to live so that there
viii be no doubt about where you
stand in relation to God? Live Chris
tian life now and thus people will know
what to think of you after you are
igone."
At the conclusion Of this sermon two
stood meaning by that that they In
tended to begin the Christian life.