The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-09

boots, and makes aStouliuiiiS stiluo1
in the direction Of novelty and cere-
mopy Today. not merely adrOit. con-
sccrated. spiritually minded CHRISTIAN
have ono paid him, but h pOnt~
cal charlatain is ~canOnized, and the
reckless. profane, military hero OF the
hour. with his six weeks immortality
OF fame. without, too a vestige OF
honor and virtue. is magnified ate q
ma~rvelOusly proper character, ana Is
held up as a splendid type Of man
hood and virtue. and q most apDro-
pirate eNamplar for the youth OF
America through the ages TO emulate,
too, by some ecclesiastical our
bank, and in periods exceedingly
melodious and grandiose. There are
net very nan Of the sons OF men
who can Dear unstinted praise.
Meat was the utility or appropriate
ness OF a funera when
viewed ahstractedly. When reduced
to practice the utility will often disap-
bear, and the appropriateness be
comes questionable. If all men were
indeed fit for the Kingdom OF Glory,
il would be indeed an exquisite pleas
ure for q speaker to dwell upon the
virtues and e~xceilencies of those VIII,
have passed away. But how often
must the ministers brain be put upon
the rack TO find something appropriate
and true to say, when he shall stand
up to speak concerning one who had
lived in defiance OF Heavens laws. II
is so easy to rush into experiences, and
to indulge 1lorid rhetoric. A sermon
OF this sort may infiict q greater in
jury upon q rejecting nearer who is
q sinner than q dozen gospel dis
courses possibly can dispel. / am
forced to believe that f~uneralizing as
sometimes prostituted tt base ends;
that q desire to please the living
induces some ministers to cxasgerate
to perhaps outrage truth. I believe
] have been present when words We're
uttered in eulogy that had TO be an
swered for. Even when the purpose
is pure. u nan not thoroughly skilled
who is IN emotional t
who Is Of an emotional temperament
may easily be betrayed into excess Of
statement and may make a most cruel
wound III some precious sinners soul
that no art of his q remedy, or tim
itself may fail to cicatriZe.
Some simple, solemn sinner at the
! grave accompanied will q few apprO-
pirate words. may be all tina is neces-
Sary for the occasion in committing
ashes to ashes n dust to dust. This
might prevent unpleasant reflections
that might rise up to annoy the min
thought or unfortunate experience
Will rise up to remind him Of his
phrases or his fancirul p~anegyric.
And then, too, consider how great
z misnomer it is to call the discourse
delivered on q certain occasion "a
funeral Sermon" when it is equally
adapted to any other OCCASION. A
genuine funeral discourse must grow
from ont Of the life and character OF
the deceased. [ conclude then. that
the custom of funeral preceding is
often more hOnOred in the breath thar
in the observance; that the use Of e
short and simple burial service is suf-
fICient for ordinary observance; inc
that its substitution would prove &
(. great relief to q hard-WOrked, con
scientious minister. If there is a time
when human hOnorS and human pride
appear in all of their n~Othingncss, il
is IN the presence OF the dead. Ii
there is 4 place where q studied re-
gard for strictest truth and propriety
should be observed, it is when q child
OF clay stands in the presence Of the
Mighty God, to talk to the sons OF
men OF some man whose day upon
earth is ended-Who was and it not
for God hath taken him. How mean
how contemplating is human appla
and dilded speech in the presence OF
grim, gaunt, Unsuitable Death-when
a soul has just left it's crumbling ten
ament, just emerged from the gate
way of time and been ushered through
the great portals of eternity!
Is it not true after all that the grea1
mass Of Christians are very like ir
the totally of their characters. How
few comparatively by reason of puri-
to, sincerity, conservation and holy
living are bearing a striking resem-
blance to the dear Son of God, the
Redeemer, wearing His Image. lie,
us all strive and pray continually tc
be like Jesus. Let us never reject
proudly and defiantly the proffered
o~~~e Of Salvation made to us by the
adorable, blessed Saviour of fallen
man.
There are three ways to hear. and
only is really Irritable and lasting.
thousands all end upon the sanctuar,
and, hear with itching ears'-saek-
ers after SOME new thing. like the
Altemians of old mentioned in the
Book Of Acts by st. Paul. They hear
only with the intellect. The imageina-