The Montgomery tribune., 1910-01-14
CALLED HIGHER.


town, Mo-, passed away in the
ing of Dec. 81, 1909, at his home,
just as the sun in all it's glory
burst through the eastern sky of
gold. In all our years we never
witnessed IA more beautiful sun
rise. 1t seemed IA reflection of
the everlasting light, the breaking
of a day that sinks no more in
sight.
Was it "a welcome to the tired
spirit that had broken its letters,
and to the broken hearts glimpse
of eternity2 We cannot answer. We
can only treasure it as a price
less pearl in memory's gilded cas-
ket.
Melvin Vermillion was born in
Mddletown Feb. %, 1856, where he
resided during his entire life ex-
] cept the years spent in the Uni
versity of Missouri at Columbia.
He was the only child of one of
the Oldest and most highly re-
spected families in Montgomery
county. In his youth to know
| llllil w do " iONC ITO ouh5
manhood he was considered a
model; and as the silvery bios
SONS of his springtime gave way
TO golden fruitage, he became an
lhonored and trusted citizen.
On the 26th of August, 1886, he
was united in marriage to Miss
Kate Thomas of Middletown. To
this happy union were born two
sons and one daughter.
In 1891 he united with the Chris
tian church, of which he was an
officer for many years, being an
elder at the time of his death.
For many years his home was
known hs the "preachers'' home"
He was prominent member of
the order of Odd Fellows, a mem
Der of the town board, and cash
ier of the Middletown Bank for the
past 20 years.
He was loving, indulgent faith
er and grandfather, a devoted
husband, "a loyal son, and host
above reproach. In his judgment
of humanity he was generous to
a fault.
| While he was deep thinker and
a broad-minded man, he spoke
little lest he should tread upon
forbidden ground, and wound a
loving heart. do not claim that
he lived perfect life; none of us
can do that so near the murky
lowlands of earth-but if he ever
wronged "a human being or placed
a thorn in his pathway, 1 know
not of il. But / do know that
many flower blossomed by the
wayside unseen, save by those
who, lingering, catch the fragrance
stiM. .-., ...,..
To him the grave had no terror
it was the sepulchre where, Christ
had lain. He had no fears OF
death, but, while bleeding upon the
, battlefield of life, looked upon it
as an autumnal sunset. hf
i Over his bier, in the parlor of
his home, friends sang "The New
Jerusalem" song he had loved
and had often said he wanted sung
at his funeral. There were no flow
ers strewn upon his casket, for
often in life he had said he pre-
ferred the flowers be strewn along
the pathway that lay between him
and the casket that would incase
his ifeless form, through which
no fragrance could penetrate.
And, as we looked upon him in
his hast sleep, the smile of a be-
nign spirit spoke volumes of his
coronet in land of flowers where
the fragrance fingers for aye.
'Tis a sad, pathetic scene in the
chamber ofdeath, but more SOL
emn thing to face the enemy upon
the battlefield of life. Yet the bat
tie is not all CORY; there is the
music of fife and drum to which
the love of country bids us keep
step; and tits the heroes in the
battle that make up the group OF
pearls that bedeck the queen of
Christianity. Let us put on the
whole armor of God and ever be
ready when the bugk call shall
sound.
An impressive funeral sermon,
conducted by Ed. w. A. Mclean,
united in bonds Of sympathy the
hearts of a bereaved community
and stricken ones of i broken cir
Gle. After the last sad rites at
the close of sad New Year, we
laid TO rest in the city of the dead
all that was mortal of him whose