The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-04-14

propriate remarks were made on the
occasion by Rev. Messrs. Paxton,
| Olckey and Cross, and Rev. Messrs
Carter. Cook and Morrison took part in
the services The following is the ad.
dress of the Rev. John X. Paxton, at
the funeral services of the Rev. VIM
Finney, on Sabbath. August Sd. 1873.
We have just committed to its kindred
dust body in which for eighty five
years there tabernacied n resplendent
soul soul, ! verify believe for which
the blood Of Christ and the love of God,
and the communicating Spirit, had done
AZ much, IN fine and M perfect work an
for any saint of this century. While he
wed. none knew him but to love him
none named him but to praise"
nnnot think he ever had AN enemy; fol
ne Iived Mt peace with all men, and wa,
axe his divine Master, the brother Of
very man. His heart was AN open
highway. along which any one could
iass. He was the poor mans friend,
ne rich mans counsellor. The un-
ortunate man found in him needy relief
ne stranger and the vagabond were
lev turned from his door. Every
good cause he cherished and aided b,
nursed the infancy and trained fol
careers of usefulness many, now strong
and vigorous churches. tie knew that
ignorance il the mother of supersti.
ion and degraded lives. lie knew that
education in the hand maid of all true
civilization, the best guardian of civil
'erty. and the reward Of n pure prOtcs
mt Christianity. therefore, Mr.. Finney
vas, during life. the promoter of edu.
cation, the advocate and builder Of
school houses, the foe Of ignorance, and
the untiring friend of knowledge for the
p ople.
We find for sixty years Mr.. Finn, y
we'd, lhbored and preached for the two
nghest and best interests Of the peOpl
# Hartford county the education o
their hearts, which IN religion the edl
alton of their minds. which in know
dye; and not till the judgment day,
rot TIL we see him with the crown the
Master shall give him and count its
l"wels. will we know the harvest of the
seeds he sOwed, the amount the
eclousness of the good he wrought,
ne power Of his high character, and
ne unseen as we'll M the seen fruits of
~ half-century Of labor in the vineyard
Il the Lord.
There liz scarcely man or woman IN
this church today. or in the county any
where. but IL bound to Mr.. Finhey by
'ome one or many tender ties or holy
memories. For sixty years he has been
The spiritual centre IN which lines in
almost every family met. He has been
ne golden hub in the wheel Of social
and religious life hereabOuts. Why the
babe you left at home today he baptized
and you he married, and your grand.
father he buried; aye, and your great.
grandfather, too. Oh. there il scarcely
= sacred memory in your life but he
VAS bound up with it, Al the bedside
II your dying, his voice pointed to
aVen at the grave Of your dead. his
mrs fell ut the fcasts Of your happl
ness his presence cheered. In your
lals he stood by you; in your SORROWS
h" gave Christian sympathy, and from
this pulpit, from his lips your ear first
stoned to the story Of the cross. Oh.
= il wonderful that any one man could
c'me to be so interviewer with the life
If Il great community, and should live
40 long that TO tell his life would be TO
write the history Of n county for sixty
years. DO you seek his monument?
Do you ask what he did? Then look
around you from the Susquehanna to
the Gunpowder from the Chesapeake
TO Slate Ridge. IsagOod cause prosper
ing? There he watched over it's birth
and f0stered its growth three-scoIe
years ago. Are churches multiplying?
Il public opinion on the side of right
living and pure morals? Then remem.
Der when he came here and how his
influence was always used and his labor
directed, Oh! we have buried today
the patriarch Of all the churches in our
midst; the friend, helper and teacher
4 them all. We have buried the body
Of one Of the purest characters, tender
est hearts and loveliest souls God has
enriched you with. His life WAS con
sistent. his mind polished, his manners
sweet as the apostle Johns and take
i'm all in all take him during his long
nd public life, he was an exquisite
hece Of the grace Of God, triumph
i Christian faith, proof Of the power
( God to make Christlike lives out Of
'inful mortals. When shall We see his
se again? Like that prophet Of God
~ caves no successor no great and
upI as himself There are no shoulders
'nunR US worthy Of the mantle that
ow falls from his, ~ by the chariot Of
'od. the horsenan thereof, his redeem.
d spirit goes up to join the company
round The throne.
Let Us bow toward his grave. Let us
mbrace the cross whence came the in
'piratlon and power of his life. Let US
thank God for him with full hearts
I g Al. A.