Remarks at the Funeral of Stephen Maxson.
By P. B. Chamberlain
By Rev. P. B. Chamberlain, Pastor of the Congregational Church, Walla Walla, W. T., Sept. 28, 1879. It is generally understood that on funeral occasions I seldom make any reference whatever to the character, the life, or the probable destiny of the deceased. In most cases I cannot do so without violating either the sacred feelings of the mourners or my own settled convictions of divine truth. There are, however, exceptional cases, when neither my words nor my motives can well be misunderstood, in which I feel at liberty to depart from this general course if I choose to do so. I am prompted by my feelings—if, indeed, my feelings will allow me to speak at all—and my judgment, to make the present occasion such an exception. I have known Mr. Maxson somewhat intimately for fifteen years in various relations, social, official, and religious; and as I have observed him, I do not hesitate to say that he came as near, if not nearer, to my ideal of a true living Christian man as any one I have ever known—a fair exemplification of the apostle's graphic picture—"Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." While he attended wisely and even energetically to his secular affairs, he never allowed them to override or crowd out his more important sacred duties, but seemingly held himself always ready for all good works, social, political, educational, reformatory, or religious. I suppose two of the church edifices in this city are largely if not mainly the monuments of his earnest, persistent effort, and liberal, if not lavish munificence. Having lived such a life three score years and three—not quite, it is true, the full measure of "three score years and ten,"—he lived too fast, for that, having in seven years less, probably thought more, felt more, and done more, than most men of less tiring zeal do in the full period, showing that "that life is long which answers life's great end." Living to see all his children grown up and comfortably settled in life; having the past year paid a general visit to the friends and scenes of his early life, from which he recently returned to renew the associations here thus temporarily interrupted, and, finally, having just returned from a visit to his youngest daughter living in the Palouse country, his circle of life was surely admirably completed, and without protracted suffering to himself, or any burdensome tax upon the devotions of his family, he has lain down to his last sleep—his final rest. Surely such a picture, though just now draped in mourning, is a goodly one to contemplate,—a life to be admired,—an example to be emulated,—a memory to be sacredly cherished. I will presume to add to it but a single thought, and that in few words, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men." May the Lord help the community. It had no such men to spare; it now has at least one too few. May the Lord help the church, when such pillars are removed; it must lean hard upon divine support. May the Lord help the family. They have now parted with their wisest and best earthly friend. May they gain largely in the friendship of the God of the widow and the Father of the fatherless.