,,tribute ,,to ,a ,,good ,,man4 ,,extract ,,from ,a ,,sermon ,,delivered ,,at ,,the ,,bulfinch-,,street ,,church1 ,,boston1 ,,jan4 #i1 #ahec1 ,,the ,,sunday ,,following ,,the ,,interment ,,of ,,the ,,late ,,amos ,,lawrence4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,f4 ,t4 ,,gray4 ,,boston4 ,,john ,,wilson and ,,son4 #ahec4 ,the following pages are ,respectfully ,dedicated to the family and kindred of the late lamented ,,amos ,,lawrence1 by one who would offer a grateful tribute to the memory of him who so well deserved the exalted title of the ,poor ,man's ,christian ,friend4 ,the text of the ,sermon1 from which the following extract was taken1 was the seventh verse of the second chapter of ,paul's ,second ,epistle to ,timothy3 ,consider what ,i say2 and the ,lord give thee understanding in all things4 ,after contrasting the views and maxims of the worldly-minded with those of the ,christian1 and stating the claims of the ,young ,men's ,christian ,union1 the ,discourse closed with the following tribute to the character and memory of one who was the early patron and devoted friend of that ,society4 ,,the ,,good ,,man4 ,among the warmest friends of the ,young ,men's ,christian ,union was one1 whose departure from among us this community has recently been called to mourn1--one who was beloved by all who knew him2 whose wide1 expansive benevolence and ,christian charity won the admiration of those of every name and sect2 who so truly loved the ,saviour1 and was so truly baptized into his spirit1 the spirit of divine and heavenly love1 that he became through it his blessed messenger2 so that all rejoiced who came within his influence1 as he went about doing good1 ready to take each believer by the hand1 saying1 ,one is our master1 even ,christ1 and all ye are brethren4 ,as we saw him on his errands of mercy1 just on the verge of threescore years and ten1 how1 as his benignant smile beamed upon us1 did he remind us of the disciple ,jesus loved2 who1 when so feeble from the infirmities of age1 could only say1 in addressing the people1 ,little children1 love one another6 ,that smile1 shadowing forth a happy ,christian spirit within1 was a benediction indeed1 when it beamed upon us6 ,may it prove an incentive to us1 to show our love to ,god in our love to man1 which was the whole tenor of his example2 remembering that by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples1 not in any name ye may adopt1 or church ye may join1 but in your love one toward another4 ,long has it been my privilege to know this good man4 ,in a letter to me a few days before his death1 he signed himself ,a friend of long years past4 ,yes6 he was an old friend to me1 and1 as ,i well know1 a long-tried friend to the poor1 the forsaken1 and suffering1 as he was also a friend to those whom the ,saviour took in his arms and blessed2 for he was always ready and rejoiced to do what he could1 that the lambs of the flock and the children of the destitute might be instructed from the ,word of ,god1 and made wise unto everlasting life4 ,this love was seen not merely in kind words and good thoughts1 but in benevolent action3 he was an active ,christian4 ,how did my young heart feel this twenty-five years ago1 when among a little band of ,sabbath-school teachers who were laboring at the northerly section of our city1 instructing the children of the less-favored and the poor2 at a time when our hearts were sad1 and almost discouraged2 when we were endeavoring to awaken a deeper and wider interest1 by inviting the parents and friends to come in and see us4 ,how cheerfully1 at our invitation1 did he come to the first examination of the school1 and encourage us by his presence1 his words1 and his gifts2 and when those little ones1 many from the abodes of poverty and want1 repeated their sweet hymns1 how did the tears course down that good man's cheeks1 causing him to say1 as he pressed my hand1 ,this is a beautiful sight1 and one ,i cannot witness without tears6 ,never shall ,i forget those words1 nor the thoughts which at that time they suggested4 ,is there any thing more delightful 7such was our thought7 than to witness a man engaged in a large and extensive business1 a man of wealth and influence1 coming down and mingling freely and kindly with a band of humble ,sunday-school teachers1--an act inspiring them with new courage and hope1 at a moment when1 from the cold indifference and opposition then existing towards these institutions1 both heart and hope had begun to fail us1 and the school itself was well nigh being closed4 ,if he had done nothing else1 this humble ,christian act should be a standing monument to his memory2 for it was from this school1 thus encouraged and sustained1 that arose one of the noblest charities that has ever blessed the world1--the ,ministry at ,large4 ,the interest this good man took in children was constantly manifested1 and continued to the last4 ,never was he happier than when surrounded by them4 ,there are some among you who may remember seeing him here at the anniversary celebration of our ,sunday-school1 some three years since4 ,after he had sat for a little time in this pulpit1 and gazed at the interesting sight of so many children gathered before him1 and listened to their sweet voices1 alternately mingling with those of the orphan and the blind who were on each side of him1 he said to me1 his eyes filled with tears1 ,this is heavenly2 but ,i must leave you2 it is more1 ,i fear1 than ,i can bear1 for you know ,i am a minute man4 ,this active ,christian spirit of love was witnessed by me also last summer1 when that sad disaster occurred by which so many lives were lost on board the ill-fated steamboat1 the ,henry ,clay2 which you may remember was particularly alluded to from this place on the following sabbath4 ,on reading that sermon1 which was afterwards published1 our departed friend immediately called on me and desired its circulation1 with the earnest request that a memorial to ,congress might be prepared at once and forwarded4 ,when others were seeking and enjoying the sea-breeze and a purer air in the country1 this good man1 notwithstanding the heat then so oppressive1 was engaged in going round1 speaking on the subject to the most influential1 obtaining their approval2 and1 though all were saying1 ,it will avail little1 and do no good1 still did he persevere1 unchanged in purpose4 ,at the same time he wrote personally to different individuals at ,washington1 preparing them for the memorial1 which soon after followed2 when the law relating to steamboats1 which had cost so much labor in preparation1 but which had been lying on the table for months untouched1 was at once taken up and passed4 ,the energy1 activity1 and perseverance which this good man then manifested1 while so many others were indifferent to the matter1 will never be forgotten4 ,and now perhaps the young among us may inquire1 ,who was this man1 and whence arose those traits of character which caused him to be so universally beloved and lamented8 ,i answer1 that he came to this city1 many years since1 a poor young man4 ,it so happened that he remained longer than he at first purposed2 for he designed only a visit1 intending to return again to his home4 ,he attended yon venerable church soon after he came hither1 and heard the eloquent and gifted ,buckminster4 ,at once he selected him as his minister1 and that as his church1 and ever after was present1 morning and afternoon1 when his health permitted4 ,he listened1 and welcomed to his heart the blessed teachings of ,jesus ,christ1 and made it his aim to be his follower1 and to do good as he had opportunity4 ,as this was his great endeavor1 his delight was in the law of the ,lord1 and daily at his fireside the morning and evening incense of prayer rose to heaven4 ,mr4 ,lawrence was a religious man in every sense of the word1 dedicating his time and wealth to the service of ,god1 and the good of his fellow-men3 hence he was not slothful in business1 but fervent in spirit1 serving the ,lord4 ,he loved the sanctuary1 and its very dust was sacred to him4 ,he visited the distressed1 and it was his delight to distribute the gifts laid upon the altar for the poor1 personally1 to the members of the household of faith4 ,if you would know the origin of all that he did1 which blessed so many hearts1 which made him the friend of the widow and the orphan1 and a father to those who had none to help1--why it is that all around us the tears of sorrow are shed1--that every one feels that the community has sustained a severe loss1 and that the poor and suffering are bereft of a benefactor and friend1--you must trace it to its true source1 and say that he was a religious man and true ,christian1 and that he simply carried out and exemplified the holy principles of the gospel4 ,this was its source4 ,in this his benevolence and world-wide charity had their origin4 ,it was this1 young men1 which makes his memory so precious1 his name so dear1 and will long embalm him sacredly in the grateful hearts of hundreds of the sorrowing children of men1 who will bedew his grave with tears1 and rise up hereafter and call him blessed4 ,what power did religion impart to this benefactor of his race6 ,what influence did it enable him to exert with the talent entrusted to his care6 ,bring now before your minds this poor young man going to that house of ,god1 more than forty years ago4 ,he was unknown1 a stranger among strangers1 seeing around him there the most distinguished men in the ,commonwealth assembled in worship4 ,he hears the word1 and is impressed4 ,he resolves to follow out the instruction received1 and1 in imitation of his ,master1 to devote himself to doing good to his fellow-men4 ,forty years and over found him faithfully going up to that temple1 enjoying its privileges1 and gratefully improving its services and rites2 till at last1 when the summons came1 his spirit1 all ready and prepared1 gently passed to its heavenly home6 ,and who would wish to call him back1 that saw the smile on his countenance when within a day's journey of the tomb1 which seemed to have received new radiance from the spirit-world1 upon which he was so soon to enter8 ,oh1 well might we then have said1-- ,mark but the radiance of his eye2 ,the smile upon his wasted cheek3 ,they tell us of his glory nigh1 ,in language that no tongue can speak4 ,how little did this poor young man think1 when he first entered that church1 that by fidelity to the truths of ,jesus ,christ there proclaimed1 when he should pass from earth1 grateful hearts1 true and sincere mourners1 would go up thither1 and throng its very aisles1 that they might mingle their tears1 and pay their last tribute of respect to him1 their true benefactor and ,christian friend6 ,yet so it was1 and as beautiful as it was a striking testimony from the community to the excellence and worth of a humble1 benevolent1 and sincere ,christian4 ,well might the merchant1 and those in his employ1 cease on such an occasion from their labors1 and go up to the house of prayer2 and well that those who were ,judges should cause silence to reign in their halls1 as they and the great men of the land went up also to that house of mourning2 for such a life as had just closed on earth was a blessing to this whole community2 and ,god should be gratefully remembered in his temple1 for the gift of such a ,christian example and character4 ,and it was as beautifully appropriate as it was inexpressibly touching1 to witness children gather round his mortal remains1 and take their last look in his ,father's ,house1 which he had loved so much2 and1 as they strewed beautiful flowers upon his lifeless form1 that they should sing their sweet farewell hymn1 ,we have lost a father4 ,well1 too1 was it that ministers of the different denominations should unite in the last services at this good man's funeral4#a ,how little did he think1 years ago1 when he first entered that time-hallowed sanctuary1 that that would be the last earthly dwelling from whence he would be borne as he passed to the grave2 that the plaintive notes of that richly-toned organ1 which had so often uplifted the spirit of the sainted ,buckminster1 would softly breathe his last requiem2 and that the funeral toll of that solemn bell would call more of the sorrowing and mourning for him thither than could be gathered within its walls6 ,yet so it was1--a touching tribute to a good man and beloved ,christian4 ,oh6 may that beautiful character inspire every young man with the holy resolve and purpose to live a ,christian life1--to be governed by ,christian principles1 and the word of ,god2 assured1 that in every act of kindness and beneficence he shall in no wise lose his reward1 and that the memory of the good man and the ,christian will be blessed and faithfully cherished in the hearts of children's children4 ,go1 spirit of the sainted dead6 ,go to thy longed-for happy home2 ,the tears of man are o'er thee shed1 ,the voice of angels bids thee come4 ,though earth may boast one gem the less1 ,may not e'en heaven the richer be8 ,oh6 may we on thy footsteps press1 ,to share thy blest eternity4 #a3 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,sharp1 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,lothrop1 and ,rev4 ,dr4 ,hopkins4 ,,we ,,have ,,lost ,a ,,father4 ,the following original hymn by ,josiah ,a4 ,stearns1 ,esq41 was sung at the obsequies1 ,jan4 #dth1 by a choir of young girls from the ,lawrence ,association of the ,mather ,school1 while surrounding the last earthly remains of their deceased friend4 ,,tune--,home again4#b ,he has gone--he has gone-- ,to his spirit-home2 ,and1 oh6 it thrills his soul with joy1 ,in realms of bliss to roam4 ,but we must shed the burning tear ,to part with him we love2 ,and now for us the world is gloom1 ,since he has gone above4 ,he has gone--he has gone-- ,to his spirit-home2 ,and1 oh6 it thrills his soul with joy1 ,in realms of bliss to roam4 ,weeping eyes--broken hearts-- ,oft he bid rejoice2 ,and homes of woe were full of praise1 ,that heard his loving voice3 ,for oft he soothed poor sorrow's tear1 ,and wept when they were sad2 ,and many were the orphan-forms ,his generous bounty clad4 ,weeping eyes--broken hearts-- ,oft he did rejoice2 ,and homes of woe were full of praise1 ,that heard his loving voice4 ,gentle words--heavenly thoughts-- ,linger where he trod3 ,and1 oh6 it was our childhood's charm ,to hear him talk of ,god4 ,then let us ever strive to live1 ,as he1 our friend1 has done2 ,that we may reach the happy life ,which he has now begun4 ,gentle words--heavenly thoughts-- ,linger where he trod2 ,and1 oh6 it was our childhood's charm ,to hear him talk of ,god4 ,fare thee well--fare thee well6 ,we around thee weep2 ,but1 oh6 we love thee1 father1 still1 ,and angels guard thy sleep4 ,the kind ,,old ,,oak for us no more ,shall sheltering branches spread2 ,and1 oh6 our hearts are wrung with grief1 ,for he we loved is dead4 ,fare thee well--fare thee well6 ,we around thee weep2 ,but1 oh6 we love thee1 father1 still1 ,and angels guard thy sleep4 #b3 ,home ,again was sung in hearing of ,mr4 ,lawrence by the children on his last visit to their school1 when he was accompanied by ,gen4 ,franklin ,pierce4