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Show Services at Concord. Bears record of no manlier soul Than thine that eYcn now has fled. Unworthy land that knew thee not! That l>ndc her best and bravest die ! Be hers the shame - thy glorious lot Admits thy soul to God's free sky. Hrs constant voice inspired thy deed, IIrs clear command thy heart obeyed, Hrs hand shall give thy deathless meed 'Vhen thou and we in dust nrc laid. The prattling child shall lisp thy praise, The aged sire thy cau e approve ; Forbidden to prolong thy days, Our love shall yet thy shame remove. RALPH WALDO E:\IERSON said that the part assigned to him in tile services of the day, was to read portions of the conversations, speeches, and letters of John Brown- an obscure Connecticut farmer, who, taking the Gospel in earnest, and devoting him elf to the uplifting of a despised race, had suddenly become the mo:St prominent person in the countr·y. lie then read extracts from the conver ation between Senator 1\Iason and John Brown, and from Captain Cook's Confession; the last speech of John Brown in Court; his letter to Rev. 1\fr·. Vaill, of Litchfield, Connecticut; his "letter to a Christian Conservative," and a passage from his reply to Mrs. Child.* l\1n. ALCOTT then read the SERVICE FOR THE DEATH OF A 1\!ARTYR. In introducing this new and worthy liturgy, he said that on occasions like the present, when the heart and the conscience are so deeply moved, silence cern better than speech. Yet some voice must be found for the sentiment so universal to- * I do not wish to r epent tho t::nmo quotations in nny of my book!!; nnfl, ns nil tho p:u;sagcs r<·ad l>y Mr • .l<:mor,;on n))pt•ar in my Lift! of John Brown, iu 1110 f'!lnptm·s cntitlt•d ' · 'l'ho l'oliticnl .Inquisitors," "Condemned to dlo," " Lying in Wuit," nnd "Tho Conquering Pen," I omit them here. Services at Concord. 451 day; and accordingly I now read to you these leaves of w1sdom from JE US CHRIST. 'Vhntsoever yc would that men should do to you, do yc even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets. 'Vbether it is lawful to obey God or man, judge ye. SOLOMON.*· The ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, Our life is short nnd tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy ; neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave. Let us oppress the poor rightt•ous man; lc>t us not spare the widow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged. Let our strength be the law ; for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth. Therefore let us lie in ·wait for the righteous ; because he is not for our turn, and he is clenn contrary to our doings : he upbraideth us with our offending the luw. He profcs. cth to have the knowledge of God; and he cnlleth himself the child of the Lord. lie was made to reprove our thoughts. He is grievous unto u s even to behold : for his life is not like other men' , his ways nrc of another fashion. ·we nrc c ·teemed of him as counterfeits ; he ahstnineth from our ways as from filthin e. s ; he pronounccth the end of the just to be blessed, and mn.keth hi boast that God i!i his futhcr. Let us sec if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. For, if the just man be the Son of God, He will help him, nncl deliver him from the hand of his enemies. Let us examine him with despitefulnrss and torture, that ·we may know his meekness and prove his patience. Let us condemn him with n shameful death; for by his own Mying he shall be respected. Such things they did imagine and were deceived; for their own wickednesg had blinded them. They, the people, stood up, and the rulers took counsel together against the Lord nnd against his Anointed. They cn:t their heads together with one consent, and were confederate against him. lie heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear was on every side, while they conspired together against him to take away his life. • Chlofly from tho " Wisdom of Solomon." |
