we trust, what it long has sought to be. "Not unclothed, but clothed upon," every element of its former being enters upon higher phases, enters into grander combinations, enters upon intenser activities. By that divine and unalterable law, whereby whatsoever is once created knows thenceforth no perishing and no lessening of its substance, this much-loved soul, as it passes from our visible presence, proves its deathlessness in the very hour of its apparent departure. While it seems to go it stays, and our very effort to realize its absence but testifies to the reality of its continued presence. What indeed can tear it from us? What can ever rend from the hearts that hold them, the various portions of itself, which this life has wrought into their inmost being? What goes is little, what stays is much.

That which it once sought to be, I say, now it is. Divinely beautiful is every true soul, in the principle which animates it, in the type at which it aims, in the godlike image which it seeks to reproduce; but our eyes are holden for the time that we cannot see, its own energies are paralyzed by the self-consciousness and the half-confidence which cling to us all, and so the divinest things pass for half their worth. At last all this is changed, and the sacred thing is left to do its work undisturbed. Then every kind and thoughtful word, every loving act, every generous impulse, every unsuspecting confidence, dropping deep into the soul and carrying its true meaning with it, is seen and felt for what it really is. Beautiful indeed, to-day, is what once seemed common; not more beautiful than it was, but disclosing for the first time the loveliness which till now it has hid. Now, as never before, do we really see what that life has been. Not till the tree falls, and the soil is here and there displaced, do we know how far and wide its roots have struck. Look around to-day and see the many lives into which this life has entered, the many hearts around which

its fibres have entwined themselves, the many memories which while it seems to rob it yet enriches, and confess how enduring is the function of such a soul. Look around, until death is forgotten, till the grave's victory disappears, and you see only how "mortality is swallowed up of life."

APPENDIX.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND PARISH.

THE members of the Second Parish held a meeting at the vestry of the church, Feb. 2d, 1871, to take action in reference to the decease of their late senior pastor, at which Col. John W. Wetherell presided, and George G. Burbank, Esq., was Secretary.

Hon. Stephen Salisbury addressed the meeting by saying in substance that he was reminded of the statement of John Bunyan, which must be familiar to all, that when Christian Pilgrim's wife entered in at the gate of death, where her husband had entered before her, "the children wept, but Mr. Great Heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbals and harp for joy." So we rejoice that the beloved and useful life of our reverend friend was so mercifully protracted and crowned with fruit and beauty to the end. But friendship and gratitude will enforce their claims, and with tender memories it is wise and becoming and wholesome, as well as agreeable to the feelings, to consider a brief statement of the thoughts and sentiments that the occasion calls forth, which is attempted in the following resolutions:

The members of the second parish in Worcester, assembled to take notice of the death of our beloved senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Alonzo Hill, who died on the first day of February, 1871, aged seventy years, seven months and two days, unanimously adopt the following resolutions:

1. Resolved, That, with solemn, affectionate and grateful remembrance, we consider the faithful and acceptable ministrations of Rev. Dr. Hill to us. as a body united by Christian harmony and Christian hope; in his public instructions in the truths and precepts which God has revealed by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the guidance, consolation and eternal happiness of man; in leading us to the throne of Divine grace; in giving to us the comfort and edification of the Christian sacraments; and in his personal intercouse with us, by which he has brought to our families and ourselves the support of Christian faith, the aid of his friendly and prudent counsels, and the cordial and balm

of his genial sympathy, as he has visited us in the joys and sorrows and all the changes of life.

2. Resolved, That the example of a life devoted to the sacred duties of a teacher of Christianity, with no other deviations from that path but such as were caused by the collateral claims of education and good morals, and the appropriate reward of such a life, consisting in honor and authority in the community, and in personal happiness, are a lesson and an encouragement to those who can enter on that sacred work.

3. Resolved, That we do not mourn as those who are without hope, when we take leave of our beloved pastor, who was permitted to remain with us for forty-three years and ten months, in the fulness of his intellectual strength and usefulness, until his mortal frame was too much worn to be a fit instrument for his immortal spirit, and we look at his ascending way with the humble prayer, that in our turn we may be also ready.

4. Resolved, That we contemplate, with the deepest sensibility, the consistent termination of the life of our beloved friend. His most anxious desire that he should not outlive his powers of usefulness, has been mercifully fulfilled. On Communion Sunday, two months ago, we remember that he gave us a sermon setting forth our Saviour, Jesus Christ, as the vital power of Christianity, with his accustomed earnestness. We recognize with the highest satisfaction the affection which he expressed toward our junior pastor, Rev. Mr. Hall, and the uncommon harmony, co-operation, and confidence, which were so honorable to both and so useful to our parish; and we remember that we received from our junior pastor one of the repeated messages from his chamber of pain and weakness, indicating his patient readiness to go, and expressing his appreciation of the love of his parishoners, his affection and gratitude toward them, and his interest in the joys and sorrows of all with whom he was acquainted.

5. Resolved, That the amiable character and Christian influence of our beloved pastor, his long-continued, devoted, and highly esteemed services to this parish, and his active and successful efforts for truth and righteousness and happiness in this city and in our country, should be publicly and permanently recorded on a suitable monument at his grave, to refresh the memory of the passing generation, and to instruct and encourage those who may come after us.

6. Resolved. That we desire to express to Mrs. Hill and her children our heartfelt sympathy in their loss of a companion and guide, whose devoted and genial life they will remember and imitate with unalloyed satisfaction.

7. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions shall be presented to the wife of our beloved pastor by the Secretary of this meeting.

Deacon John P. Kettell spoke briefly of his relations with Dr.

Hill, whom he had so long known, and commended the character of the resolutions.

The resolutions were seconded by Sam'l F. Haven, Esq., who said, in substance:

His first particular knowledge of Dr. Hill was as a member of the School Committee of the town of Worcester. He had been impressed, not only by his active and earnest attention to the welfare of the schools, but by his happy way of meeting and addressing the pupils. The faculty of speaking with effect to an assemblage of young people is a rare one, and, though much aided by a kind manner and genial countenance, requires, for success, a magnetical influence allied to the inspirations of genius. Dr. Hill's remarks appeared always to make a favorable impression; and the cordial tone of his voice in saying "goodbye," which has been referred to in the newspapers, was a well remembered characteristic.

As a preacher, Dr. Hill was fond of illustrating Christian virtues and graces, by incidents and circumstances, and by the lives and characters of individual men and women. His discourses suggested by facts in history or experience, or by the decease of prominent persons, have been among his best efforts, and were often very eloquent and effective. He had not a controversial temperament. He believed in progress in religious knowledge, as in all science, and was thoroughly liberal in his views, but his tendencies were not combative or destructive. He respected the opinions of those who had lived before him, and believed that the human intellect had, in times gone by, been as capable of grasping the great questions of religion and morals as at the present day. Hence he was tolerant of transmitted faith, though it might not accord with his own. Of course he discriminated between such doctrines as were clear and satisfactory to himself, and such as he could not accept, but not in a denunciatory spirit.

Dr. Hill's strong point was, perhaps. his power of sympathy, springing from a natural kindness of heart, that important source of influence and eminence to the parish minister. In cases of sickness or misfortune, or joy-in any form of affliction, or of happiness, in his congregation, or among his fellow citizens, he was sure to manifest a warm and hearty sympathy, that soothed and cheered, and opened the way for useful advice, and, when needed, considerate admonition.

Mr. H. said it was not the aim of his remarks to specify the gifts and characteristics of our lamented pastor, but to add a few words to the sentiments expressed in the Resolutions, which he was gratified to second.

They were then adopted on motion of F. H. Kinnicutt, Esq., all present rising, as a mark of respect.