Obituary.

cleaved themselves to their contemporaries . They ivere by the ancient Pantheists deified , and their memories were preserved by placing their names among those of their gods , and by ascribing to them the Divine attributes . By more modern and , perhaps more rational devotees , their statues , in enduring marble , were assigned conspicuous niches in their temples of

worship , and their names a place in the calendar of saints . But , since tho light of the present age has opened a new era to the human mind , and since reason , like the morning sun , has dawned upon the human understanding , and has rapidly and steadfastly ascended towards the zenith , the monumental marble and the towering column have pointed out the resting-place of

the illustrious dead ; and , as they stand the guardians over the silent ashes , whisper in set phrases and measured numbers the story of their greatness , or the excellency of their virtues . But , alas ! the cold marble ¦ cannot feel nor appreciate the importance of the message of which it is tho bearer from a past to a future . It cannot tell of the tear-drops ivhieh moistened

age the flowers at the foot of its pedestal . It is insensible to the fond affection which , trained the twining flowers around its columns . Like the pale and silent ghost of departed greatness , it responds not to our inquiries , hut unfeelingly points ivith unerring certainty to the tomb , and mournfully ivhispers of the winding-sheet and the worm ; ivhile the dust beneath is alike indifferent

to the message and the messenger—its origin and its destiny . Iu all ages it has been a custom to perpetuate their memory by enumerating their virtues , ivhile yet blooming fresh in the memory of their survivors , that they may be the better treasured and embalmed in livin g hearts , where they may become the sacred landmarks -of human rectitude , instead of consigning them to the doubtful custody of the cold and reckless marble , where they may moulder into ashes , ivithout leaving a single

fcrace in the bosoms of the generations for which they were designed . It has also been a custom on such occasions , to investigate and to weigh well the leading characteristics of the departed one , in order to present a model for imitation ; to glance at the leading events of his life , in order to present encouragement to those who are travelling the same path whicli he has gone .

Every age has had its heroes and sages—its great and its good men ; yet many great and good men have arisen like bright stars in the eastern horizon , hai-e ascended to the meridian of life ' s firmament , have declined and sunk unobserved in the west , ivithout a monument to leave to posterity the history of their greatness , a marble slab to perpetuate the story of their goodness

, cr an orator to pronounce an eulog 3 ' upon their virtues . It is in the capacity of an eulogist I now appear before you . It is to call to your minds , and to point out to your observation , the leading beauties in the character of a man who , a little while ago , mingled with yon as a neighbour and a friend , but who now occupies a narrow house in the lone churchyard ; to recur to the leading

incidents in the life of one ivho , for nearly a century , mingled in the active struggles of life , and then , at peace with his God and mankind , quietly laid down his weary head , to rest for ever . Elihu Mather , the subject of this address , was born iu Marlboro , Vermont , on the 26 th day of July , 1782 . He was of the Puritan blood , ancl a lineal descendant of

the Rev . Cotton Mather , so renowned in tho history of New England . His maternal line , the family of the Taylors , traces back through honourable ancestors to the original founders of the colony of Massachusetts Bay . Early iu life he was deeply imbued with a respect for the Order of Preemasonry , which , in after years , as its beautiful mysteries were unfolded to his comprehention , and its genial influences penetrated his heart , grew into an earnest veneration . Before he had attained his majority his petition ivas presented , praying for initia .

tion into its mystic rites- In August , 1803 , less than a month after he had attained his majority , he was admitted to the sacred light of our time-honoured Order , in a lodge in his natii'e State . A pure and well-directed conduct , an open , earnest , and upright walk , aud a lofty and well-tried integrity , are the only offerings that a youth so young can lay upon the Masonic altar to

commend him to the brotherhood , and to admit him to a full participation in their rites and benefits , and to an affectionate affiliation in the sacred bond . These he must have possessed in an eminent degree to secure the confidence of an Order , which has been ever jealous of its sacred trust . Soon after he became a member of tho Masonic Orderhe made a profession of the Christian

, religion , and connected himself with the Presbyterian Church . Whatever opinion the uninformed may entertain of Preemasonry , this good man ahvays held that it signally guided him , by its pure light , to the sacred source of divine truth .

Soon after the close of the war of 1812 , Mr . Mather removed to the State of New York , and settled at Sackett ' s Harbour , where he entered actively into business . During his residence at this place he ivas exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason ; the sublime light of this degree shone on our departed companion on the 20 th day of May , 1820 . Iu the State of New York , iu

different locations , for many years he continued in useful activity among his fellow-men , and faithfully and zealously laboured in our mystic art . He filled many places of honour and trust , as a member of society and the civil government , ancl alw . iys acquitted himself with credit . As a Mason , he ivas ever ready to discharge any duty assigned him bthe the Orderor

imy , posed upon him by the demands of humanity . Wherever the Avail of human suffering was heard , there he ivas seen , like the good Samaritan , " pouring in the oil and wine of consolation . As a husband , a father , and . lord of the household , he was kind , amiable , aud lenient ; as a Christian , he was meek , devout , trustful , and hopefulas a member of the Order of he was

; Freemasonry , diligent , benevolent , and charitable ; as a citizen , he was patriotic , conservative , and ever ready to sacrifice personal benefits to the common weal of his country ; as a member of society , he ivas kind and affable to all , while his manners were marked by an affectionate amenity , which elicited for him a response of homage and profound veneration . What a beautiful example

for our imitation is presented in the life of this good old man ! In Masonry he saw more than the mere symbols ; his A'ision penetrated beyond these , to thoso sacred fountains of divine truth which they represent . These he struggled to attain ; after he had entered the symbolic outer portals of its temple , he penetrated to the Holy of Holies , ancl there , from sacred vessels , drank

deeply of the sweet waters of moral truth—there he solemnly bowed his head and worshipped—there , iu his pure devotion , he felt his manhood , and in it he recognised his brotherhood to angels ; and there , in that relation , we love to contemplate him and honour his memory—the pure Mason , the true friend , the noble citizenthe good man .

, As a rule , in the history of human life , the best of men are subjected to afflictions , harassing vexations , and consuming anxieties , and sometimes to premeditated and vindictive persecutions . Our departed friend and brother ivas not an exception to this rule of history . At the time that that fanatical madness , knoivn as the Anti-Masonic Excitement , swept , like a parching blight ,

from New England to the Gulf of Mexico—witheringfriendships by its virulent breath—breaking domestic bonds , and severing the most sacred ties by its poisonous influence—dissolving the most intimate political relations , and arousing the most discordant " partizau animosities—our departed friend , on accountof his extensive influence as an irreproachable man , and on account of his attachment to Masonry , was regarded as an obstacle