Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
m the way of the successful progress of the designing political fanatics and madmen who ivere urging their hypothetical assumptions into a political mania . He fell a victim to their persecutions . He was charged with having participated iu the abduction of the notorious William Morgan . A suit was instituted against hina ; this suit , attended ivith great expense , agitating
anxieties , and deep mortifications , hung like a dark cloud over his head , through several courts , until it was finally determined in his favour and to his honour , in a tribunal of the last resort in the State of New York . A report of this trial , ancl its decision , may be found in 3 rd Wendel ' s New York Reports . This was but one of ordeals bivhieh the gold AA'as tried . How deep
y pure and profound must have been the mortifying sensations of that noble heart when arraigned as a criminal at the bar of justice , still thrilling with the consciousness of its own innocence ! And how that heart leaped ivith joy when the blessed words were pronounced which absoh'ed him from all reproach and restored to him his well-earned good name , we may never know . We may
fancy , and we may speculate , hoAvever . We may fancy that the currents of life sprang along his veins like a long-pent-up fountain at once released , thrilling to the very innermost recesses of his soul , as his eyes dimmed with tears of thankfulness , his head bowed in gratitude , and his heart Avhispered : " Man is still just to man , for the justice of heaven still insjDires humanity . ' "
In tho spring of 18-51 , Mr . Mather became a resident of this city , ivhere , united with the family of his stepson , Dr . Beech ( whose mother he had formerly married , being his third wife ) , he continued to reside until the day of his decease . His venerable lady still survives to moui'n his loss , to honour his memory , and to claim that meed of homage which , but a few days ago , she shared with her lamented companion , and our honoured friend .
In August , ISol , our departed companion became a member of Tyre Lodge ( No . 18 ) of Free and Accepted Masons . To his zeal in its humanitarian labours , his assiduous care in all that tended to promote and further its philanthropic engagements ivith mankind , to his carrying into active jiractice its pure principles , and to his own lofty moral example , Masonry , in this region of
our State , is much indebted for that peaceful and harmonising influence which it has ancl still is exerting upon the conflicting elements of societv . He was one of the Charter , Members of Temple Chapter ( No . 21 ) , of Royal Arch Masons , which was established here in 1858 . He filled several offices in this chapter with satisfaction to the bodyHe received the Council degrees iu Mount
. Moriah Council ( No . 6 ) , in December , 1859 , and was knighted in Jacob ' s Commandry ( No . 10 ) of Knights Templars , on the 25 th day of Slay , 1860 . He was constant in his attendance upon the conventions ancl communications of these several Masonic Orders , even after he was dependent upon younger members to aid his totterinfootsteps from their walls to his oivn domicile .
g He was ever ready to labour in the good cause of the Order in any capacity , be it ever so humble . But , alas ! the true , the trusty , the valiant knight has sheathed his sword for ever ! The cunning workman has laid aside his gavel , and its sound is heard no more within our Masonic walls . He has been summoned to the presence of the Grand Council above , there to be given
to eat of the hidden manna , to receive a crown of glory , and to receive the ivhite stone with a new name written thereon , which no man knoiveth save him that reeeiveth it . To these he has entitled himself as a ren-ard for his fidelity , skill , ancl ability as a humble labourer on that moral superstructure , that celestial Temple , ivhose corner-stone is laid on earth , and whose sacred dome is bathed in the light of eternal morn . For twenty years our departed brother was a deacon and a rulingelder in his Church , and in his religious and Masonic
professions and duties he found no incongruities , no antagonisms . On the 29 th clay of January , 1866 , Sir Knt . Elihu Mather rested for ever from his labour—the ripened sheaf was gathered and borne aivay up to the garner of his Heavenly Father . His remains were deposited by the Sir Knts . of Jacob ' s Commandery with the
appro priate funeral honours of the Order , the chapter and lodge of which he was a member attending , and participating as far as practicable in this solemn duty . "Peace to his ashes' "
What , it may be asked , do we find in the character of this man , whose memory we love to honour , that ought to command our admiration ? What reminiscences of his life can claim the honour of an eulogy . He has won no victories on the battle-field—he has achieved no military conquests—he has added nothing to the military glory of his country , while , turn your eyes
where you will , they are dazzled by the glory of military chieftains and heroes fresh fi'Din the field where Law and Order grappled with Treason and Rebellion . It is not deeds of war , bravery on the field , cool courage in the hour of danger , nor yet patriotism and wounds , that claim the highest honour and most distinguished admiration . Men are entitled to a higher meed
of praise for that ivhieh they make themselves , than what circumstances of life and conditions of fortune make of them . There is a greater glory to achieve than ever blazed amid the heat of a battle-field—a higher honour than that which glitters in the emblematic laurel that encircles the conqueror ' s broil' —a purer homage , than that which is won blittering steel and deeds of blood .
y g —a nobler greatness than that which attends the cannon ' s roar aud human slaughter . There is a wreath of fame , a -crown of glory , compared with ivhieh the insignia of war , the gifts of monarchs , and imperial stars , are but vaiu , glittering baubles . Turn to the pure and spotless life and the unsullied integritof our departed brothersee him bhis own
y ; y conduct rise superior to the circumstances of his condition of life , ancl ask , What ivas that higher honour ? See him ivithout pretension mingle with his neighbours , and earnestly take part in the humblest duties of
everyday life , cordially and cheerfully discharging every great and every minute social obligation , and ask , What ivas that purer homage ? See him wending his way to the church of which he was so long a member , greeting his brethren with an affectionate smile , kneeling at its altar , meekly , yet trustfully , raising his eyes above , as he sued for that blessing which his life of purity might
almost authorise him to command , and ask , What was that nobler greatness ? See the tear-drops trace his time-worn cheek as his heart benevolently expanded , and his soul responded to the call of want , the moan of distress , or the wail of human suffering , and ask , Whtt is that unfading wreath , that crown of eternal glory which shames the diadems of kings and beclouds
the trophies of war ? It ivas here , in . the capacity of an unpretending citizen , a quiet and peace-loving neighbour , a true and devoted friend , a sincere and devout Christian , that he won a moral conquest ivhieh secured to him this higher honour , this purer homage , this brighter glory , and this unfading crown , There was a time ivhen heroic deeds , ivhen military
feats of human slaughter , ivhen the victorious conqueror , crowned ivith laurels ancl attended by tho trumpet ' s clangor , commanded the highest admiration and the greatest glory of mankind . But this was a misdirection of the human mind . It ivas this misdirection Avhich awarded the highest honours to Jeptha , Joshua , and Judas Maccabeus , Achilles , Titus , and Alexander .
Mankind , for ages , in contemplating the brilliancy of these military chieftains , overlooked the merits of unpretending worth and virtue which were gently breathed in the glowing numbers of Isaiah , Ezekiel , and Hosea .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
m the way of the successful progress of the designing political fanatics and madmen who ivere urging their hypothetical assumptions into a political mania . He fell a victim to their persecutions . He was charged with having participated iu the abduction of the notorious William Morgan . A suit was instituted against hina ; this suit , attended ivith great expense , agitating
anxieties , and deep mortifications , hung like a dark cloud over his head , through several courts , until it was finally determined in his favour and to his honour , in a tribunal of the last resort in the State of New York . A report of this trial , ancl its decision , may be found in 3 rd Wendel ' s New York Reports . This was but one of ordeals bivhieh the gold AA'as tried . How deep
y pure and profound must have been the mortifying sensations of that noble heart when arraigned as a criminal at the bar of justice , still thrilling with the consciousness of its own innocence ! And how that heart leaped ivith joy when the blessed words were pronounced which absoh'ed him from all reproach and restored to him his well-earned good name , we may never know . We may
fancy , and we may speculate , hoAvever . We may fancy that the currents of life sprang along his veins like a long-pent-up fountain at once released , thrilling to the very innermost recesses of his soul , as his eyes dimmed with tears of thankfulness , his head bowed in gratitude , and his heart Avhispered : " Man is still just to man , for the justice of heaven still insjDires humanity . ' "
In tho spring of 18-51 , Mr . Mather became a resident of this city , ivhere , united with the family of his stepson , Dr . Beech ( whose mother he had formerly married , being his third wife ) , he continued to reside until the day of his decease . His venerable lady still survives to moui'n his loss , to honour his memory , and to claim that meed of homage which , but a few days ago , she shared with her lamented companion , and our honoured friend .
In August , ISol , our departed companion became a member of Tyre Lodge ( No . 18 ) of Free and Accepted Masons . To his zeal in its humanitarian labours , his assiduous care in all that tended to promote and further its philanthropic engagements ivith mankind , to his carrying into active jiractice its pure principles , and to his own lofty moral example , Masonry , in this region of
our State , is much indebted for that peaceful and harmonising influence which it has ancl still is exerting upon the conflicting elements of societv . He was one of the Charter , Members of Temple Chapter ( No . 21 ) , of Royal Arch Masons , which was established here in 1858 . He filled several offices in this chapter with satisfaction to the bodyHe received the Council degrees iu Mount
. Moriah Council ( No . 6 ) , in December , 1859 , and was knighted in Jacob ' s Commandry ( No . 10 ) of Knights Templars , on the 25 th day of Slay , 1860 . He was constant in his attendance upon the conventions ancl communications of these several Masonic Orders , even after he was dependent upon younger members to aid his totterinfootsteps from their walls to his oivn domicile .
g He was ever ready to labour in the good cause of the Order in any capacity , be it ever so humble . But , alas ! the true , the trusty , the valiant knight has sheathed his sword for ever ! The cunning workman has laid aside his gavel , and its sound is heard no more within our Masonic walls . He has been summoned to the presence of the Grand Council above , there to be given
to eat of the hidden manna , to receive a crown of glory , and to receive the ivhite stone with a new name written thereon , which no man knoiveth save him that reeeiveth it . To these he has entitled himself as a ren-ard for his fidelity , skill , ancl ability as a humble labourer on that moral superstructure , that celestial Temple , ivhose corner-stone is laid on earth , and whose sacred dome is bathed in the light of eternal morn . For twenty years our departed brother was a deacon and a rulingelder in his Church , and in his religious and Masonic
professions and duties he found no incongruities , no antagonisms . On the 29 th clay of January , 1866 , Sir Knt . Elihu Mather rested for ever from his labour—the ripened sheaf was gathered and borne aivay up to the garner of his Heavenly Father . His remains were deposited by the Sir Knts . of Jacob ' s Commandery with the
appro priate funeral honours of the Order , the chapter and lodge of which he was a member attending , and participating as far as practicable in this solemn duty . "Peace to his ashes' "
What , it may be asked , do we find in the character of this man , whose memory we love to honour , that ought to command our admiration ? What reminiscences of his life can claim the honour of an eulogy . He has won no victories on the battle-field—he has achieved no military conquests—he has added nothing to the military glory of his country , while , turn your eyes
where you will , they are dazzled by the glory of military chieftains and heroes fresh fi'Din the field where Law and Order grappled with Treason and Rebellion . It is not deeds of war , bravery on the field , cool courage in the hour of danger , nor yet patriotism and wounds , that claim the highest honour and most distinguished admiration . Men are entitled to a higher meed
of praise for that ivhieh they make themselves , than what circumstances of life and conditions of fortune make of them . There is a greater glory to achieve than ever blazed amid the heat of a battle-field—a higher honour than that which glitters in the emblematic laurel that encircles the conqueror ' s broil' —a purer homage , than that which is won blittering steel and deeds of blood .
y g —a nobler greatness than that which attends the cannon ' s roar aud human slaughter . There is a wreath of fame , a -crown of glory , compared with ivhieh the insignia of war , the gifts of monarchs , and imperial stars , are but vaiu , glittering baubles . Turn to the pure and spotless life and the unsullied integritof our departed brothersee him bhis own
y ; y conduct rise superior to the circumstances of his condition of life , ancl ask , What ivas that higher honour ? See him ivithout pretension mingle with his neighbours , and earnestly take part in the humblest duties of
everyday life , cordially and cheerfully discharging every great and every minute social obligation , and ask , What ivas that purer homage ? See him wending his way to the church of which he was so long a member , greeting his brethren with an affectionate smile , kneeling at its altar , meekly , yet trustfully , raising his eyes above , as he sued for that blessing which his life of purity might
almost authorise him to command , and ask , What was that nobler greatness ? See the tear-drops trace his time-worn cheek as his heart benevolently expanded , and his soul responded to the call of want , the moan of distress , or the wail of human suffering , and ask , Whtt is that unfading wreath , that crown of eternal glory which shames the diadems of kings and beclouds
the trophies of war ? It ivas here , in . the capacity of an unpretending citizen , a quiet and peace-loving neighbour , a true and devoted friend , a sincere and devout Christian , that he won a moral conquest ivhieh secured to him this higher honour , this purer homage , this brighter glory , and this unfading crown , There was a time ivhen heroic deeds , ivhen military
feats of human slaughter , ivhen the victorious conqueror , crowned ivith laurels ancl attended by tho trumpet ' s clangor , commanded the highest admiration and the greatest glory of mankind . But this was a misdirection of the human mind . It ivas this misdirection Avhich awarded the highest honours to Jeptha , Joshua , and Judas Maccabeus , Achilles , Titus , and Alexander .
Mankind , for ages , in contemplating the brilliancy of these military chieftains , overlooked the merits of unpretending worth and virtue which were gently breathed in the glowing numbers of Isaiah , Ezekiel , and Hosea .