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DELIVERED AT THE
iFttiieral of Softn HJoftns^ton,
REV. JOSEPH MCELROY, D.D,
APRIL 20, 1851.
:Kr c to * Y 0 r ft :
PRINTED BY EDWARD 0. JENKINSj 114 Nassau Stebkt.
M DCCC LI.
JOHN JOHNSTON,
J<)nrn ^t Balmaghle, in the county of Galloway, Scotland, June 22, 1781. He came to this city in the of 1804,
and entered the counting-house of Messrs. Lenox & Maitland. In March, 1813, he commenced business with James Boorman, under the name of Boorman & Johnston. He retired from the firm in February, 1844.
^itij in the city of New- York, April 16, 1851, aged 69 years, 9 months, 26 days.
The following Address, by his Pastor, the Rev. Dr. M'Elroy, was delivered on the occasion of his funeral ; and at the request of many of his friends, has been kindly furnished for publication.
^EC.JUN 18bi THEOLOGIGA
iMtHS.
Death, my friends, is an event which awaits us all. Whatever be our rank, whatever our character, whatever our social position, and whatever difference may exist as to the duration of our re- spective courses, the sentence, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou re- turn," shall one day be executed upon every individual of our race. In the or- derings of a wise and righteous Provi- dence this event, the common lot of all, has overtaken the honored head of this
6 ifuncral ^iJtircss.
beloved family ; and we are now as- sembled to pay to his remains the last offices of respect and kindness. And al- though I am aware, that the practice of delivering addresses on occasions like the present is liable to abuse, I am also aware, that I should disappoint the expectations of yon all, were I not to advert for a moment to the character and worth of our departed friend. But what shall I say ? How shall I delineate the charac- ter of one distinguished by so many ex- cellencies, whose memory is fragrantly embalmed in the hearts of a large circle of relatives and connections, whose eu- logy is proclaimed by all classes of our community, and who, doubtless ere now,
has joined ''the general assembly and Church of the First-born, which are writ- ten in heaven ?"
In attempting this delineation you will allow me to observe, that our friend was a man of sound and well-balanced mind. If less remarkable than some for those brilliant and striking qualities which dazzle and oft-times mislead, he was more remarkable than most for those better qualities which inspire confidence and elicit respect ; and all his mental powers were expanded and improved by ex- tensive reading and habits of reflection.
He was a man amiable ani cheer- ful in temper, a happy spirit, who al- ways met you with a smile. And the
8 ffuntxKl ^ntixtss.
happiness he felt himself he was anxious to impart to others. No man, even of the humblest walk in life, could approach him without feeling the kindness of his disposition.
He was a man of unbending and in- corruptible integrity — governed by moral principle in all the transactions of life. Extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits for nearly half a century, his probity and honor have been unimpeached and unim- peachable ; and he has gone from among us, with the veneration of many, and the unfeigned respect of all who knew him.
He was naturally a generous man, and for the gratification of this disposi- tion Providence gave him ample means.
iFuneral ^HUress. 9
Forming a business connection of a sin- gularly propitious character, he was emi- nently successful ; and as riches in- creased, he did not set his heart upon them, but devoted them to their true uses — employed them as became a man of intelligent benevolence and warm-hearted piety. His benefactions were large, his charities were open-hearted and open- handed, embracing in their sphere the temporal necessities of his fellow crea- tures, the promotion of the cause of edu- cation and learning, and every object of Christian benevolence. He was always with the foremost in every good work ; and never have I known a more •' cheerful giver." Nor were his liberal contribu-
10 JFuneral ^trUress.
tions to such objects as those mentioned wholly the result of natural generosity. They proceeded from principle. He felt himself to be a steward, and that the hour of reckoning was approaching. Most forcibly was I struck with an observation which he made to me during the past winter, when referring to an investment which he had been urged to make, and which had been represented as likely to prove exceedingly profitable. "If," said he, " I had been sure that that represen- tation would be realized, I should not have made it. I have enough — as much as I wish to be answerable for."
In early youth our friend was called into the fellowship of Divine grace, and
ifuneral ^DOrcss. ll
liis whole Christifcin life has been one of beautiful consistency. His religion did not appear with that unnatural promi- nence in one part of his character, which, where this is the case, is usually com- pensated by a proportional defect in the other parts ; but was even and uniform, like a well-adjusted dress on a comely person, covering the body equally, and " without spot or wrinkle." You did not observe in him any confident pretensions, or any ostentatious display of superior sanctity — qualities always to be suspected ; but you distinctly perceived his love to the Saviour, his attachment to the hum- bling doctrines of the cross, his reverence for Divine ordinances, and his watchful
12 iFutieral ^nnxtnn.
circumspection over his heart and life. And I will add in this connection, that he was a pillar in the Church of God : a man to strengthen the hands and en- courage the hearts of ministers of the G-ospel in all their toils and perplexities ; a man whose removal is a sore breach in the church of which he was a member, and the withdrawal of whose influence will be felt by many a good and holy enterprise.
It pleased God to try him long and se- verely by bodily pain and infirmity, but he suffered patiently, and quietly sub- mitted himself to the will of his heaven- ly Father. There was with him no mur- muring, no repining ; on the contrary, he
iFuncral ^UUrcss. 13
cherished, amidst all he was called to endure, a lively and a grateful sense of the mercies still vouchsafed and continued to him, and often and fervently with his lips did he offer up praise from a thankful heart. Many, many times have I heard him observe, " My afflictions are light compared with my mercies, and gratitude ought to be my prevailing feeling."
Were it allowable to intrude into the family circle — now sacred by the fresh- ness and intensity of its griefs — I might show you that his demeanor as a son, a bro- ther, a husband, a father, was in perfect keeping with the rest of his character ; and I might picture to your minds the warmth and tenderness of his domestic attachments,
14 iFuneral ^Utrress.
and how deeply he was enshrined in the affections of those who knew him best.
Now, as might be expected in the case of such a man, his end was peace — not transport, not rapture, not ecstacy — this would not have accorded with the struc- ture of his mind, his constitutional tem- perament ; but peace, a calm serenity of soul, a holy composure, resulting from the firm belief of his interest in the Di- vine favour. As death approached there was no slavish fear, no shrinking ; he looked upon that event as a deliverance, and so expressed himself. And although during the ^closing scene his inability to articulate prevented our learning from his own lips his feelings, and hopes, and
ffuntxtil ^Utircss. 15
prospects in that solemn hour, his placid brow and sweet smile, on having repeated to him the precious promises of the Gos- pel, clearly indicated that the Lord was with him, and his rod and staff comfort- ing him. 0, what a testimony have we here to the reality and efficacy of our holy religion ! And how delightful and how sublime the spectacle of a man, who, having resisted the temptations of years and scores of years, and stood faithful to his G-od in the midst of a world that has thrown off its allegiance to him, thus calm- ly and peacefully falls asleep in Jesus !
Every period of life has its peculiar temptations. There are temptations pecu- liar to youth, to manhood, to old age ;
16 iFuneral ^Irtircss.
and it has often happened that they who have resisted the temptations of youth have fallen before those of manhood, and they who have withstood the temptations of manhood have fallen before those of old age. Many, had they not lived so long, might have died with the reputa- tion of being Christians ; and others, whom we must still hope to be Christians, have certainly added nothing to the evidences of their piety by a length of days. But how pleasant and how refreshing to con- template a man, who, having surmounted the difficulties which youth throws in the way of religion, conquers those of man- hood, and having conquered those of man- hood, subdues those of old age, and then
ifuneral ^tUtvtss. 11
being ripe for glory, and having served G-od in his generation, comes to his " grave in a full asre as a shock of corn cometh in his season." So it has been with our departed friend — a riper, fuller shock, I verily believe, has seldom been gathered. To the afflicted family of the deceased I would say, you cannot err in appropriat- ing to yourselves the advice and direction of the Apostle : " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will G-od bring with him." Weep, indeed, you may under this bereavement.
18 jFuncral ^iJifress.
Nature pleads for it, and Christianity does not forbid it. But indulge not in ex- cessive grief — a grief that unfits for duty and repels consolation. Nay, while you deeply feel the bitterness of your loss, be thankful that the blessing now withdrawn has been so long continued to you. And only walk with Grod as did your departed husband and father, and soon you will meet him again — meet him under circum- stances much more auspicious than ever surrounded you here — and where God him- self will put the seal of eternity on the bond of your re-union.
To you, my respected friends, who, in the exercise of a Christian sympathy, are here to-day, let me say, — Be concerned to apply
iFuneral S^tmress. 19
this providence to yourselves, and to ex- tract from it the instruction which it is calculated to yield. Bear in mind that to every one of you death is inevitably certain. Bear in mind that you know not the day nor the hour of its approach. ''Be ye therefore also ready." And particularly would I thus address those of you, who have long been the companions of our friend, and who are, as he was, approaching your threescore years and ten. Your day is far spent, your sua is but little above the hori- zon, and the darkness of death will soon close upon you. Grive, then, 0 give your few remaining days to your souls, to your Saviour, and to your God.
My private griefs and sorrows on this
20
ffVLxievul ^imress.
mournful occasion, I have no right to ob- trude upon you. But " the heart knoweth his own bitterness." / have lost a friend. One who has been to me a wise counsel- lor, who was pleased to honor me with his confidence, and give me many proofs of his affection, and on whom I could at all times rely to any fair and reasonable extent. To part with such a friend, in a world like this, is no small matter. But I dwell not on this topic. May G-od bless you all, and by his grace prepare you all for your closing hour, and for a glorious immortality.