FUNERAL ADDRESS 



BY 



REV. SAMUEL S. MITCHELL, D. D. 



" KNOW YE NOT THAT THEKE IS A PRINCE AND A GREAT MAN FALLEN THIS ,DAY 

 IN ISRAEL?" 



These words, coming down through the centuries from the mouth 

 of Israel's King, I take up as the fittest ones with which to open my 

 mouth in the presence of all that is not already immortal of JOSEPH 

 HENRY. 



Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this 

 day? And yet why do I ask the question? This day, this hour, 

 this assemblage, this pageant,' so unusual and so illustrious even in 

 this world of death these are my answer before that I utter a word 

 of the sublime interrogatory. 



Yes ! the nation's capital knows that a prince and a great man 

 has fallen. So does our whole country; so does the civilized world. 

 That quick-footed servant which years ago was yoked to the car of 

 human progress by the hands which have now forgotten their cun- 

 ning, the swift messenger which he himself lured from duty in the 

 skies unto the service of man, this messenger, slower-winged, it 

 seems to me, than usual, as if loath to tell the story, has already run 

 earth's circuits with the sad news; and at this hour, wherever 

 science is known, or learning respected, or goodness revered, there 

 are those who clasp hands with us in the consciousness of a great 

 loss and in the communion of a heartfelt sorrow. 



You will not, therefore, blame me, I am sure, my hearers, if, in 

 a world where great men are ever scarce, and in a capital city 



which better perhaps than any other illustrates the truth that even 



(15) 



