A Serman,

DELIVERED BEFORE THE CLASSIS OF SCHENECTADY, AT ITS FALL SESSION, OCTOBER 12TH, A.D. 1852.

"The memory of the just is blessed."-Proverbs 10: 7.

WHATEVER emanates from God is worthy our sincere regard. Whatever manifestations of his will towards us are vouchsafed either in his Book of Revelation or of Providence, ought to be carefully studied and religiously heeded. But while the teachings of his Revelation are ever before us, and require at all times an equal consideration, the voices of his Providence vary in their authoritativeness, and in their pertinency to

us.

Sometimes they speak so loudly and so pointedly, that only the most stolid and guilty indifference can allow their utterances to pass away unheeded. Such is the character of those monitions which have been

addressed to us as a Classis, since the last regular session of our body.

God has permitted the winds of death to blow with increasing violence,* until a tornado has rushed among us, and torn away and dashed in pieces one of the comely pillars of our ecclesiastical temple, and we are constrained to sit down among the ruins and weep. Yet as He has suffered these things. to come upon us for our good, let us bow with humility and submission to his frequent rebukes, and endeavor to profit largely by them. But although resigned, we are not forbidden to grieve, nor can we restrain our sorrow, for the Lord hath afflicted us greatly. A fearful accident has overwhelmed one of our own number-a Minister of God whom we all loved-and swept him and his wife and child together into the grave.

* In June the wife of Rev. W. J. R. Taylor died, after a protracted and severe illness, in the triumphs of faith; and in August, the only son and only child of Rev. A. B. Chittenden, who had just graduated at Union College, was suddenly removed to his home in heaven.

Rev. George R. Williamson is dead! cut down almost in the beginning of his years and usefulness by an awful stroke! His seat in our Councils is vacant! His voice will never more be heard among us in its tones of honest eloquence! That this loss is felt deeply, is evinced by the Resolutions which are recorded in the Minutes of to-day.* His friendly face and form, on which it was our joy to gaze, are all maimed and low in the dust! Side by side he lies with the disfigured bodies of the loved partner of his life, and his bright-eyed boy! And we are left with wounded spirits, some of us with crushed hearts, to mourn his loss. He was to me more than a brother; dear to me as my own life.t But I may not let private grief intrude here. Rather let me betake myself to the grateful task of reciting the public acts and private virtues of our departed Brother, his agonizing sorrows and his wonderful consolations, that we may be instructed * See page 150. + See page 51.

and comforted by what his Master has done in him, and by what He has done for him. "The memory of the just is blessed." Let us bring up,

I. The blessed memory of his short life. II. The sad but blessed memory of his unusual death.

I. THE MEMORY OF HIS LIFE.

George Rogers Williamson was born at Caldwell, N. Y., on the west side of the beautiful lake whose name he bore, on the 17th day of May, A.D. 1823. When he was sixteen months old his parents removed to New York City, where they still reside. And it is worthy of note in this connection, that he revisited the place of his nativity for the first time, only six weeks before his sudden and melancholy death. During this visit he enjoyed greatly the pleasure of viewing the house where he was born, the various points of historical interest which cluster along the shore of the Lake, its magnifi

cent scenery, and the crystal beauty of its world-renowned waters. He was the sixth of nine children, one of whom died in infancy; the rest with their parents lived on an unbroken band for twenty-six years, until the sad calamity on the Reindeer convulsed their hearts, and rudely tore from their embrace a loving son and brother. By the watchful care of his parents, and the preventing grace of God, he was kept from the temptations incident to a large city, and grew up an affectionate and dutiful child.

He was early brought under the influence of religious truth, and at the age of fourteen, while on a visit to New Brunswick, became a subject of the converting power of the Holy Spirit. His affectionate heart could not endure the thought of going to heaven alone, and the most earnest efforts were put forth for the salvation of his schoolmates, several of whom soon became partakers of "the like precious faith." With these he established frequent meetings for prayer