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| Another Saint has fallen in Israel and Israel morns. Edward Shields
has fallen asleep, That sleep which know no waking amid material scenes.
He came down to the grave with respect, with honor, with love of all who
knew him.
He has made his last crossing, the crossing called death. For him it had no fear, for it carried with it the assurance of a completeness of life impossible here. Death to him was a victory, Not a defeat. There are three words which well serve to characterize the life of Edward Shields.
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Mr. Shields has gone from among us but has left behind an impress for
righteousness and love that will tell throughout the years. Our city mourns
a good citizen, his minister and teacher mourn an appreciative and helpful
friend, his church a useful worker, three relatives a brother and father
and husband beloved.
I have a special word her who mourns the most today. It is a beautiful sight to see a Christian man and a Christian woman join their live forces to make a Christian home and to carry on the work in the world God would have them do, and to do this with full faith in each other and in the long wedded life of nearly half a century you and your beloved enjoyed. But even to the happiest of such unions a separation must come and it must needs bring fears, a grievous sense of loss, and a great aching void. First, there is the thought of the useful and good life of our beloved. Second, the consciousness that your beloved has reached the final goal – a new order of things where vexing things of earth are no more. And third, the assurance of a grand reunion after the temporary separation, in God’s good time. I trust you will take comfort from these great compensations from the GREAT COMFORTER. In the light of what God has told us in his word, there is but one Wise thing for each one of us to do, and that is to be ready in God’s way by repentance of our sins and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord: and them by letting our faith work itself out in FAITHFULLNESS in every sphere of life in which we may be placed, ever seeking to fill up our lives with loving deeds for him. “‘O dearly, dearly has He Loved, And we must love Him too. And trust in his redeeming blood, And try his works to do.” |
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