whom was given to speak the fiat of freedom to millions of men, women and children whose lot was like this man's; who were thus "cabined, cribbed and confined," though God's image was in them, take this martyr-spirit to thy Celestial companionship. And thou, great Empire State, who gavest to this man a home, where he could earn his bread and rear his children, at a time when he had not where to lay his head, and by the flow of whose great river sleeps the dust of Freedom's greatest captain, take to thy central heart and bear on thy bosom, as the ages sweep more and more into the sunlight of the man Christ Jesus, the battle-scarred form of Frederick Douglass. Sleep, Freedom's herald in the land of the free born! Thine exile is over. Thou art dowered with the freedom of the city of God. All Hail, and Farewell! In response to a letter sent up by Mrs. Douglass, the program was enlarged to allow the participation therein by the sweet singer of the abolition cause, the one who sang what Mr. Douglass talked as they traveled together holding meetings over this country and England, not only the last of the famous Hutchinson family of singers, but the last of the old guard which numbered Garrison, Sumner and Phillips in its ranks Notwithstanding his great age, Mr. John W. Hutchinson's voice was clear as he recalled his labors with Mr. Douglass, the New York riots, where Mr. Douglass and Ward, another ex-slave, faced the mob when they would not let a white man speak, and other stirring scenes. Mr. Hutchinson spoke as follows: Dear friends, our grief and sorrow to-day, on this solemn occasion, is assuaged and relieved by the knowledge of the great life and labors of the loving man and brother who has so suddenly closed his earthly career of earnest activities, and now lies a lifeless form before us. Though dead, his noble life speaks joy and comfort to all who knew him and sympathized in his labors of love and hope, and watched with pride his successes. As a prelude to the words which I am privileged to utter, I repeat the lines dedicated to him by my brother Jesse, more than fifty years ago: "I'll be free, I'll be free, and none shall confine Though my back is all torn by the merciless rod, In His strength I'll go forth, and forever will be Where no bloodthirsty hounds ever howl on his track; Till they cry with one voice, 'Let the Bondman go free!''' And so did the friends in New England extend the welcome hand. We loved him from his first coming among us, and as we listened to his story of wrongs, we allied ourselves more closely to the cause of the oppressed slave and espoused more earnestly the cause of emancipation. Thus the great work received a new impulse, and the little band of abolitionists labored on, singly and collectively, loving each other more, as the indignities of pro-slavery were heaped upon us; and so throughout evil report and good report, the battle for freedom was earnestly waged. Mr. Douglass was induced to take up his abode in Lynn, Mass., and resided there for some years. He visited my father's home in Milford, N. H., and we were enamored with his genial, loving nature. I named my first-born son after him. In a letter written a short time before he died, and intended as introductory to my forthcoming history and autobiography, Mr. Douglass said, "I was permitted to hear the whole 'tribe of Jesse' sing in their old family mansion, when thirteen of the family poured out their souls together in pious song, till it appeared as if the very roof were rising skyward. The scene of that hour has been present to me during all these fifty years, and I still recall it as one of the most sublime and glorious hours I ever experienced." In the year 1845 we sailed with Mr. Douglass, in the steamer "Cambria," for England, where we enjoyed, on many occasions, the hospitalities of the people of Great Britain, and for more than a year exchanged friendships and received thankfully cherished congratulations from true hearted friends in the Fatherland. We also often met Mr. Douglass in the course of our journeyings through the States and were most hospitably received in his adopted home in Rochester, N. Y., and again we were, on many occasions, most royally entertained at his mansion at Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D. C. It was my privilege to be associated with him on many notable occasions at the "World's Fair," where for seven months he received the congratulations of multitudes of old and new friends. Thus for more than a half century have we been on intimate relations, and we did what we could to build up a public sentiment that made it possible for Abraham Lincoln, during the progress of the great conflict and war, to issue the proclamation that emancipated four millions of human beings. Mr. Douglass also espoused the cause of woman, and his last public effort was in her behalf. I could not stay away from these auspicious obsequies, but came from my home at High Rock, to extend my sympathies to the bereaved and to look once more upon this form, and commune with the beloved spirit of this Frederick the Great, and chant for him this requiem. Then raising his voice, impressive, loud and sweet, he half chanted, half sung the requiem of the dead : LAY HIM LOW. Close his eyes, his work is done, Rise of moon, or set of sun, Hand of man, or kiss of woman? REFRAIN: Lay him low, lay him low, Under the clover or under the snow, As man may, he fought his fight, Let his name in golden light, Live forever and forever. Great his love for human kind, Strong his faith in truth's promotion; In his teachings, gems we find, Beacon lights along life's ocean. Wreaths we bring that ne'er shall fade; Greener with the passing years; Brighter for our error's shade; Jeweled with our falling tears. Pure the radiant path he trod, Conscious of the fount 'twas given; His allotted years from God Are triumphs emphasized from Heaven. Bend in love, O azure sky; Shine, O stars, at evening time; Watch our Frederick calmly lie Clothed in faith and hope sublime. God of nations, bless the land Thou hast saved to honor Thee! Till every nation shall be free! We are almost home, almost home, The angels stand ready to welcome you home, Monsieur Nicolas, Secretary of the Haïtien Legation, then expressed the regret and sympathy of the Haïtien Government on the death of Mr. Douglass, as follows: Le Gouvernement et le peuple haïtiens ont été péniblement affectés par la nouvelle de la mort subite du vénéré Frédéric Douglass. A cette triste cérémonie qui nous assemble ici et où le peuple américain, en se découvrant devant le cercueil de Monsieur Frédéric Douglass, salue une grande intelligence dont les nobles qualités ont imposé le respect aux nations des deux continents, je renouvelle, au nom de la République d'Haïti, ses témoinages d'estime et de profond regrets. Bishop A. W. Wayman, of the A. M. E. Church, then spoke in eloquent terms of the worth and greatness of Mr. Douglass, and was followed by the Rev. W. B. Derrick, D. D., who spoke as follows: Frederick Douglass has accomplished more in his death than in his life. This sad and solemn occurrence has brought the American press, especially that portion of the press which is to be found in the civilized part of the country, to acknowledge, that it was not color, but fitness and character that made the man. The metropolitan press of the great city of New York, unanimously declared that Mr. Douglass was a fit example for all classes and conditions of people, be they black or white. Marvelous declaration. Nevertheless true. Is not this an evidence that the American conscience is right, provided it is properly aroused? As Israel, we mourn the loss of our Moses. God took him. I would rather occupy the place of a mourner in the pew than to attempt to have anything to say on this occasion. But having been requested, but a few moments ago, to take part in these ceremonies, I have consented, with no set speech, as a representative from the great State of New York, head of a delegation whose presence here to-day is to pay respect to this great man. When I say great State of New York I mean she is great, and may be rightly considered the sun in the solar system of States, around which revolve minor States, deriving commercial, financial, political and intellectual greatness from her. New York will gladly welcome all that is mortal of her adopted son, Frederick Douglass; and in her rich and prolific soil will give to his manly form a calm and silent repose. Although Mr. Douglass may not be considered by some to have been a master in the republic of letters, nevertheless it was he who fought and contended in those trying times, in those dark periods of the race's and country's history, to make it possible for you, the young men present, and other young men, to become the masters of the three R's. His great labors and marvelous achievements in the defence of human rights will be remembered and appreciated. In those days when it tried men's souls, his voice was heard above the clamor, "There is light ahead.” He was always cheerful, living in a state of bright expectancy, his confidence unshaken, in a Divine and Supreme Being, believing that the right would prevail sooner or later. It was he, who, with a few others, encouraged Mr. Lincoln to issue the Proclamation of Emancipation, the result of which was the freedom of the American negro. To him may be attributed the large number of colored soldiers and sailors who willingly went to the front and fought the battles of the Union. His clarion voice, his bewitching and enchanting eloquence incited them on. It was when the nation was tossed upon a sea of blood and war, and not a star appeared in the firmament, not an ark on the troubled waters, disaster after disaster perched upon the Union's banner, the Ship of State with the flag at half-mast, no one did more during those times of blood and carnage than he, by his stirring speeches and manly efforts. He was and is to be considered one of the leading members of the great army of emancipators who have stamped their moral, social, intellectual and political personalities upon the hearts of the liberty-loving world. Although nearly all these champions and warriors are gone, having already joined the glorified host amid the throng of the spirits of just men made perfect (this galaxy of antislavery heroes), their deeds are inscribed in letters of fire in the blue arch of heaven: Garrison, Phillips, Giddings, Garrett Smith, Lucretia Mott, Wade, Lovejoy, Sumner, John Brown, Lincoln and Douglass. Claimed by both races, justly so, such as it ought to be. Yet we are proud of him and are not in any way ashamed of that part of him with which Africa is charged. No, no. Africa, land of precious memory; the land in which Abraham sojourned, Jacob lived and died, Joseph was exalted, Moses born; the country in which God furnished a garden spot in which corn was raised to feed his starving Israel, and still more notable, it was here an asylum was furnished in which the child Jesus and His espoused parents were sheltered from the avenging hands of Herod. We are proud to own our Moses. Mr. Douglass was fortunate to have lived to see his country free from the foul and infamous stain which had blotted the fair name of the |