5H-W3

^Funeral Bfecourse,

PREACHED

SEPTEMBER 15, 1812,
ON OP
GEORGE WILLIAMSON, Esq.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL COMMANDANT
OF
The Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea.
BY THE REV. GEORGE CLARK,
CHAPLAIN TO THE ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM, ANO TO HIS R. II.
THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY THE PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY,
St. George's Fieldt.
1812.

Extract from the Minutes of a Special Board of
Commissioners, held at the Horse Guards,
Sept. 8, 1812.

" The Board resolve, that, as aTestimouy ofthe Sense
" they entertain of the great Merit of the late Com-
" mandant, the Expenses ofthe Funeral shall be borne
" by the Institution, and that, an appropriate Monu.
" ment shall be erected'to his Memory.
The following is the Order of the Funeral pie-
scribed by the Commissioners, which is to take place
" on Thursday next, at Twelve o'Clock, in the Burial
" Ground of the Royal Hospital of Chelsea, in pur-
" suance of Lieut. Col. Williamson's Request.
" I Company of Boys.
" 1 Ditto of Girls.
" The Corpse borne by twelve non-commissioned
" Officers of the Foot-Guards. The Officers of the
" Institution Pall-Bearers.
" Chief Mourners and Relations.
" The Commissioners.
'* The remainder of the Girls in Companies.
" The ditto Boys in ditto.
" Different Persons belonging to the Institution.
" Such officers as may wish to attend the Funeral."
A 2

Extract from the Minutes of a Special Board
of Commissioners, held at the Royal Mili
tary Asylum, Sept. 15, 1812.

" The Board, referring to the Sermon deliTered on
" Sunday last, by the Chaplain of the Military Asylum,
" the Rev. Mr. Clakk, request that he will cause thi
" same to be printed ; and the Board direct, that a
" Copy of it shall be delivered to every Individual
" at this time belonging to the Asylum. The Copies in-
u tended for the Children are to be immediately bound
" in strong Leather, the Name of each Child being en-
" graven on the Cover, and they are to be delivered.
" to them, with their Bible and Prayer-Book, on their
" leaving the Institution.
" It is hoped this will be the Means of perpetuating
" on their Minds, the Recollection of their Friend and
" Benefactor, their late lamented Commandant."

PRINTED BY ORDER
OF
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
AND THE
HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS OF
The Royal Military Asylum;
AND, BY THEM DIRECTED,
THAT A COPY BE GIVEN TO EACH CHILD IN THE
ASYLUM
AT THE TERIOD OF
COLONEL WILLIAMSON'S DEATH,
WHENEVER SUCH CHILD SHALL LEAVB
THE INSTITUTION.

A
SERMON.

Psalm lxxvlii. 73.
HE FED THEM WITH A FAITHFUL AND TRUE HEART, AND
RULED THEM, PRUDENTLY, WITH ALL HIS POWER.

JL/UST thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
" return,"* was the fatal sentence which
doomed a whole world to death. " The
" wages of sin is death. "f " Man goeth to
" his long home, and the mourners go a-
" bout the streets \"\ and how often is this
fulfilled before our eyes ! We need not
read of the Funeral of Sarah, of Isaac, of
Jacob, of Moses, of Josiah, of Stephen, to
inform us of this end of man ; alas ! bitter
experience teaches us, that the grave is
" the house appointed for all living. "§
* Gen. iii. IQ. + Rom. vi. 23. J Eccles. xii. 5.
§ Job xxx. 23 .

Perhaps the most instructive and affect
ing of all human scenes is, the sight of a
fellow-creature committed to his grave.
It is here we are called upon to exercise
t}ie noblest and most difficult of all devo
tional acts ; to resign to.GoD his own gifts,
however dearly loved ; to acknowledge
him as Master and Lord of all ; to confide
in his wisdom and goodness ; and to adore
the rectitude of his government, under its
most awful dispensations.
The mournful events of the last week,
my Brethren, have doubtless much occu
pied your minds, as they have my own.
When the Ephesian disciples of St. Paul
parted with their great Master, it was with
many tears ; when Jesus thought upon the
death of Lazarus, "he wept:"* tears are,
, * John xi. 35.

0
indeed, an unavailing tribute, yet they are
a natural one, and when restrained by sen
timents of religion, are a justifiable allevia
tion of our grief. We may weep, when the
friends we love and value are taken from
us, if it be not as those who have no hope.
You, my Brethren, naturally expect that,
at our first meeting in this place, after we
have performed the last sad offices to our
departed Chief, I should offer some tribute
to his memory. It is my intention so to
do ; yet a more painful task I have seldom
had to perform, and I can truly say, in com
posing the imperfect discourse which lam
about to deliver to you, the recollection of
his many virtues presented itself so forci
bly to my mind, that I have not written it,
but with many tears. The best of men
should be praised with much caution in the
House of God, therefore I am anxious only

10
to use " the words of truth and soberness,"*
and so to speak of the dead as may best
promote the edification ofthe living.
In the 78th Psalm we read of the great
mercies which God bestowed upon Israel,
and their frequent ingratitude and for
getfulness of the source from whence
those mercies flowed. The Psalm recounts
the miracles which God wrought for his
people in Egypt ; leading them into the
promised land, and establishing them there,
according to his covenant with their fore
fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, In
the last part, David's advancement from
a Shepherd to the throne of Israel, is
related, and a short, but comprehensive
character, is added of that prince. ' ' He
" chose David also for his servant, and took
" him from the sheepfolds ; from follow-
* Acts xxvi. 25.

11
" ing the ewes, great with young, he took
" him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel
" his inheritance. So he fed them with a
" faithful and true heart, and ruled them
" prudently with all his power."
The words of the text speak of a person
high in authority, having many under him ;
they speak of the heart of this person, the
principles of his conduct, " faithful and
" true." They speak, secondly, of the manner in
which he applied these principles to the
discharge of the important trust confided
to him; "he ruled them prudently" — with
much wisdom, skill, and ability.
It was also, " with all his power ;" —
body and mind were both actively employ
ed in discharging his, duty ; the wish to
make those happy, whom Providence had

12
committed to his rule and guidance, called
forth every faculty to active exertion.
I propose to consider each of these two
heads, with a particular reference to the
character of the deceased, and shall con
clude with such exhortations as the subject
naturally suggests.
1 . " He fed them with a faithful and true
" heart." The expression " fed" imme
diately refers to the employment of a Shep
herd, which David once followed ! We
find, from the Scriptures, in the early ages
of the world, that the occupation of a
Shepherd was sometimes exercised by per
sons of considerable consequence : Moses
was called by God when feeding his father
Jethro' s flock. Kings are often, in holy
writ, compared to Shepherds; that cha
racter fitly representing the care, attention,
and concern of a good Prince for the hap-

13
piness of his people. Our blessed Saviour
condescended to say of himself, " I am the
" good Shepherd.,"*
" A faithful and true heart ;"— By the
word " heart," we must understand here, as
in many other passages, the principle of ac
tion ; thus, " an evil man, out of the evil
" treasure of his heart, bringeth forth evil
" things ;" "a good man, out of the good
" treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good
" things. "f Now, in the character of the
beloved deceased, the three following
principles of action were very conspi
cuous, and denoted a heart that was " faith-
" fuland true :" — Integrity, Justice, and
Compassion. Integrity; strict, undeviating, unbend
ing ; this seemed to be the ruling feature
in his character ; indeed his very appoint-
* John x. 14. + Luke ti. 45.

14
ment to his important office, by those emi
nent persons who had bestowed so much
of their valuable time and attention on the
establishment of this Institution, strongly
implied, that he was highly endowed with
this great virtue.
The wise man saith, " the integrity of
" the upright shall guide them ;"* and how
important a guide is it in our private do
mestic concerns! But, if integrity be of
such consequence in private life, its im
portance becomes incalculable in those who
fill places of public trust and confidence.
Here the temptations increase, and the
principle is often severely tried : here mul
titudes fail ; and though they heap up
riches, and present a glittering outside to
the world ; yet, in the retired hours of re
flection, or, on the bed of sickness, they
* Pro?, xi. 3.

15
find they have " pierced themselves through
"with many sorrows."* Others are quickly
overtaken by the arm of justice, and exposed
to public shame and deserved disgrace.
He, therefore, who comes forth from the
fiery trial, with clean hands and unspotted
conscience, deserves the praise of his bre
thren. Such was the case with the de
parted : he had held many places of con
siderable trust, besides the one he occupied
at his decease ; but his noble spirit dis
dained to receive the least advantage from
them which he could not openly avow :
frank, manly, and sincere in himself, he
had a perfect abhorrence of every thing
that was mean, crafty, or dishonest. He
could say, with the prophet of old, when de-
ljveringup the reinsof government, " Come,
'•' and bear witness against me ! whom have
" I, oppressed ? whom have I defrauded ?
* i Tim. vi. 10.

16
" of whose hands have I received a
*' bribe ?"* Nor was such a conduct with
out its reward even in this life ; for, it en
abled him, to use his own expressive words,
to lay his head on his pillow, and find no
thorns there to disturb his rest : it gained
him, though not riches, yet the friendship of
men, whose esteem he valued infinitely be
yond any pecuniary advantages, which a
departure from the ways of rectitude might
have secured him : he was honoured with
the respect and esteem of those of the most
exalted rank and station, the Governors
and vigilant Guardians of this Institution.
2. Another very prominent feature in
his conduct, nearly connected indeed with
personal integrity, was Justice ; by which
I mean, an earnest desire that every
one, under his command, should be treated
according to their deserts. In an Institu-
* 1 Sam. xii. 3;

U
tion, like the present, this is peculiarly .
a cardinal virtue, and not to be dispensed
with : in some situations it is sufficient to
be honest ourselves; but, in stations of
confidence and rule, it is a species of dis
honesty not to take care that others are
honest also. The deceased was fully sensi
ble of this ; honest and honourable himself, '
it was his anxious wish that all under him
should be so too. How often has he said be
fore us, and may the inestimable sentiments
be engraven on our hearts ! " Government
" has made every provision for the comfort
" and happiness of these children ; we
" are its instruments in conveying these
" blessings to them, and, if the smallest
" portion be intercepted by our wilful
" neglect, we have failed in our duty."
He was ever inimical to the system of
favour and favouritism : The firm and faith-
B

18
ful friend of those who did their duty well ;
even to them> he would never shew his re
gard, at the expense of the rights of another.
He knew that it was to him all looked for
justice, and that the moment he lost their
confidence, in this respect, he lost the true
dignity of his station. It is to this prin
ciple, to the undeviating influence of it on
his conduct, that we must ascribe the per
fect trust which was reposed in him by
every inmate of this Institution. I most as
suredly believe, that there is not an indivi
dual amongst us who is not fully impressed
with the conviction, that it was his constant
maxim to render justice to every one " with-
" out respect of persons."*
Even those whom he was obliged to treat
with apparent severity, could not question
the propriety of bis decisions ; and the fre-»
* 1 Peter i. 17.

10
quent warnings and friendly expostula
tions which always preceded punishment,
were proofs of his good-will towards them,
and the reluctance with which he proceeded
to harsher measures. Thus, to the princi
ples of integrity and justice, his heart was
" faithful and true."
A third virtue, which much distinguished
the deceased, was a kind and compassion
ate disposition towards all, and, most parti
cularly, towards the young persons commit
ted to his care. He had been a Soldier him
self, and, in early life had fought the battles
of his country : he felt as a Soldier ; he knew
what dangers and hardships they are called
upon to endure; how well they deserve the
boon they obtain from their grateful coun
try, and how doubly acceptable are these
rewards when bestowed in the persons of
their offspring.
B 2

20
A Soldier's Child was, to him, a sacred
trust. His inclinations, therefore], no less
than his sense of duty, led him to watch
over the welfare of those, whose fathers
were hazarding their lives in the " high
.". places of the field."*
He was ever forming some plan to pro
mote their comfort, that the summer's heat
should not hurt them, nor the winter'* cold.
" As he walked by the way, or sat in the
" house, "f his thoughts rested here : he
was not only anxious concerning their
health, their food, their clothing, their in
struction, but he thought not even their
little pleasures and recreations beneath his
notice, and gladly increased them by any
means in his power. I need not parti
cularize instances of this, they are familiar
to the minds of us all, He remembered!
ihem when concerns of the highest import-
* Judges t. 18. r Deut. vi. 7.

21
ance pressed on his mind; and, one of nis
last bequests, manifested that the approach
of death itself could not extinguish the kind
disposition so visible in- life.
To these principles of Integrity, Justice,
and Mercy, the heart of the deceased was
" faithful and true ;" and he ever practised
them in a manner calculated' to promote
the welfare and happiness of this Institu
tion. " He ruled it prudently with all his
" power," The prosperity of those, over whom he
ruled, was his primary object ; to this he
devoted all his time ; to this point he di
rected all the energies of his active mind
and excellent understanding. Various as are
the points of inspection in this" Establish
ment, none could escape his scrutinizing
eye : his continual vigilance and watchful-

22
ness over every departmentof his charge had
the happiest effect : every one knew that he
laboured under the observation ofthe head :
the idle were stimulated to exertion ; the
diligent felt an additional motive to activity,
well assured that, to deserve his good-will
was to obtain it.
" He ruled it prudently :" with wisdom-,
skill, and success.
He ruled his Officers "prudently." Bre
thren, you will bear me testimony, that
while we revered him as our chief, we loved
him as our friend. As every exertion of
duty was invigorated by his example, so was
it rendered more pleasant by his appro
bation. — He ruled Those who held the
lower offices, " prudently :" he exacted, in
deed, a quick and ready obedience to all
proper commands, whilst reasonable relax
ation he never refused.

23
Heruled these Children, "prudently;" he
well knew the happy mean between rigour
and hurtful indulgence, and pursued it
steadily, to their improvement and hap
piness. He ruled the whole Institution, "pru-
" dently ; " " Walk about Zion, go round
" about her, mark well her bulwarks."*
Where shall we find more complete order,
system, and arrangement ? " Jerusalem is
" built as a city that is at unity with itself."-]-
What contentment, happiness, and, I trust,
public benefit, is found within her walls ! Her
praise is gone forth to all lands ; to the north
and to thesouth ; to the east and to the west.
In every department of the Institution,
did we meet the wisdom and prudence of its
ruler : the influence of the head pervaded
and animated every member. He was " a
* Psalm xlFiii. 12, 13 + Psalm cxxii. 3.

24
" burning and a shining light"* in the
midst of us, and communicated warmth and
vigour" to all that moved within his influence.
Thus useful and honoured in his life, his
death was not unlamented. Sacred be
the stone which tells the spot where
his honoured remains are deposited ; but
his best monument will be, the re
spect and affection that followed him to his
grave. As long as we live, my Brethren, we
cannot forget the mourning of that day.
The loud and artless grief of the young;
the silent tear that stole down the cheek, of
the more advanced in age ; the presence of
the Governors of the Institution, who best
knew his worth, and above all, of that Illus
trious Prince who presides over the armies
of our country, for which mark of respect
every heart blessed him as he passed; all
united to make it a day most honourable
* John t. 35.

23
to the memory ofthe deceased ; and, I trust>,
profitably to be remembered by us alL
Permit me, Brethren, in the last place,
briefly to offer to you such exhortations aa
the occasion naturally suggests;.
First, to the young persons before me.
My dear children, I need not explain to
you the loss you have suffered ; the tears
you shed, when you followed the deceased
to his grave, declared you sensible of it,
and marked how much you. loved him.
Indeed he well deserved your love, he
watched over you with a father's care ; his
great desire was. to make you happy.
I am sure you respect his memory, and
would willingly shew your gratitude to
him : follow then those precepts here
which he implanted in your minds ; and,
when you go forth into the world, do him
honour by your conduct ; be as honest and

26
faithful in your stations of life as he was
in his : when you hear his name, yon
cannot but speak his praise ; but it will
be, by your increasing usefulness and im
proving virtues, that you will " rise up and
" call him blessed."*
My Brethren, what a heavy loss have we
also sustained ! what a valuable person is
taken from the midst of us ! The vigilant
eye is closed in death ; " the faithful and
" true heart has ceased to beat :" his seat is
vacant in the sanctuary ; we meet him not
at the accustomed spots ; " the places on
" earth that knew him once shall know
" him no more." But yet, in his example,
he still lives ; by it, " though dead, he yet
" speaketh;" Let us listen to the instructive
voice : let us, in our several stations, emu
late his integrity, his love of justice, his
compassion, his never ceasing care to
* Pro?, xxxh 28*

27
promote the welfare of this establishment :
but let us remember that we must practise
these, and every other virtue, from higher
motives than for the praise of men, even
from a desire to glorify God and his Son
Jesus Christ. The strictest integrity, the
purestjustice, the most tender compassion,
may indeed profit others, but, to the indivi
dual himself, they will bring no eternal
reward, unless they proceed from the prin
ciple of faith in God, and gratitude to
a Redeemer. " Abide in me," said
Christ, " and I in you ; as the branch can-
" not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
" the vine ; no more can ye except ye
" abide in me."*
Let us hope that the virtues of our de
parted brother had this sure foundation ;
then is he truly blessed ; then are all his
fine moral qualities sanctified and accepted
* John xv. 4.

28
itf Jesus Christ, and though even then, lie'
cannot claim the great reward as his right,
yet he will be found in that blessed number,
to whom a merciful and applauding Sa
viour will say, " Well' done, thou good'
" and faithful servant, enter thou into the;
" joy of thy Lord."*
Let the long and severe sickness, with
which it pleased God to afflict our brother,
be improved by us;, as I trust it was1 by
himself. Let it teach us to prepare for
the evil days when the sinking heart shall"
say, " It finds no pleasure in them."-]-
" When thou, O Lord, dost chasten man
" for sin,thou makes! his beauty to consume
" away, "J as it were a garment fretted
by the moth, that moulders at the slightest
touch. How are all the services of life
* Matth. xv. 21.
+ Eccles. xii. 1. % Psalm xxxix. 11.

29
'obstructed, and its pleasures blasted ! To
the deceased were appointed days, and
weeks, and months, of weariness and
pain. How slowly did the hours pass
along ! In the morning, might he say,
would to God it were evening, and in the
evening, would to God it were morning.
But, alas ! neither brought the wished
for ease : the unremitting watchfulness of
those who were eminently skilled in the
healing art ; the tender affection of rela
tives that anticipated every want; the
ready services of faithful domestics, who
truly loved their master and their friend,
availed not : the decree was gone forth
that awaits us all.
It affords me, my Brethren, much con
solation to state, as it will you to hear, that
our departed brother submitted to the dis
pensations of Providence with Christian re
signation ; I trust he received the chastise-

30
ment of a father, with the humility and
temper of a son ; in an early period of his
illness, he requested me to administer to
him the blessed Sacrament of the Supper ;
and he partook of the appointed symbols
of a Saviour's body and blood with great
earnestness and devotion : as long as he
was able to attend, till within a short time
before his death, we repeatedly, at inter
vals, united our prayers at the throne of
grace for pardon and acceptance ; and, oh !
let us hope that, through a gracious Media
tor, tbey were heard and answered ; that
when the awful moment of his change
arrived, he found it to be a happy one.
Brethren, you knew, and loved, and valu
ed him ; as then, from himself, let me be
seech you, in the day of health and strength,
to prepare for the time of trial and of
death. Are you living in the known neglect
ef any ordinance or command of God, or in

31
the commission of any one sin ? Oh ! defer
not repentance to the bed of sickness;
he, who does this, may be forgiven, yet
who shall venture to give him the assurance
that he is so ? He departs under a cloud,
not having the only certain evidence of
true repentance, which arises from the
forsaking of sin.
Lastly, let us reflect, to our unspeakable
consolation, that though the wise and good
are taken away, yet the Lord, who raised
them up, remaineth the same, yesterday,
tp-day, and for ever."*
Those who plan, and those who execute,
Will be removed; yet that Almighty Being,
by whose providence this fair edifice of
Christian charity and National gratitude
was erected, can at all times provide faith
ful men to minister in it.
* Heb. xiii. 8.

32
May it ever be his good pleasure so to
do' ! " Till the sword shall be beaten into
" the plough share ; and the spear into the
" pruning hook, and nations learn war no
" more," may each succeeding generation
of children, in this establishment, find a
Ruler, 'like the one they have lost, " who
" will feed them with a faithful and true
" heart, and rule them, prudently, with all
"his power."

THE END.

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