The funeral services were held at Towanda, Pa., the home of his mother,
on Sabbath, January 7th. Rev. Dr. Goodwin, of Chicago, preached the
sermon, and Major D. W. Whittle gave an address full of interesting
reminiscences, which brought tears to the eyes of many. At its close
Mr. Bliss’ last hymn, found among his papers and entitled “He Knows,”
was sung. “It breathed the full spirit of his life.”
So I go on in the dark, not knowing--
I would not if I might--
I would rather walk with God in the dark
Than walk alone in the light;
I would rather walk with Him by faith
Than walk alone by sight.
Rev. Dr. Goodwin in speaking of this funeral, afterward said that he
thanked God he had the privilege of going to it. “Not a shadow had come
over his face or the face of the friends whom he went to see.
“There was the gray-haired grandmother of eighty-three years, her face
already shining with the light of the Heaven to which she was so near.
When the news was told her she said, ‘Only a step has Philip gone
in advance of me.’ The parents of Mrs. Bliss walked calm, without a
murmur, through the valley of the shadow.
“Of the thirty or forty relatives, with but one exception, all, old
and young, accepted Jesus Christ as the foundation upon which they
stood. The faces of these bereaved ones shone as faces never shine
till God comes into the heart and banishes sorrow.
“Who ever saw a funeral service turned to an inquiry meeting? Yet at
that service twenty-five persons avowed their determination to serve
God, and at the evening service ten or fifteen more did the same.”
[Illustration: MRS. P. P. BLISS.]
Another memorial service was also held at Chicago on January 15th, at
Rev. Dr. Goodwin’s church, where Mr. Bliss began his public life as a
singer, and where his memory is cherished tenderly, affectionately.
The large church was crowded, nearly three thousand people present.
His pastor on this occasion paid tribute to the character of his
friend. He said:
1st. “He was one of the most hopeful men I ever knew. His life was
unclouded, or at least the clouds came not to tarry. Not that he
was exempt from trouble. He had his share of trial, discipline,
and disappointment. He knew what it was to be misapprehended--to
have mean and selfish motives imputed. He knew what it was to stand
by the bedside of one who was dearer to him than life, whom he
expected might at any time be called away. But his mind was in the
promises of God. His heart was above the clouds and was assured
of the truth. Mr. Bliss will be better known in the future as the
singing pilgrim.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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