its leading features command his assent; and yet no man in the community was more ready to commend religion than he. His attendance was, in the main, on the Presbyterian Church service, and he encouraged his family in a religious life, and in making a public profession.

His views of the Christian Sabbath corresponded to those of some of the early reformers-that the Jewish Sabbath passes away with the Jewish law, and that the first day of the week was to be observed only in grateful remembrance of Christ's resurrection. With all this he was a conscientious observer of the Lord's day.

He was an uncompromising enemy of intemperance and a friend of the temperance reform, and evinced this friendship by both precept and example.

In theology he was no mere surface reader and thinker. He went back to the fundamental principles.

He was especially versed in the evidences of Christianity— not content with reading one author on the subject, he not only read but studied various authorities and could start queries which the ordinary student could not answer or solve, but to him they were clear and answerable, not only from reasons found in his reading and studies, but from the logic of his own mind.

He was a student in geology and especially as bearing on the first of Genesis, and could, in a private interview of one hour, give you the theories and solutions of them, far beyond what you could get in the ordinary circles of learned professors.

What has been said of him with reference to his theological knowledge may be said of him in the departments of history, philosophy and politics.

He was a logician and metaphysician, also. He was a keen discriminator as to the merits of discourse and argument and had not patience with declamation when it was claimed to be argument, and mere sophistry would be met by him sometimes with the most telling sarcasm.

D

In metaphysics he was learned far beyond many who claim to be learned in the mysteries of that science-and the able metaphysicians of the age would have been astonished in an encounter with Mr. Beardsley when he would freely enter into discussion on metaphysical subjects.

It may be said that it is surprising he should have accomplished so much and have become so learned. Not so. For a score of years as canal collector he had four or five months of leisure every year, and his leisure days and evenings were not allowed to pass without adding to his storehouse of knowledge. Also, after he had retired from that office, he had equal facilities for reading and study which he sedulously improved.

It is not our province to enter into the sanctuary of home and speak of him in his relations of husband and father-there are those living who feel how sacred these relations were, especially the relation of father-and now that he has gone from them, long years of busy life will not suffice to efface these precious memories. One trait of character may be spoken of here which was common both in the family as well as in other relations that is his kindness of heart.

It has been supposed by many who had merely business relations with him as a public functionary, that he was cold and austere and unapproachable. This was not so; on the contrary, he was on all proper occasions as warm-hearted and approachable and kind as even a fond and tender mother. He had kind words for those in his employ, while he was in office as collector, that will ever be remembered, particularly by one who now attributes his success and position in life to kind and encouraging words of Mr. Beardsley. In the work as collector's clerk at one time there occurred a succession of errors, and the young man made up his mind to leave because of these errors, but Mr. Beardsley remarked in the kindest of manner," we must all live and learn; we are none of us perfect." From that moment more courage was inspired, and the young man went on anew during the whole year with

scarcely a recurring error. A friendship began at that time between the employer and that clerk that continued till death. terminated the earthly relation. The one who now addresses you was that clerk. Notwithstanding this, he was austere in the performance of his public duty and carried his principles into practice. In one respect this was particularly marked.

All who were masters of boats navigating the canal were obliged to make oath to the amount of cargo they had on board. This oath was for the most part administered by him.

The oath being required by law and the name of God being used, he would not administer the oath as a mere form or ceremony as is generally done, but would always proceed to do it in the most solemn and impressive manner and with uncovered head, and always requiring the one taking the oath to uncover also. This was but being consistent with himselfbelieving in God and in revelation, he could not do otherwise than he did (as he believed) without "taking the name of the Lord in vain.”

Another firm and unyielding feature in his character was the conviction that the laws, while they remained such, must be implicitly obeyed; that no infraction of them was to be winked at, nor was their effect to be nullified by a weak sentimentalism under the guise of mercy and good-will.

His reply to all who inveighed against the rigors of the law was that he did not make the laws-that while they existed upon the statute book they must be obeyed, and the repeal of them must be by the law-making power. It will naturally be asked "is there no member of the family of this distinguished citizen still living?" I answer: Yes. Mrs. Bingham, the accomplished wife of Hon. William Bingham, formerly our State Senator, is his daughter and only surviving child.

Much more might be said of the deceased; even an interesting volume might be written on the subject, but it has not been the object of this sketch to present more than an outline of our deceased fellow citizen's life and character.

In conclusion. In a review of the whole life and the death of David H. Beardsley, I can only look upon him as a faithful soldier in his sphere, who had fought a good fight and quietly gone to his rest, almost literally exemplifying the words of the old Spanish poem:

[The life and character of Mr. Beardsley, as estimated by Judge Bishop, was received with evident satisfaction, and regarded as not only truthful, but eminently worthy of imitation.]

SONG: "AMERICA.”

ARION QUARTETTE.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEMBERS DECEASED DURING THE PAST YEAR.

BY REV. THOMAS CORLETT.

The following are the names of members of the Association who have departed this life during the past year, including a statement of place and year of birth, when residence commenced in the Western Reserve, and date of decease, viz:

DANIEL BEERS, born in N. J., 1816. Reserve in 1818; died Dec. 4, 1880. DR. D. G. BRANCH, born in Vt., 1805.

Reserve in 1833; died Dec. 23, 1880. ELIAS COZAD, born in N. J., 1790. Reserve in 1808; died Sept., 1880. REV. A. S. HAYDEN, born in Ohio, 1813. Reserve in 1835; died Sept. 10, 1880. HARVEY TAYLOR, born in Ohio, 1814. Reserve in 1814; died Nov., 1880. AHIMIAZ SHERWIN, born in Vt., 1792. Reserve in 1818; died Jan. 24, 1881. ELIJAH BINGHAM, born in N. H., 1800. Reserve in 1831; died July 10, 1881. AARON CLARK, born in Conn., 1811. Reserve in 1832; died Jan. 6, 1881. CAPT. C. H. NORTON, born in N. Y., 1805. Reserve in 1838; died Feb. 23, 1881.

The entire number of members who have been removed by death since the organization of the Association, is twelve. Of these, not a few were individuals we all delight to honor. The hardships and perils which the early settlers of this country encountered and overcame, gave them qualities of head and heart which, to us, their descendants, are of inestimable value, and which we shall do well to imitate and cherish, and so hand down to posterity, as our fathers have to us, a goodly heritage, worthy of a free and enlightened people.

Though more or less might be said relative to the lives of deceased members which would, perhaps, be of public interest, yet in the announcement of their deaths it is not expected that a biographical sketch of each will be appended, or can be furnished within the brief period that has elapsed since their decease. In a few instances, however, where deceased members were well known to the public, a brief notice of their lifework seems desirable in connection with their final departure.

REV. A. S. HAYDEN was, for nearly fifty years, an active and efficient minister in the ministry of the Disciple Church. He was also a composer of music, and was one of the committee which compiled the Christian Hymn-book, now used by that denomination; and to him, perhaps, more than to any other, is that body of Christians indebted, not only for its church music, but also for his latest work, the "History of the Disciples of the Western Reserve."