"Such was the closing scene of his brilliant and brief life, brief when counted by his years, but how long when measured by his achievements!' Had he lived, he was destined to accomplish much good, especially among that class of educated, thinking men who glide into the dark sea of infidelity, because they never have anything but dogmatic theology, with sterile, rigid, and cold deductions, preached to them. "On Monday afternoon his remains were carried to the church he so much loved, where his coffin remained open until the funeral services were commenced, in order that his devoted friends might look their last look upon that face which we shall see no more on earth. Every demonstration of respect was paid to his memory. His body was robed in his gown, and laid in a coffin covered with black broadcloth; on the lid was a silver plate, inscribed with his name and age. Around the plate, was a votive wreath composed of white rosebuds and arborvita; below this was a beautiful cross composed of the same, both of them the offerings of woman, 'the last at the cross and the first at the sepulchre.' The funeral anthem and hymns were exquisitely sung and played. Dr. Gilman's eulogy was chaste, touching, and truthful, giving a fair estimate of character and talents, and lamenting his premature death. After the funeral service his body was borne by his most intimate friends to the grave, where it was deposited in a new brick vault, a few yards from the chancel-door of the church. This spot will ever be sacred to his friends. Here they will often linger on the Sabbath, while memory sheds a tear over departed worth.” The estimation in which our brother was held by the people to whom he ministered is shown in "THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCH IN CHARLESTON, IN REFERENCE TO THE DEATH OF REV. CHARLES MANSON TAGGART. "At a meeting of the congregation of the Unitarian Church, held on Sunday morning last, after service, for the purpose of giving expression to their sentiments in relation to the death of their late lamented Junior Pastor, on motion, Dr. James Moultrie was called to the Chair, and George Wm. Logan, Esq. was requested to act as Secretary. "The Chairman introduced the proceedings by a few appropriate remarks on the sad event which called them together, whereupon the following Preamble and Resolutions were offered by Henry S. Griggs, Esq.; and being seconded by Samuel Gilman, D.D., they were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be published in all the daily papers of the city. "Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to remove from the scene of his earthly labors our beloved friend and brother, the Rev. Charles Manson Taggart, Junior Pastor of this Church; and whereas this congregation was deeply impressed with a sense of his eminent ability, earnestness, and holiness as a preacher and exponent of the truths of Liberal Christianity, with his fervent piety as a Christian minister, and with his purity of heart and conscientiousness as a man therefore, be it "Resolved, That, as a congregation of Unitarian Christians, we deeply lament his premature death, and humble ourselves under this afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence, praying that this sad event may be sanctified to our good as a Christian church. "Resolved, That, as an outward demonstration of our sincere, heartfelt sorrow for his loss, the interior of our place of worship be clad in mourning for the space of six months. 66 Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to obtain a suitable plan for a monument to be erected over the spot, in our cemetery, where his mortal remains repose, and also for a tablet to be placed in the vestibule of the church, and that the same committee receive the offerings of the congregation towards these objects. "Resolved, That this Church will endeavor to carry out the views expressed in the dying request of our lamented friend, in regard to the publication of his sermons, not only because it will afford us peculiar pleasure to gratify his wishes, but because we believe that the eloquent lessons of honor to God and love for our fellow-men with which these effusions of his lofty and benevolent spirit abound, will tend to hasten the coming of that blessed day, in the certain advent of which he so confidently believed, when,' to use his own forcible language, God, our Father, shall be truly worshipped, and man, our brother, shall be truly loved.' 66 6 Resolved, That the Secretary of this Corporation forward a copy of these proceedings to his relatives, with the assurance of our sympathy and condolence in their bereave ment. 66 Resolved, That another copy of the same be sent to the Meadville Theological School, at Meadville, Penn., of which he was a graduate, with offerings of our condolence for the early loss of one who, had his life been prolonged, would no doubt have shed lustre on his Alma Mater." The following is the inscription upon the tablet in the vestibule of the church: : THIS TABLET is erected by the Congregation of this Church in REV. CHARLES MANSON TAGGART, who was born in Montreal, Canada, Oct. 31, 1821, As a Minister of the Gospel, he was eminently distinguished for the earnestness and eloquence with which he advocated a system of practical and liberal Christianity, based upon the simple, pure, and beautiful teachings of Jesus of Nazareththe Christ—the anointed Messenger of God the Father; while at the same time he evinced great originality and boldness in attacking the narrow creeds of sectarianism, the inventions of men. As a Christian, he exhibited the most fervent piety towards God, and the most comprehensive charity for his fellow-men; ever inculcating in his public and priyate teachings the paternity of God, and the brotherhood of man. "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." Thus early ended the life of this beloved brother, a life of rare intensity, and one which has left ineffaceable impressions upon many minds and hearts. It was a life which had its full share of trials and perplexities. But though our friend keenly felt the saddening circumstances of his lot, his early and entire separation, as far as theological opinions were concerned, from nearest relatives, his comparative isolation and want of sympathy, he was not an unhappy man. He did not gloomily brood over the difficulties of his condition, he did not stop to ask himself whether he was happy or not, but earnestly gave himself up to the work before him, and the accomplishment of that work became more and more the great, engrossing purpose of his being. His absorption in his work, the power which he possessed of going at will into the realm of mind and living there companionless, no, not companionless, for he had the presence of his own grand thoughts, and the sublime thoughts of the wise and good, a right noble company, and his self-reliance, the distinguishing characteristic of the bold and independent thinker, made him less dependent than men of less originality upon external means of happiness. And there were sources of happiness open to him which more and more poured out their rich stream. During the last few years, constantly, as he came to be understood and appreciated, friends increased around him and drew near unto him. Firmer, more genuine friends man never had; for he employed no arts to gain friendship, but |