MAGLWFlint
WILLIAM FLINT
"The Great Arbiter of life and Death, who doeth all things wisely and well, has in his Providence removed from this Body one so recently among us in the apparent activity of health; one long devoted to our cause and to the service of his God, to the fulfilment of every duty as a man and Mason.
"Our late D. G. M. R. W. Bro and Rev. Wm. Flint died at Greenfield, the town of his residence, and of the Episcopal Church of which, he was the beloved Rector, on Tuesday morning of the 12th. April last. His health had not been good for about a year previously but his confinement and inability to perform the duties of his profession, continued only the Friday preceding the day of his disease. It was his request that he should be buried with Masonic honors, a mark of respect we should have rendered to his memory as a worthy and devoted Mason had this request not been made. Accordingly on the day of his burial, April 14th. our funeral rites were performed by the G. Master, John T. Heard assisted R. W. Winslow Lewis. P. G. M: R. W. Charles W. Moore. R. G. S: R. W and Rev Dr Osgood. G. C: W. Br. W. W. Wheildon G. S: W. Br Lambert preached the funeral discourse, one deeply impressive and eloquent. Republican Lodge and a large number of Brethren residing in the neighborhood of Greenfield, were present also. The prayer at the grave by the venerable Chaplain, the Rev Dr Osgood breathed the spirit of piety and confidence that all was well forever with our dead Brother, and with that confidence we laid his body in the earth, with the full assurance of his souls blessed immortality.
"The Rev Dr Flint was a man of no ordinary composition. In stature commanding, with a fine voice — he was an impressive speaker — his style fervid and forcible — and his mind could pass with great rapidity from "grave to gay, from lively to severe." He had a genial, warm, affectionate heart. Ever ready to conduce to the pleasure of his friends, he was ever the welcome companion. No one who knew him but loved him. He was the "beau ideal" the very personification of the good, the upright the sincere Mason and friend. His intellectual power was strong, his mental endowments much above the common standard, and as a conversationalist he excelled. He won hearts by his kindness of manner, and respect by his evident excellence,
"We have lost a most valued Brother, and Masonry one of its firmest votaries. We have lost one who had a heart — for alas: all have the mere pulsating organ, but few possess that high functionery perfection of moral action, which is the heart's best performance, which feels aright for all and is contained in a breast which bestows happiness around.
"There is a tribute due to every departed Brother who has filled his Masonic relations with fidelity however humble the position he may have occupied in the Fraternity; and surely, to him now lost to us on earth, who occupied the honorable office next to the Chair in this Gd Lodge, who, in so many States of this Union sustained so many varied relations of Masonic importance — we owe all that we can now pay to his memory the adoption of the following resolutions:
"Resolved — that the Christian Church — the general community, and Freemasonry have lost by the death of our R. W. Brother the late Rev. Wm. Flint a true soldier of the cross, a valued citizen, a dearly beloved Brother.
"Resolved. That though translated from earth to happier skies; though lost in the midst of life and usefulness he has done his work well, and has left his memory to be cherished, his loss to be deplored.
"Resolved. That we tender the united sympathies of our Fraternity to her, who shared with him the happiness of domestic union, and trust that that union though here severed, may be re-established in the never ending tie of a still happier hereafter."
