Newspaper clipping in the scrapbook of Margaret Louise Norment Thornton. Transcribed by Diane Bender, POB 178, Washington Grove MD 20880, 301-948-0133, exeline@erols.com
The newspaper and date are not noted, but Ulysses Ward died March 30, 1868 in Washington, DC

SERMON ON THE DEATH OF REV. ULYSSES WARD.-At the Ninth street Methodist Protestant church, on Sunday evening, the Rev. Dr. E. J. Drinkhouse, pastor, preached a sermon in commemoration of the late Rev. Ulysses Ward, taking his text from the 23d psalm: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
That which is strikingly preserved in scripture language, said the pastor, is that every single sentence is found to have a worldly as well as spiritual meaning, and our text is a case in point. The entire psalm is found to be replete with the richest of spiritual consolation.
It is characteristic of the psalm that it must be interpreted by the heart. Unless the heart in its warmth and depth, shall speak its language, we cannot appreciate the words as given by the psalmist. The heart must give the key to their interpretation and appreciation; and the one whose memory we come here to commemorate to-day interpreted the words of the psalmist with his characteristic goodness of heart.
It is the province of scripture to teach in metaphors, and can only be understood when we proceed to expound with the mind what the heart feels. Our American shepherds and flocks are limited, but in the Eastern land it is different. In Palestine, on the Judean hills, throughout the land of Syria, there is a constant danger to the sheep and constant dependence on the shepherd. Hence the relation between the shepherd and his sheep. Dangers are of mutual dependence. We love those for whom we make risks, and they love us in return.
The gentle Desdemona, speaking to the Moor, said she loved him for the dangers through which he had passed, and he loved her because he did pity her. Between the Arabian and his horse there grows up an affection dearer than life. Between the Eastern shepherd and his sheep there is a strong affection, because of a mutual danger. Christ holds the same peculiar relation as shepherd and individuals as his sheep. The same characteristics exist between them. "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they shall never perish."
In the 23d Psalm we find directions to duty as well as promise to future reward. The question is not how shall we live, and how shall we die. We should dismiss all thoughts as to the time and manner of our call from this world, but endeavor to live in such a manner that we need not fear death. We should follow the example of our departed brother. It was a principle with him, and a thought to which he frequently gave utterance, that if his life did not speak for him, all else would be in vain.
Being asked on the death-bed whether he placed his trust entirely on the Saviour, he looked surprised, and answered, "certainly," allowing his past pilgrimage to be his witness. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." These were words of consolation to him.
The Lord will make our death the special object of his care. The Psalmist says, "Thou are with me; thy rod and staff comfort me." "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me." These descriptions are only to be understood by referring to the habits of the Syrian shepherds, who go before their sheep instead of following them. In eastern countries the sheep are exposed to many dangers-liable to be swept away by freshets, to fall over precipices and into crevices of rocks, and the shepherd is continually seeking out the good pasture for his sheep. These dangers and difficulties led to the invention of the shepherd's crook and staff, the more easily to climb the mountain sides and guard against dangers. These historical facts will teach us to see the proper application of our text. Our brother has the crowning assurance: "the Lord is my shepherd." Green pastures restoreth the soul, and He leadeth me in the path of righteousness, the path of peace, because we are only safe when we follow the shepherd. "Thy rod and thy staff comfort me." The last of the 23d Psalm has reference to the bountiful supply of God's children.
Three great characteristics are appropriate here "I lay down my life for the sheep." God is never pleased with agony. At the crucifixion the Father was not pleased with the agony of his son.
These old walls are written all over with the past life of our brother. Here he preached. Here he worshipped. He passed away in the 76th year of his age. It pleased the Lord to lengthen his days beyond the relative period of life; such a man always speaks more fitly through his life than words can convey. He first connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgetown. On the 29th of June in the year 1832, he became a member of the Methodist Protestant church in Westminster. During the years 1844-[?] he had the entire charge of this church, and attended to the several wards. He lived the life of the righteous, a perfect man. Being interrogated on his death-bed as to his frame of mind, the answer was "bliss."