Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-09
ID ED,

DIED. at Ben Lononi. in tioUc!lani County apri I'll
1874. Dr. JOSEPH WATKINS, i'll the Ifh year ni hs ~
DR.. Wnikin. WINS extensively known even beyond tn;
limits Uf hi own State. and was universally esteemed ma
loved BY NIL who knew him. Indeed. II ro,id MOI 'f !; i
w:e. ,l,np rim, on. who's. heart was 50 iull oil the milk oi
human Kindness, md who was ever ri rtndy hld prompt
10 .ymIuu!n-r with others. and 10 serve them nj my cost
10 himself. should h. esteemed and loved ny MI WIN VII
i.,,s,tl hi. generous and scl;'rhrriicl!s coilhurl'
Few men ever lni II more extensive circl' OIL "oi.ns
friends: none certainly ever took more pleasure, III rii'e'
thinning them. or found greater enjoyment III 'h'l n N, - y -
Ben I.un0nl. his hu+pitnblr mnil-ioii. was one" n''.' :,
ovrri!owinc; but he never t"i"d, il at the ho"-,' !" ,n'a
every new arrival nj the threshold, To give 10 c"e Ills VAIN
sr.ciin. and lcarty welcome.
Tie drccasr,l wa. trunk and open.h'srtcd, generous ana
benevolent, firm i'll duty and jurt and unsein7h.
Il war the privilege vi the writer To spend many year. III
lii family. Hnl hr rnnsny wiiion: hesitation ,"n' NJ y,
knew II kindrr or more un.rli>i ii'ii; ann nv - ~"
simply nuinblr mud kind in his feelings, h" was also hci'c
uu,i' prompt in the performance OF generous "ih hrii''N"
lent deeds, The poor and needy. AM" The stranger III Distress
ever found in him II ready amt timely helper.
III, was the nvnwcl friend Of temperance IN MI t"lh@S' "
warm supporter of The Christina religion. sri the uncoiii-
promising opp"ocr oi vice nnd iinthor"iiy III "i ,l."
forms. The proinn" -wrnr"r ami IN" r"vih'r OIL ne hrls
tirn religion. he r0n:rmn"Hi; Gni wn' known 10 h"'r '''rh'
-! i- back upon zach, and 10 have refused ever "'''f 10
invite them To hi house. 30 Inaii ever entertained Il more
SINCERE respect or higher regard for the Christian ministry.
md he wn- always most marked III lii- attention 10 thos'
who bear this sacred Office.
liz house wns known To hr n house OF prayer " wei
come home Tor nlI ministers, nnd in ii nothins wEs ever IT.
lowed in la. why Of pleasure or amusement. which would
h. improper in II Christian tnnily.
Lon. before IL: ulh'lc n profession ni religion. So hiiinhn'
War hi, character. 81 upright hi conduct, ~ r"tprri'"i III,
attention 10 preaching. nnl 20 great the interest l' siow'u
IN every linn, pertaining. 10 the Church. that the MINORITY
ut h. friends. who hal not been otherwise iI.iorti"i. r"r'
pn-Id him 10 br II mcrnlI'r ri 'l" Church. Indeed mere
WINS even then much III his temper, spirit and conduct 10
r.huk. u!uny professors OF religion.
lie wus uniformly cheerful. nnd bore all MS losses ana
nisiortunr- with II submission, foriitudr and accomplishing
.pirit rnrcly to be- mt with either IN or ont OF me tiutGh'
lie WIS never lIrnrl To complain Of amy proIldcniini III
prn-a;ior, however disastrous 10 his crops or destructive 10
his property. His common rrinnrk. on sirh oce"-lohS'
wss II have no right To c0inplnin, lor il had not been 20
,rnu,ly ilr.s.l yDull uDt luyp II 10 lOsr, anu tuOisll
im. discarc which terminated his HE WIS o. me most APP
pniills character, requiring four most rniniui "rirr't'ohr'
y,t he bore il MI with II furtiimir and patience i!hht aston
i.lcl li- physicians. aud filled hi friends with admiration
and gratitude. This fnrlirudr and patience liz afterwards
Inscribed 10 the grace OF God. lie told me "ri''r' 'n"t "~
fore he submitted 10 the tltt operation, 1T, w,ts riihpi',i u
commit both soul and body into the hnlt- ol God, ana TINT
it WIZ his faith in Christ tint Sustained him;
Some OF h- friends have long indul.,d the hope. TINT ne
wa. n converted man; but he himself, in consequence ui
great natural limidty and sell ,listrll.t, and " painful nppr,r'
iIrIIsion. lest in I%hr;nkin: otthc Lords supper nnworthiiy lr
,boulI rut md drink iaInnn,ion to himself, could never ger
his own consent 10 mike n public profession oi religion.
until about three months before his death, when ne whT
received into the Presbyterian Church ana pariook WIN
hi family and other friends of the Lor''s supper i"r ''
ir-t aud hast time. -.
AMI although. from ,ir. moment TINT either he or liz
friend, Ind reason 10 npprrlrnd immediate danger, lir WAS
in so profound u stupOr ny TO BE- unnhle 10 give any expires
sion I'll his feelings. yet he had 80 frequently before spoken
Of tins event. ~ one which h. war both wilin: and re"iy
IN n,cct m, any tim,.. and hm! given such other evidence o
his acceptance with God and preparation tor death. ms 10
lrnvr To !is friends the comforting assiir"ilcc that illrir loss
l. h- gain.
sill in the death Of This anlinblr md truly c-;imnblc
man. many. very many, nrr called to mourn.
Ills hcrrnyrl widow nlOurns The lohs oi n most hi'rriiOn
ac and devoted husband, whose wn'chinl syInlmily ANA
dcyuir,l attention had anticipated every wish vi her henri,
and supplied all her wants Tor more than thirty years, I'll
his presence and kind Officer had become essential 10 her
comfort md happiness.
Ills children mourn the los. Of n kind and vcnrratcd father
III. servants mourn the loss OF mn indulgcnt and ,ynpa-
thi-in. MASTER. the like of whom they feel they sil"ll never
fmI n.nin. The community mourn- the loss OF IN n.iinbl'
and obh.ins nci-hbor. who was ever nInun. the hr.t 10
expires ls sympathy ami tender his service. III al. tl"rir
trial. and ini-for,umcs. and who was never known to de-
clinc nnv ,nvor in his power. And his numerous irirmls
uid HcquHintnnccs all over the country, mourn the !os- oil
n true and stcndfust friend. whom il wnr always Pheasant
to meet, and from whom riIry never separated without re-"
grct.
And vet all have great occasion to rejoice and be- thank.
fll. that uur ~ much csfrrrIicl and so dcnrly loved was 80
wonderfully sustained and coniorted III hi, trial, and sui.
trr!I!:s-Eint he hn- been mcrciiuIy taken from the evil 10
come. and that we hive 30 much r,nson tn believe. TINT he
now rests with hi. Saviour in whom wus all his trust.
NJ A.