Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-22

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Major Drake VA HIT A Aftt iihto the psJlr of Ma
soury ia athes town Of Hs,If E. Ga.sssr saaentE
years ego. He loved The tepet4 pE The QEdeg end
Io1 every eouvepient occasion h his pIessnrs to
nTsss Sssset sasa u u asssr t.,.es iJs
sion inads on his feeling os seeing thu
man, then near ninety yeas old, ss the Old ~;
son present, CARRYING The Sacred Writings = "a
public Masonic procession. Though always suh0b
trusive, he seemed TO ill this Office with peculiar
pleasure. sgi.s Rs'slsA ss1s* = E 8
Ii all the relations of life he was equal to his as
signed position. As q master he was hnmane. and
indugent Hisservants loved and reverehced him
truly. His friendships were dislnterested and true,
and nothing seemed to give him more PAIN than to
find them misplaced. He was generous. and brave.
As husband and father he was gentle, patient and
kind He cherished in sacred remembrance the
wife Of his youth, the friend and companion of his
ripper years. Together they journeyed, hand in <
hand, for many years down lifes pathway. Alarge
family had been reared up to bless them, and then
God took her to Himself Twenty years ago be, de-
posted her remains in the family burying ground
at the old homestead in the county Of Nash;, bnt
twenty years had not obliterated her memory and
desiring that his ashes should minge with hers he
requested that his remains should be borne to his
old home and deposited by herside From these two
now silently sleeping there living over one han
dred descendants. May they cherish the
love the virtues exempliticd in the lives d these
venerated ancestors. Major Drake was ia believeran
the religion of the Bible, and sixty years ago was
baptiscd in Swift Greek, near Marnes Chapel, Nash
county. lie was devoted reader Of that sacred
Book, for his nstruc'io and not for controver
sy; for no man was more tolerant to the religious
belief of Others He loved the service Of God, and
was always punctua attendant at church. Even
in his latter years, Sunday after Sunday his bent
and venerable form might be seen tottering on to-
wards the House of Prayer; and there none more
attentively listened to the words which fell from the
pulpit. His faith remained mistaken up to his
death. Indeed, in the last hour it shone most clear
ly. Feeling that God had been gracious to him. be
bore his Affections without murmur; and when
the dim vista was presented and his own strength
failed he realized in its uness the great PROMISE for
he found the rod and the staff hand to comfort and
support him through the dark valley and shadow
Of death, and died triumphant Christian. After
appropriate religious rites for the dead his remains
were taken in charge by the Masonic Fraternity and
borne to the depot where the last sad honors pecu-
liar to the Order were performed Attended by o
number of his children and friends the body was
conveyed to the house of his son, DIR. John G F.
Drake, in Nash county, where many came to pay
their last tribute of respect to they had known
and loved long years ago The old and young,
kindred and friends testified their regard and vene-
ration. On Friday evening the 18th of December,
1s59 in accordance with his request, his body was
placed in the old family burying ground by the side
of his deceased wife. Now they sleep, but in the
Great Day they will arise and join the happy throng
in giving praise forever to Him who redeemed them.
So mote it be. W. D..
Auburn. Ala, Feb 10th, 1s6O