The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-06-15

James Wood, preached at Mt Bethany
Church, Hardeman county, Tenn, May the
26th, 1867, by Rev W. II. Thompson, pas
tor
In conclusion, Brethren, We have a pleas
ing and, at the same time, difficult duty to
+ perform TO speak with entire tfhthfulness
Of enc whom we have so vel kaown, aud
so sincerely admired, is by. no. means an easy
task. The custom of the pulpit IN magnify
ing the virtues Of the dead, or aseribing to
them qualities which they never possessed
while living, is well known. Perhaps this
is yirtuous practice, one of the redeeming
features Of our fallen nature but It Is a
4 practice with which our departed brother
had little sympathy Honesty was a cardi-
/ nal virtue with him. while living, and eauld
/ he speak to as this morning, he 9oalsis 40
doubt demand that ne deal honestly with
his memory now that he is dead. This we
shall aim to do.
! As a man, he was not unlike others whom
we have known--others whom we still know.
Those elements Of character which inspire
confidence among men, make friends Of the
community and insure success in lie, he
possessed in q high deeee. But these wers
not his best qualities Honesty, energy, in.
dustry, business capacity, much as they may
do for as in this life, furnish no passport to
the life that is to come. We may have
friends here aud be friendless there Ye
may heap up wealth in this world and be
poor and poverty in the next But
this, while It is true Of multitudes who live
and die in our midst, is not the record Of
him whose memory rises fresh in our hearts
this day To be rich in faith aud good
works was his first desire, and to the accom-
plishment Of this object were his best efforts
directed. he was a Christian mana Christ
ian in principle Christian in spirit--a
Christian in practice. He first took upon
himself the obligations of Christianity IN
February, 1910, under the ministry Of the
Rev Samuel Williamson Ia November.
1850, he was elected deacon in this Church,
and on the eleventh day of the same month,
1854, hewas chosen and ordained to the
Office Of Ruling Elder.
AS Christian man nc was ever humble.
watchful and consistent His views of
truth were those usually termed Calvanistic.
he received, in full, the great doctrines Of
grace through a erueiied Redeemer. To be
found in Him. not having His own righteous
ness, which was of the law, but that which
is through the faith Of God, was his constant
desire, his most earnest prayer Hence his
religion became eminently praetieal. For
those theories and speculations which min
lister nothing to the growth of piety, and
bring no comfort to the soul, he had little
use. He was not CblvchmGu-glot a See
tarian-but Christian. he regarded him
self as belonging to Christ. HereceiYed in
its fullest and broadest sense, the Scripture
doctrine Of Christian aInity The members
of Christ's body he regarded as ore, even as
the Father and Son are one He loved all
his Saviour loved, wherever found and by
whatever name called. For those who were
in need of sympathy he had a warm heart
to such as were in want he extended an open
hand To plead before him the cause Of the
needy, and urge a contribution, was wholly
unnecessary. A simple statement of facts
was the most direct way to his heart. he
was a cheerful giver He loved to give.
He found comfort and joy in giving as the
Lord had prospered him To contribute of
his substance for the advancementOfC Christs
cause he regarded, not so much duty, as a
privilege. He had no sympathy with that
feeling which is sometimes found among
professed Christians that the Church is 70
be ruined by giving, and that an agent for q
benevolent object is a mere becgar, hanging
upon her skirts to steal away the ehildrens
bread and cast it to the dogs No. he rather
regarded them as Christs messengers, sent
to confer favor upon His people by per-
mitting each one to take part IN His work
He recognized the fact that the SILVER and
the gold are the Lords though IN the hands
of men, and that Christ as the great prOpri-
etor Of all things, has a right when he VIII,
and by whom He will to draw on his own
Treasury to promote the comfort of His suf-
fering children, or to send the Gospel to
those who sit in darkness This principles,
strong in life, he carried with him even TO
the gates Of DEATH only ceasing to give when
he ceased to live. The last money that he
handled was given to one Of the Boards of
that Church which he so tenderly loved and
vith which he so deeply sympathized in her
calamity and deep poverty.
AS an officer IN the Church his services
were invaluable. he was always in his
place, unless prOvidentiallv detained and
was there to do his duty. Though quiet and
retiring IN has disposition, having little to
say, yet ne was quick to perceive the right
and pTomptin execution. He hesitated not
at difficulties he feared no danger, he shrunk
from no responsibility. What Christ and
his cause demanded he was ever ready to do,
leaving consequences with him. Self and
sslfinterest disappeared before the higher
and nobler impulses Of his souL II Is right
was the word with which he overcame all
difficulties, and crushed all opposition, and
when his position was taken the question
was decided lie was no sehemer Al
ways open and honest, ne carried MS points
by the simple power Of truth and his clear
convictions of right No one could read
that mild, subdued, earnest eountenance and
feel that it was possible for him, intention
ally, to iuiure any human being lie could
bear injuries; he inflicted none. lie could
make sacrifices be never demanded them
ef others, and how often his own feelings
,-era laid upon the altar 10 avoid. W0uHding