Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-18
1T.
Family William Burkhead-
August 18th and 10th.

William Burkhead, of Davidson county,
North Carolina, WAS SO years old on the
LIST of last April. His wife, Frances, is "a
years of age. This venerable pair have
four sons and six daughters. The Rev. L.
S. Burkhead, Presiding Elder of the Will
mington District, North Carolina Confer
ence, is their youngest son. They have
sixty grand children and fifteen great grand
children. Twenty-one are connected with
the family by marriage. About ninety OF
the number stated are living, the rest are
dead. Some fell in the late war. VIM.
Burkhead, in early life, professed religion
and joined the Methodist Church. He
erected the family altar, and amid all the
vicissi.udes of life and fortune it has stood,
and still holy incense ascends to God from
those two faithful hearts. He has been a
class leader for fifty years. In this family
Of los persons not one has been convicted
of crime, in Church or State, and not one
incorporate or profane, The old gentle
man in former days was staunch " Henry
Clay Whig." He and his entire genera
cause" and not one finched from his duty
until that cause was lost. At the close of
the war deserters, band of robbers, went
to his home and stole all he had, even to his
walking cane, with which they cruelty beat
him. The scoundrels were unknown, but the
old gentleman expects to meet them at
the Judgment of the Great Day, when such
" leathern winged bats" will not be on
the triumphant side. In the coming polit-
ical contest, this entire family, sire and
sons, go with the Conservative or Demo-
cratic party, firmly believing that peace,
harmony and prosperity will not be real
lied while the party in power governs. A
gathering of this family took place on the
18th and 10th of August, at which seven
children, and about sixty grand and great
grand children were present Rev. l.. S.
Burkhead preached sermon to the family
and large concourse Of others present
His text was psalm 10Th and LIST. &C Elk
in vain who build it except the Lord keep
the City, the Watchmen waketh but in
vain" After -4an~@introduction of beauty
and pathos, called up by the recollections
OF the past, clustering around the present,
and pressing with their weight of influence
upon the future, the following proposition
was announced, viz 4" Goods blessings are
absolutely essential in the construction and
maintenance of virtuous character, wheth-
er individual, domestic or national" For
one hour and half the Preacher had I'M
divided attention, and as he lucidly and
strongly set forth Observation-Disclosures
ting between this and reputation the
principles of virtuous character, the sub
mission of the human to the Divine will,
and the harmonious cooperation of the
two, that the house might thus rise in
beauty and strength, and abide for ever.
And as he applied the whole to families
and nations, good men wept for Joy, and
bad men quaked with fear. His conclu-
sion, as he addressed words of gratitude to
the venerable head of the family for reli-
gious instruction, and godly example, were
Exceedingly happy. The sermon will live
in the memory of all present and we trust
will prove blessing to many.
**x**