Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-12-17

u1C 0lkdh, Wes0 - SeA"SA ~~~&
ye took me in" How many are
there amongst you who can testi-
fy to the hospitalities of his luxuri-
ant homer How many that have
shared the bounties of that board
providently prepared for his doting
and dependent family? Of his
earlier years and parentage we
know but little, except that he
was favored with that best of all
earthly blessings, apious mother,
whose early lessons in piety he
seems never to have forgotten, for
he embraced the Christian religion
at the early age Of Is years, and
Joined the Primitive Baptist
church~in 1928, where he lived a
consistent and acceptable member
to the day of his death; and well,
no doubt, do the brethren and
sisters recollect with what a lib
eral hand did he bestow his goods
in the advancement of the cause
of his Master.
"In the State he was true to his
Government and just to his coun-
try" Before her glory had de-
parted, and while yet the proud
bird Of liberty, was perched upon
her banner, he possessed that
lofty spirit Of patriotism, which
circumstances was yet to devel-
ope and the hand of persecu-
ton was soon to put SO sorely
to the test. In that dark and
bloodiest hour of our country's s
history, when fanaticism had kim
died its fires on her affairs, and
threatened the whole republican
form of government with its gen.
eral conhagration, he, true to the
instincts of his nature, rallied to
her ''signal of Distress" and gave
not only the effects Of honest toll,
but that best of all gifts, "the
mothers Jewels" the brave sons
of his own loins. Yielding to the
prompting Of his own nature,
which bade him bestow his chari-
ties upon the poor, he sought and
obtained an entrance into the
Order of Free e-Masonry at "Shel-
byvilie Benevolent Lodge" in
1864, and by affiliation number
of our own soon after its organiza-
ton, where he sustained the
cherished and fraternal relations
of a brother, until by order of
the Grand Master he was called
ssto the celestial Lodge above where
the Supreme Architect of the uni
verse presides."
How delightful it is, brethren, to
review his history within the mys-
tic circle. Not a blot upon its fair
pages, not a stain upon his bright
escutcheon, and although in point
of years one Of the oldest mem
bers, he willingly accepted the
humble position of tiler. Truly
may it be said of him : he never
grieved his lodge but once, and
that was in his death. In testi-
mony Of that grief, his brethren
conferred upon him the funeral
rites and ceremonies of the Order,
and buried him with Masonic hon.
ors upon his own old homestead,
and by the side OF his own brave
boy. His last illness, though not
Iprotracted, was very severe, mark
ed, as I have been informed, by
those strong symptoms that over
come SO soon one whose constitu-
ton was SO stout. Although his
suffering was great and his pain
intense. he bore it with the meek
resignation OF a Christian, and the
firm fortitude of a Mason. That
faith that had sustained HIM for
so many years, which he had been
taught. as a Mason to regard as the
top-most round in the ladder that
Jacob saw in his vision, was tri-
umphant in his hour of dissolr-
ton, He saw his way clear No
murky cloud of doubt arose to OBJ
scure the bright prospect OF his
glorious future. He had diyested
his mine, and his conscience of all
the vices and superfuities of lite,
thereby fitting him as a living
stone in that spiritual building,
that house nos made with hands,
eternal and in the heavens. Sat
.isfed that he must soon "shutfie utfiie
eff this mortal coil" he calmly. set
about the arrangement Of his sec.
ular matters, and dictated a will