The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-07
Prof. James 8. Henderson.

event, which has excited such painful emotions
as the announcement of the death of this en-
inently good, gifted and useful man. Although
his friends have indulged no hope of his resto-
ration to health fer several weeks, and were
therefore somewhat prepared to give him up
vet his death produces such vacuum in his
peculiar sphere of action that it is hard fol
those who appreciate his loss to refrain from
indulging unseemly regrets and complaints
But the God in whom he trusted and to
whom he has gone, Z" doeth all thing swell. y
He was born in Rutherford County, Ten
nessee, March 9th, 1862. He was the first
pupil of the Institution for the blind at
Nashville, where he remained six years, and
took thorough course of instruction. At the
age of eighteen, he had attained such pro6cien-
cy in his studies and discovered such strength
of intellect and excellency of character, that
he was appointed one of the teachers in the
Institution. He possessed remarkable talent
for music, which was cultivated with great
care and was one of the principal sources OF
pleasure and profit to him during his life. In
1856 he came to Cedar Springs in this District,
and commenced the school for the blind, in the
State Asylum which had previously been es-
tablished for mutes. He continued to fill this
position, doing an untold amount of good, un-
til the exercises of the Institution were
suspended in 1867. In the fall of that
wear he opened common school in this place,
and with the assistance of his accomplish
ed wife, built up q large and fourishing
school. In the following spring he was in
duced to emigrate to Missouri, where he spent
a year teaching school with his usual success.
But the extreme coldness of the climate there,
effected complete wreck of his naturally weak
constitution, and few weeks ago he returned
to his old position at Cedar Springs, indnlging
with his friends the vain hope that his broken
health might be repaired, it not restored. But
it was tco late, and on Sunday the 10Th instant,
the darkness through which he had been gro
ping his way on the earth was suddenly dis
peled as the blazing glories of the celestial
world flashed upon his new. born vision.
Prof. Henderson was in all respects, one of
the most remarkable men we have ever known.
His blindness seemed to have intensified his
other faculties both mental and physical to
such an extent, that what appeared to be his
most serious affliction, was transformed into a
real blessing. He was possessed of unusually
quick, clear and lively perceptiye faculties, a
large and retcntive memory, strong, sound
Judgment. an indomitable will and untiring
energy. With such endowments highly culti-
waited, and at the same time duly restrained by
a sensitive conscience and piOus devotion to
its dictates, IL is not at all astonishing that he
attained to such an eminence of usefulness.
Bv no means the least remarkable of his traits
of character, was his uniform cheerfulness. We
have known him intimately for fifteen years,
and have seen him suffering severe bodily
pain, and surrounded by circumstances calcu-
lated to dcpress the stoutest heart, and yet we
have never known him to murmur. His chris
tain charity was his crowning virtue. He had
cultivated such an equable temper, and was so
filled with love to God and man, that he never
allowed the most provoking circumstances to
draw from his lips an unkind expression. Ills
Saviour was at once his priest and pattern, and
we have no doubt that to-day he is "like Him"
for he 'sees Him as He is"
He has left behind him large number of
warmly attached personal friends, who will al
ways cherish his memory as a precious treas
ure. The unfortunate, sghtless children of
the State have all been orphaned by his death.
The Institution over which he presided quivers
from the shock which has stricken down its
Boaz pillar.
The Baptist church, of which he had been an
active, Jealous and consistent member since his
early youth, mourns the loss of one of her most
useful members. The cause of religion, has
lost one of its strongest advocates, and bright
est ornaments. The State has lost a citizen,
whom she delighted to honor whilst living, and
whose virtues will be embalmed in the memo
rial cenotaph of her great and good. His be-
reaved wife and orphaned children share the
sympathy of our entire community.-Spartan
burg Spartan.