Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-05-06
A Brilliant Life aud n rium phan;
Deattf,
tUIUIti NICIIIBHH,
April 24th, 1870.

William B. White, sr., was born in
Franklin county, Virginia, April 18th,
170l. He, with his father, Benjamin
White, settled on Cripple Creek,
Wythe county, in the year 1907, where
he lived until the year 1918, when he
was married to Miss Sarah Boy, of Sui
Ivan county. Tenn, and settled on
Beaver Creek, where he worked as
Zimmerman, at Kings old Iron works
until the year 1897, when he bought
the Holston Bend farm, on Holston
River and moved to it, where he lived
many years life wholly devoted to
benevolence, which many of the poor
of that country remember with graft
tude to this day. He acted as prac-
ticing physician for many years and
refused to receive any compensation
whatever, saying that he wished his
reward hereafter. His house was the
place of regular circuit preaching in
that neighbOrhood, and his tent was
occupied ut Rockhold Campigrouhd
for many years. After many years of
unceasing devotion to the poor, and to
the cause of benevolencc generally, in
the evening of life, he found himself
stripped of all his property. His sons
put up little Forge in n secluded
lifdNN III t9NOil IL, NHClC
| tired from active and public life to the
seclusions of private life in the bosom
of his own family. His religious life
cannot be better given, than Is given
| by himself short time before his
! death, lin a letter to his son REV. B.
| L White.) He SAYS: IL have no doubt
but you wish 10 know something about
my spiritual feelings. To give you an
| idea of 1t | will have to go back to the
beginning. believe the Lord pardon
ed my sins in the year, 1872, but not
having disposition TO express my
| feelings, like young converts, doubted
it. Those doubts continued until
went to Cripple Creek, camp-meeting,
| Wythe county, Va. l went there
deeply convicted; but could not bear
the thought of going to the mourners
bench. However through the iniiu-
ennce of Bro. Horn promised to be the
first to the altar, which was. Irecollect
no more until the Lord shined into my
heart. 1 sprang to my feet. When
opened my eyes every thing looked
bright, even the faces of the people
Being in the neighborhood where
was raised the people were much inter
ested in my conversion. commenced
exhorting them, telling them wha
preachers jumped down in the alta
twhere there were about hundred
mourners) and took me to camp, ant
Just as L entered the camp door thi
thought entered my mind: "Mayb'
that the devil has appeared to me II
an angel of light" and that momen
that glorious brightness vanished. Ny
r ioy ceased. Those doubts remained
from that time until my last Affections
Notwithstanding L lost by doubling
this great blessing / was yet babe il
Christ, doing all could for the church
for the sick and afflicted, the poor anI
needy. / was always found at th'
bedside of the sick, doing all | coul,
for them. / closed more eyes than al
the Doctors in that country. Yol
know what expense and trouble il wa
7 to take care of my Father and Mothe
until they both had their eyes close,
, in death. Notwithstanding all thi
. never had any desire to have an.
Office in Church or State l never fel
, worthy even to pray in public. Thi
r was tho effect of doubling my miracu
/ lous conversion. When L receives
i | this last stroke l saw that death wa
q in il. SO soon as | turned my mind Z
my Savior my soul was illuminated
= 4
version; except that brilliant bright
, ness. i was truly conscious that al
! was from God That is my former con
. version. / believe that God gives sigh
, | to faith in some instances. And nov
q can say to you that l have advances
towards maturity in one day more tina
q / did in forty years when | was onl
4 n babe in Christ! l know what tina
i Scripture means that says: "love Go
with all the heart, and your neighbo
! as yourself" That love has give
a wings TO my soul, and L find myself Il
a heather nations, telling about Christ
, and what Christ has done for me, an
. taking little children in my arms b6
!, lieving of such is the Kingdom {
: Heaven. | hardly know sometime
r whether | am i'm the body or out of Il
4 Death has lost its sting. When thin
u of death view ii as passing throug
!, gate that will let me in 10 that re'
n that remains for the people of Goo
~ where | shall meet my Father an
n Mother, my good sisters, and all IN
a friends that have died In Christ. l b'
q lieve my Mother will take me In h'
i bosom as Abraham did Lazarus, an
= teach me the enjoyments OF that sphei
Y Every suffering day that l pass brini
Is | inc nearer my elcIllai HohiS' huu
what st. Paul meant when he said
am ready to be offered up. Ben
when the Lord shined into my hea
the first object that presented itself
# me was the luke-warm state Of N
re- family. | found there was no practic
m religion about the house, having u
of form of godliness, but denying u
y. power. by their works they are wO
,e Shipping the god OF this world.
= gan TO exhort them, and tried 20 Co
o, vince them, and not only them b
10 every one that comes into my presenC
ne And thank God see some change.
| sent for all the preachers TO visit N
ne Some of them have come. said
A one of them, now Bro. / want you
IN analize my faith, the foundation I
re which l stand. I'll give you sta
u | ralnllnn snnla- of nv aNncrlence. j