Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-05-27
eur Travelling Correspondent,
HiIlsbur0'-Xts Churches and business
Death OF rennEs Hsartt-His Funeral
HILLBoRo', n. c.. NAV 10. 1S7(

HILLBoRo', n. c., may 10, 1870.
EditorS Journal: This, as you know, is
one of the Oldest towns in our State, and
has aiwa, been famous for the refinement,
diligence and wealth OF lis citizens. Here
were and are the homes of the Ruffins, the
Nashes, the Grahams, the Camerons, and
dozens of other families which have sent
| ont men faithful, brave, learned and true,
who whether wearing the ermine, the toga
or the sword have adorned the positions
which they were called to fill, always re-
! fleeing honor on the State. Sitting on
one Of the many hills which are covered
By the rather scattering village, under the
| shade Of the noble oaks and elms which
embrace the place in their cool arms, with
| the green grass and clover covering the
ground, with the little mountains lying
dreamily in the distance, the mind feels
| the soothing, quiet influence of the scene,
| and you cannot fail to realize what made
Hillsboro' so pleasant to the literary men
who have made it their home.
| You want your correspondent to give
his ideas of places and things in such a
manner that distant readers can realize
what they look like, and all our citizens
may be mado to feel an interest in al parts
of the State. The task is difficult. Brick
Pomeroy lately published description of
Lynchburg, Virginia, which, allowing
for some little extravaganza of ex-
preston, will apply to this place,
except that the hills here are clothed with
| 10 nt ha Of
ness and whirl of binding dust. The
business of Hillsboro' consists of some
half dozen dry goods stores, two drug
| stores, the usual number of tin shops, sad
dlers, shoemakers, and great scarcity of
grog shops. Which latter fact is thought
| by ''many citizens" to be great blessing.
There are four well built churches. repre-
senting the leading denominations of PRO
testantism, each with pastor and Sunday
school, and I was informed by one of the
teachers that there were only two white
children in the place that were not en-
rolled in the Sunday schools.
During the past week we have been call.
ed to lament the decease of the venerable
Dennis Heartt, so long the editor and pro
prietor of the Hillsboro' Recorder. Truly
''his grey hairs were crowned with honor" I
and che sank into the grave attended by
the blessings of all who knew him." We
had the good fortune to be able to witness
the simple and solemn services of his
funeral. They were held in the old Pres
byterian church, of which for over fifty
years he had been ''ruling elder" They
were conducted by the Rev. W. @. Smith,
the pastor, who opened with the Gath
Hymn:
''How bes't the righteous when he dies.
When sinas the weary soul to rest
followed by prayer, and reading the XIV
chap. Corinthians and part of the ~ |
chap. Thessalonians, commencing ut the |
which without taking text he delivered
a short and solemn discourse.-I
He opened with a tribute to the memory
of the deceased, related in part his long |
service to Christ and the Church and asked |
very feeIirgly, "Who among you shall |
come forward to take his place? On
whom shall his mantle fall. ellis work |
accomplished, failing from age here, we
trust he has gone where he shall gain new
strength for the new duties Of eternity" |
''The word of God assures US that the hour |
cometh when they that are in their graves
shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and |
they that hear shall live, and this presses
the question, awful and solemn as it is, |
will my resurrection be unto life or unto |
death ? Consider it Mediate upon it. |
The vast majority of mankind are shot in |
W SGCIAAOJ A4uCI 6OOuOL LudA A1Os OSAOLO
fifty years we shall all be done with earth |
What then Upon your resolutions of
this hour may depend the ISSUE" To the
mourning relatives he addressed O few
words: "Human consultations are delight |
full, but they cannot suffice, they are pow
erless to afford solid comfort. Go1 alone
can give you the grace which shall COM
fort you in this hour Of distress. May he
impart it abundantly through our Lord
Jesus Christ" The service closed with
the 424th Hymn. After which the coffin was
carried out into the grave yard and de-
posted in its final resting place. L do not
pretend to give fully the remarks of the
speaker but merely the outline of the dis
course.
It is said that this old grave yard is SO
full that it is difficult to dig grave with
out cutting through bones of persons who
have been buried so long that all record
of them is lost. Fortunately in this case
the earth has never before been disturbed,
and he went to his grave as he had lived
through life disturbing nobody, having
his right to sepulture III the bosom of his
mother earth without interfering with the
rights of others. Men who had stood be-
fore listening Senates, bore the shock of
many q battlefield, and passed on great
questions of State placed the earth quietly
over his breast and departed, no doubt,
with the wish in their hearts, though un-
expressed, MAY my last end be like his. "
Yours,
Tr TEAEGIT