Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-09
The LAITY.
Men that Figure in the cOnventiOH.--Lead-
ers of Methodism.

1t would be a pleasing task to furnish
mankind worthy biographical sketches Of
the great thinkers and actors of our time,
and some Plutarch will yet rise up to lift
a monument to greatness, which shall en-
dure while men admire moral and intel
lectuaI worth, and derive their choicest
lessons in life from the history of those
who have won fame and achieved great
tasks in peace and war, in the church and
in civil life. He who perpetuates the
memory of a great man tells the story
that il is read through all time.
gives Immortality to that which
was ephemeral and utilities an existence
which was almost in vain. It is not only
the soldier or statesman or distinguished
orator whose story should be recited with
simple truthful ~eloquence, but the lives
of those u~npretending men who devote
themselves 20 the service of humanity
and practice in their simple unambitious
existence those eloquent lessons of love
and virtue inculcated by their Great Mas
ter-these are they whose sacrifices are
greatest, whose temporal rewards are
least, who deserve most at the hands of
God and history. Our Savior's illimitable
greatness was in His unpretending hui
miIity, and there is a grandeur in the
moral character of him whose life is a
faultless ermOn like that delivered on
the mount, in the proper portrayal of
which the loftiest genius Of a biographer
might well exhaust Itself.
There are many modest, thoughtful,
humble Christians among representa-
tives of Methodism, now c~ongregated in
this city. Others there are, no less wor-
thy, who have been conspicuous in the
hercest struggles into which ambition or
patriotism lead their devotees. A. H.
Colquitt, a lay delegate from Columbus,
Georgia, is about as years of age. He was
born and reared in Columbus, where,
we believe, he still resides. His father
was a famous barrister, and afterward,
for many years, a member of one or the
other branch of the Federal Congress, 1t
was this Senator COlquitt of whom the
familiar anecdote is recited, which illus
trates the fact that though a statesman
and scholar, he INDUCED an irrepressibIe
love of fun. At home he was wont toun-
bend and participate in the harmless sports
of his children. A Methodist brother
passing on Sunday, so the story goes, Sem
ater Colquitt's home, found the distin-
guished layman intently engaged in a
game of marbles with his sons. The par
son :halted, and addressing Judge Col
quit, said, "Ah, brother Colquitt, l shall
be forced to report against you in heav-
"Hold, hold!7 answered COlquitt,
'tdismonut, I must take your deposition;
you may never reach the Court in which
YOU propose to testify" The son of Sem
atOr Colquitt, who sits a member of the
General Conference in this city, was a
member of the United States House of
Representatives before the war. He was
a devout States Rights Democrat, and,
among the first of soldiers in the field.
He served through the war in Lees
army of Virginia, and at the cessation of
hOstilities was, we believe, a Major Gen
eral. He is a very quiet, silent member
Of the Convention, and is only distin-
guishsble by his modest bearing and ex-
pressive, intellectual face.
Judge James F. Jackson, who sits near
General Colquitt, was for many years Cir
cult Judge in Georgia. His home is in
Athens, the most delightful abiding place
in former years, in the whole South.
Here lived Joseph Henry Lumpkin, the
orator and learned jurist, and
r& Cobb, the greatest man Georgia has
DEduced, and Howell Cobb, his elder
brother, and DIR. Lipscomb the felicitous
writer and eloquent divine, and the ven
srable Wilson Lumpkin still survives
all his associates among statesmen. lie
was twice rGovernoT and United States
when Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster and William h. Crawford were
n their prime. CraWfOrd's home was
sight miles from Athens. The Dough-
famous lawyers, were born in
Athens, and that extraordinary character
G~eorgia's domestic histary, the
'un-loving Jack Greer, was born
md lived and died four miles
rom Athens. Revolution swept
over Athens as a Bosom of desOlation.
Tom and Howell Cobb, and Joseph
Ianrw M Min and TaaE Groar
V.thip the decade, are no more. Judge
Jackson is left almost alone as the
representative Of thai body of learned
1arristers and accomplished schol-
IRIS who once invested the very name of
Athens with that sheen of glory which,
ike a vail of splendor, floats before US
Ehea the Capital of ancient Greece is
mentioned. Judge Jackson is a gentle
nan Of hrst-rate ability ana OF 1aultless
character. He was a Colonel in
he Confederate army. His age is about
10 years.
Colonel George n. Lester, of Northern
georgia, is a vigorous thinker as he was a
If We reoollect Alright, he lost his
arm at PerFyVille, and when the
said that it must be amputated,
lester answered that at home he was in
to hat arm for his bread. He con
emplated it very tenderly for a time, and
hen turning to the surgeon said, "Off
With it." The limb was removed and
lester never groaned. He was then re-
,orter for the Supreme Court of Georgia.
L IS Say enough to read Colonel Testers
.haracter in the strongly marked Inca
nents of his expressive face. He thinks
md does not hesitate to speak, while 9TH
RS speak well in view of the fact that
hey think not at all. Colonel Lester is
Of the laydelegates who do honor
o places they occupy in this ~convocation
f distinguished ~exponents Of Method