The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-10-30
A MEMORIAL MEETING.
TRIBUTES OF RESPECT By TIE CHAM
BER OF COMMERCE.
Garlands for tho Graves OF Cnaries M
Furman, Charles N. Hubert, Henry H.
senbrook and Thaddous Kelly.

6ariands for tho Graves OF Charles M.
Furmsp, Charles N. Hubert, Henry Il.
senbrook and Thaddous Kelly.
At tho quarterly meeting Of the Chamber of
Commerce, held on the evening OF the 2sth
instant, the president, Captain s. z. Upper,
called the attention of the members to the
deaths since their last meeting OF four OF their
number, Messrs. Charles N. FurmaD, Charles
N. Hubert, Henry E. Seabrook and Thsddeus
Kelly, and the following tributes of respect to
their memory were rendered by the gentle
men named respectively, and were ordered
to be inscribed upon the records OF the
Chamber.
Mr.. C. Richardson Niles being called upon
to express the sentiment Of the Chamber In
regard to the demise Of the late Mr.. Charles
n. Furran, responded as follows:
Mr.. Prestdent-In the absence OF distin-
guished friend, who had assumed the grateful
:tssk, I have; been honored with the request
that Twill present to the Chamber tribute to
the memory OF one Of It's venerable and vene-
rated members.
We had expected to have presented to US
this evening q tribute to the memory OF one
who was marked type OF the men Oh MS gen
eration-the late Alfred Huger. While listen
Ing to your remarks, Mr.. President, and while
looking upon that portrait which seems to
bring him among us In living presence, nave
been reminded OF phrase which was happiy
applied 70 him on memorable occasion IN
Charleston. 1t Yves at public dinner given
by the city in honor Of many guests from the
western borders Of the country. Alter Mr.
Huger had made one Of his characteristic
speeches, guest who had been greatly In
pressed with his noble bearing and massive
presence, as well as thrilled by his fervent
words, remarked to neighbor, THAT, sup
pose, ia ons of those old time men,"
In dwelling upon the peculiarltles OF sacn
men am Impressed with the thought that the
Individual character of men is as much mould
ed and formed by the social life by which they
are surrounded, and the spirit Of the time IN
which they live, as they In turn Impress their
characters upon the age.
think 1t was remarkaole ieaturs in tne
life OF South Carolina In the past, that her
greatest men were faithful In the performance
Of the humblest and most unobtrusiye and un-
ostentattous daties Of toe citizen, to an extent
which recalla the ideal of citizenship prevail
ine in the ancient republics.
In those days. ''and there were giants IN
those days,n) those whom intellect and virtue
had made noble, seemed to feel, IN reiauon 10
ofdcesof the humblest character, which were
essential TO Che welfare of the body polite, the
sentiment once 50 pointedly applied to that
which was regarded as the highest: "They
we're to be aeither sought nor declined" "
TEey accepted and fulfilled them as natural
duties of good citizen.
This train Of thought has been suggested by
the retrospect you havetaken, and has seemed
tc me to be not an Inappropriate Introduction
to the tribute which am requested to offer to
one who belonged to the same period, aud
who fully illustrated In his life the peculiar
trait tSwhich I have alluded.
When We reflect upon the character OF some
men, and consider the traits that distinguish
ed them while living, we are ready to believe
models for the emulation Of their fellows
Individuals are occasionally seen In every
community towering highly above the aver
age OF humanity In all the qualities that e4torG
reverence and admiration. Ordinary men
pass through the scenes ana tne trials OF Ds l,.s
that defsce or the virtues which exalt; and tnese
20 down to the. grave regretted and missed
6y their Immediate circle Of friends. but leave
no marks or signs which may serve as bea-
con lights to the world In which they lived
and moved and had their being.
Others again, no more favored oy clrcum-
STANCES, and having enjoyed no greater ad-
-ysrtsEes, vet ssgrasp the skirts of happy
chance, and breast The blows OF circum-
stance, b and ..moNing up from high to nigh
err till they Arsach fortunes crowning
siope,n stamp themselves upon their nme.
impress themselves upon the hearts and minus
OF their cotemporarles, vlndicate by their con-
dIlcs the mobility Of which human nature is
capable: and having sswell done work which
shsll remain pass to their rest, leaving their
names and memories as landmarks OF their
day and generation.
Such q man, lmpsrfectly sketched, was our
late lsmented honorary member, Charles ID.
Furman.
and honorable career through period or
more than ffty years Of manhood and lts
dutiss, we scarcely know how TO select from
the pra2nant record the particular virtues for
which he was pre-eminently distinguished,
and which are entitled to claim especial no.
T But Ms may, in this assembly, representing
the business Community of Charleston, appro.
priately single ont for comment one marked
peculisrity Of Mr.. Furmsn's life, and that Is
the angular completeness With Whloh ne 1al-
nlled all the duties of citizen.
Most men who have not only been the
starchitects Of their own fortune" but who
have With their own hands raised the struo-
tnre from foundation 10 turret, find their per-
sonsl occupations too engrossing to enable
Them to afford any time for public duties and
nublIc services. But 1t was not so With Mr.
Furmsn; while from early manhood engaged
In OccuDatiOu6 WliCQ A0S0r0eQ Ill Tue Cttno
which men generally are willing to devote TO
labor. he vet never shrank from any duty or
nositIop. however exactlng OF time or labor. IN
which he could serve the community. called
nom time to time by the public confidence to
some OF the highest and most responsible
positions connected with the financial and
basiness concerns of the State and city, there
was no ONCE or trust, however conspicuous,
however onerous, which he did not cheerluily
assufpe and faithfully fulfil If he felt it to be
onein;which the community had need OF dis
services. ;.s.s EOS.
Probably there has never been any man IN
the State who for 80 many years OF MS ille
served the public 10 80 many offices, which
though highly important to the welfare OF the
community, yet being entirely Without emo!-
ument, and not only troublesome but thank
less, are such ss 1t Is most difficult TO have
adequately filed. He considered 1t part OF
his duty as good citizen to accept these
humble positions as he did the higher to
which he was called, and he administered all
with like faithfulness and zeal.
It does not seem inappropriate to the "oc-
casiop to dwell tor q moment on another Pc
cnlIarity of our friend. He not only main.
famed his interest In all matters Of business
and OF public award, but he retained to most
remarkable degree zest Tor the pleasures
and rccreations Of social life.
We all of us will retain In our memories the
pleasant imageof our old friend, fall o1 age
and honors, still mfBgling with: genial interest
in the sociNl gatherings which ne SO mucn