The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-06
From the A Presh eerian.l
Rev. j. G. Williams.
HUSTERsv1LLE,Y N. g., :,

u 4
July 18th, 1873,
:. Bro. Bonner: It is not desirable
to. be the bearer Of sad tidings, but
it is duty. 1 am just
from a s'house of Mourning On
the 9th inst, my neighbor
and brother, Rev. J. c. Williams,
formerly Of Your village, and an
A!umnus of Erskine College, was
paralyzcd in the pulpit. 1t occurred
in the morning while the congrega-
ton were singing the second time
before sermon. -
About his manner there was
nothing noticed by the congrega
ton at large: Only few recoIiect
anything unusual which would have
been thought of again but for the
stroke. But from the choir in the
gallery the eye Of his daughter de-
tected something wrong. So sure
was she that she came down and
requested a gentleman to go,to the
pul pit and inquire. He was yet
setting upright, or rather leaning
back against the end of the sofa.
To the inquiry, care you ilf?' he
answered, mo, no." But an effort
to rise revealed to the whole con-
ore cation that their beloved pastor
was stricken. 1t would be folly for
nv pen to attempt description.
Your imagination and sympathy
can much more readily depict the
scene and feel the astonishment
and grief that seized on the people,
of which the paroxysms were re-
newed and augmented by the arrl:
val of his devoted wife who had
stayed that day with sick son:
The week previous he had been
engaged in preparing a special
sermon for that day on the duty of
distributing. the Bible; but there
is no reason to think that he was
more than ordinarily taxed. He
had been complaining a little of a
cold and sometimes of a headache.
But there was nothing to cause any
apprehension. 49,
lie is yet in the land of the
living. right side paralyzed, almost
speechless, yet rational. y ct, while
our wishes would lead us to hope,
we have not much encouragement
that way. ..... @>.-1' EsJ'
To his family and congregation it,
is a time of painful suspense,
adapted to raise many disquieting
thoughts. These can be met only
by the consideration that God
that he is father to the
fatherless, a husband to thewidow,
and the shepherd of Isreal.
The congregation of Hopewell
feel that brother Williams came t.
them in the time of their great
need. Under Providence he has
been of great service to them.
Should he now Crest from his la
bors," he will leave a united and
working congregation, that is'worth
his removal here, and all the labor
lie has been Gods in
strument for that work. - @ -.
The people appreciate the ser !.
vices rendered, and give many suh-
stantial proofs Of the same. With
a straight forward practical kind
hcartedness, they do whatever a
thoughtful mind suggests as gneces-
sary: hire and send f2r the help of
the family an extra Servant, send
in corn, wheat, -four, ham, mutton,
butter. in a word everything which
might be needed.
I write these things for three
reasons: Bro. Williams, though
not enthusiastically one Of US, has
through his relations to Due West
very many friends among the read
ers of the Presbyterian, who, though
made sad by the news OF his afflic-
ton, will rejoice that his sfamily
are among friends. -
The thoughtfulness of the people
is worthy of imitation; and the
record will doubtless ''provolSe"
others to like kind thoughtfulness.
1t will encourage other ministers
and their families, when the way
before them looks dark and cheer
less, to trust in the Lord. "Whoso
is wise and will observeth these things,
even they shall understand the low
ing kindness Of the Lord
A. RANSOM. !