The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-06
ABBEVIlIE. c., WEDNESDAY, AUGUSTs6. 1873
entered this Society. Illustrious good

men give character to the enterprise
ip which they are. engaged ). their
good name is the most valuable inner
Iitance of any people. In addition t.
their good works they leave the
priceless boon of their example
which, amid the darkness, throws a
glow Of light npon the pathway Of
their successors, and at the same. time
em mblazons. their shame if. they fall
short and disregard that high exam.
1ple. In illustrious., good men this
Society has been most fortunate. 1t
would afford me great pleasure to
sketch, not only the characters Of the
officers of the Society, but the private
mem bcrs, who were equally good and
worthy mon, with most Of whom ]
have been personally acquainted, bnt
the time allowed for. this address will
not permit it. I trust, however, that
I will he excused in referring special.
lily to the Two Presidents that have
preceded me. Patrick Noble, the
first President, was a lawyer of dis
tinction, member Of the Legislature
speaker Of the House, and for time
President of the Senate. He4was
Governor of. the State when he died !;
and, none than all, was good man
and a christian gentleman. d. IL.
Wardlaw. was the successor Of Gov
ernor Noble. OF him it, does npt be.
come me to speak in terms of enlogy.
Indeed. if it swere proper, would
not trust myself to do 80. He has
hut recently gone from among us
The now grave of David Lewis
Wardlaw has scarcely. closed over
him, and the events of his life, with
out any recapitulation upon my part,
ARE fresh In the minds of oil. The
general sorrow; best. attests the uni
versal Judgment as to his character
Suffice it'to.say, that throughout bis
long life, as one Of us, in all his rela-
tions, both public and private, bis
polar star. was duty, and his most
striking characteristics fidelity and
truth. It is remarkable 3co-inei:
dence, that whilst. Governor Noble.
member from Abbeville, was Presi.
dent of the Senate, Judge Wardlaw.
member from Abbeville, was Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
Many of our laws bear the signatures
of both. They .were ;emphatically
representative men. We think that
we hazard little in saying that the
high character of Abbevile for irtel-
Iigence, integrity, and moral tone, is
to large extent due, to the high
character Of her early leaders-such
men as Governor Noble, Judge
Wardlaw, and their compeers
Iu taking a retrospect of the Socie-
ty, we have felt no little interest to
find one living man Of that number
of worthy men ho first entered the
Society, but have not been able to do
so. It is believed that they are all
gone, They. did their work faithful
ly,. and are gone to their reward.
rhe work Of the Society ia not yet
). mueh, has been left their
successors to do.
Let US look forward a little. Who
of US that are now taking part in
these activr scenes will be here at
the end: of fifty years. from this time?
One by one we will pass away, as
those that have preceded MS have
done and at the centenary anniver-
sary it. is probable that not one Of US
will be with the living. This admon:
ishes us to heed the injunction of
wisdom: "Whatsoeverithy hand find
eth to do do it with thy might for
there is no. work, nor d vice, nor
knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave,
whittier thou goest." ~ - '.' I
.il.:.-l.s -3rrg.l3 go .-, I'D !