The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-02-25
Robert Stuart Bruins.

IatneTS VI tue COu,mOuWealtu, MS Ia
bors ended ond his good work done
touches with sadness, tho hearts O
the people whom he served but th
sorrow is deeper and more enduring
when tho shaft Of the fell archie
pierces tho breast Of ono who is still
in the prime Of active life, richly en-
dowcd with intellect and culture, AZ
ornament to his couutry and th:
pride of, bis State. Such man wa,
Robert Stuart Bruins, whose death, on
Saturday morning, it is our poinful
duty to announce. For long and
weary mouths, he lay PRONE on the
bed of sickness, bearing untold tor.
lures with the fortitude Of the stole
aud the patient resignation Of the
Christian. Day by day, he drew
nearer to tho. gates ajar.. Fully con.
scious, for years past, that his career
was about to close, he looked calmly
iuto the future, and mover for a mo-
ment lost tho blithe checrfuncss
which was a>prom:nent trait of his
character. Some time bofore his
death, he became a communipg mem.
Der Of the Protestant Episoopal
Church, eagerly eth bracipg tho cross
which ,le Master had reduircd him
TO bear. AS he had fortitudo beyond
most men,it was meet, in Gods eye,
that his sufferings should bo beyond
those to which poor humanity is
ordinarily heir. AS be had borne
wounds aud doors innumerab!o with.
out mu,,uur or complaint, it was
ncot, in Gods mercy, that his daying
moments should be as peaceful as
those of u slumbcripg child. III has
passed through the dark vale, and at
last is ut rest.
Mr.. Bruins was born in Charleston
on the 7th Of September, 1884, and
was the sccond son of Henry M.
Bruins, L. l.. u. After finishing his
education, he began bis business life
IN the house Of Bancroft, Belts Il
Marshall. a few years later he en-
tered the Bank Of Charleston, where
he filled the position of cash book
keeper up to the breaking out of the
war in 1861. He was among the
fist of Char eston's tons to tcnde.
tiraogn; tne hard. fought campaigns
in the West. lie subsequently, went
to the battle fields of Virginia,
whc'e he served for time on, the
staff of Gen. Evans. While acting
iu this capacity he was SO severely
wounded in one Of tho earlier on
gagcmcnts of the war, as to compel
his retirement rom the rigorou, and
cxacting duties OF field service. lie
went immcdiatcly to Columbia,
where the Confederate treasury was
located, and gave his further aid to
his country as deputy to the assist
ant treasurer, for which position his
long acquaintance with banking
operations peculiarly fitted him, and
the responsible duties Of which he
discharged with signal ability.
The burning of Columbia and tho
quickly following collapse of the
Southern cause CON pletely exhausted
his ,esurccs, but with the elasticity
of temperament that was character
istic of him, he entered at once into
the auction business, and by his ex"
ample and influence infused new
energy into many who wero woll
nigh despairing. Shortly after this
he returned to Charleston first en-
tering the grocery busincts with Mr..
Bee, and in November, 1867, form
ing, with W. Y. Leitch, an auction
and commission partnership, which ho
continued up o tn time Of his dc.
| cease.
In Masonry, Mr.. Bruins was nni-
.versally and justly regarded as one
of the distinguished of the rising
generation in the South, having at.
tanned eminonce both as a ritualist
and in the more occult departments
of the order. He was initiated and
raised in Orange Lodge, No, Ia, Of
this city, in 1856, Of which. lodgo ho
WAS elected Master in 1859, and
twice reelected. Here he showed
great carr estDcss and enthusiasm in
his studies, laying, by skilIful labor,
! the solid foundations of his future
Masonic career. AT the annual com
III unication of the Grand Lodge Of
this State in 1865, he was. elected
Junior Grand Warden, and in 1866
Grand Secretary, in the discharge
Of the duties Of which Office his re.
ports on foreign CORE pondenoe gain.
ed a prompt recognition Of his tai.
cnts. TO this office, he was ro-eleot-
ed in lS67-6S, but declined further
rc-elec,ion, In 1872, he was elected
Grand Master, and continued in the
faithful discharge Of the responsible
duties Of the position until Dccem-
Der last, when his rapidly failing
health induced him to resign tho
office. His farewell address was
read by his successor in office, Gen.
J. B. Kershaw, and excited univer.
sal admiration by the cbastoness and
beauty Of its tone and style. In that
address, he foreshadowed his ap-
preaching death Charlesto" News