The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-09-24


Rev. Austin Willis Smith. pastor o.
the Methodist Church, in this place
| died at the Parsonage, yesterday morn
! ing, at 1l:35, calmly and peacefully, as q
| babe at rest: He mad been sick more
than a month, aud Tor nearly three
weeks, his life has hApg rs it were, on
| a single thread; "a aesks he has been
nursed and visited, @ kind and s. npa>
| thizing friends, and everything that hu-
man science, and skill, aud love could
do, has been done to keep him with us,
but all in vain. DR.. Smith was soat
here in Octob r, 1869, from Lebanon, 10y
the Tennessee Conference, and he 50
won the affection and loYe of his people,
that he was kept here for fonr years,
which was as long as tho Methodist
Church allows a minister to be sent to
one place consecuCively. Just As soon
AS it was posi- bic to get him back, ~
the expiration of a Conference year, the
people here, Methodists, Cumberland
Presbyterians, Presbyterians, Baptists,
Episcopalians, and those who belonged
to no church-everybody white and
black, who had chance, said to tbs
delegate to the Conference, "Be certain
to bring us DIR. Smith," Had he lived
he would have been kept here for an
other four years, and then after the
lapse OF another year to meet the
church law, he would have been
brought back, as long as he lived. And
he would have come, let the pay be
small or large, it was all the same to
him. He didn't work for pay, but for
his Master, whom beloved, with love
that was more than love; and loving
Him, he loved the people, especially
the poor people. And the poor people
loved him During his sickness, every
body you met, asked the question, "HOW
is DIR. Smith," Probably no man ever
died in our town, who had so won the
respect, esteem and affection of every
body. His open, manly face invited
the friendship of all who mot him, and
he always had kind and cheerful
greeting for everybody. And when be
came to die, the last ray of cOnciOus-
ness that emanated from his face, Yves
bright smile for the grief ones
assembled around his bed. AEo thus
passed away, to his Savior, as noble
spilit as ever lived. He was OF such
materf0l as martyrs are made-all gems
tleness, love and purity, but firm in
matters OF principle, as the everlasting
hills. The world is better because he
has lived in it, and is a loser now that
he has left it. As soon as be died the
PreSbyterians unanimously rendered
their Church for the funeral services.
DIR. d. G. Kelley, of Nashville, who is
very like DR.. Smith in disposition and
whom he greatly lOYed, came out TO see
him Friday night, and consented to
preach his funeral, which will take place
tomorrow morning at half past ten
o'clock. in the Presbyterian Church
The Knights Templar took charge Of
the corpse, and furnish the following
Pail Bearers:
r. w. KEEsEE,
n. f. CHEAIRS,
q. w. Polk,
w. b. GORDON,
4. NJ. HUGHES, JK.
l. H ATrWELL.
Tho Stewards Ofthe Matholjs, Church
met and selected ire following Pail
Bearers:
THOs. II. WILLIAMS,
GEO. CHILDRESS,
w. \. LATTA,
NJ. RUTTLE,
JOHN Z. Brown,
GEO. G. MINER,
ADAM CEAFT
The new Methodist Church viii lee |
draped appropriately, and no doubt The |
will close their houses and |
attend the services.
The Good Tomplars, of which order |
DR.. Smith was a member, will attend |
the funeral services in a body; likC~i-e |
the Methodist Sunday School