Wilmington journal., 1876-07-14
Death OF REV ALFx J. MOR
fEHAnN

DEATH OF REV. ALFH ED j. afOR
iklNON.
1t is with much regret that we an
nnunce the uutimely death Of one who
gave such brilliant promise of toth
eminence aud usefulness. MIR. MOrri-
son was quite young in years. yet had
lived long enough to show unmistak-
ably what manner of man he was.
Elected to the Legislature almost be-
fore he was by law eligible to seat in
that body, he at once took aud all
the while maintained stand that would
have done great honor to age aud ex-
perience. His political career however
was of brief duration. The call to the
ministry was too strong for him long
to resist, and he speedily devoted his
life to the service of the Master. 1t
was never our fortune to hear him In
public on but one occasion and that, it
is not now unpleasant to recall, was
when he was making an earnest, able
and eloquent appeal to the House OF
Rel resentatives for amnesty and par
don for men who in times of grevious
oppression and high exc tement had
done violence to the majesty of the
law by taking into their own hands
the infections OF its penalties. Acct
dentally brought within the sound of
his voice, We we're held there by the
ease, directness ard logical method
with which he presented his argument
and by the eloquence and earnestness
with which he enforced it. We marked
him then as a rising man. Brilliant
indeed was the future before him, to
human eyes, when he abandoned all
the honors and emoluments of politi-
cal and professional life to become
laborer in the vineyard of the meek
and lowly Jesus. Nor was it possible
for us to restrain the feeling of regret
that unbidden arose within us because
North Carolina was about to lose from
the active duties of patriotism the ser
vices of one so eminently fitted, to do
her honor and credit. But the end
has come and quickly and sadly too,
and we can realize that Coos ways are
not as our ways. What was then re-
garded by SO many as great sacrifice
will now in the light of to day. be seen
to be the crowning triumph of his pure
and blameless life. 1t was not in sick
ness or in old age that he chose the
good part but in youth and health aud
strength and just as bright career of
honor and fame was fully opened up
to him. Verify it shall not be taken
from him.
From the Charlotte Observer
1t is with sincere pain that we an
nouuce the death of Rev. Alfred j.
Morrison, which took place yesterday
morning, in the city of Memphis,
Tennessee. The writer of this has
been thrown with Mr.. Morrison since
his childhood, graduating with him in
the same class, knew bim we'll aud init
mately up to the time of his death.
Apart from the void occasioned by the
death of one with whom we We're con
family associated throughout life. We
feel that his death will be an irrepara
BILE loss not only to his family aud
friends. but a serious loss to christi
anity and the country at large. Gifted
with rare attainments as a orator,
and possessed of a qnick and fertile
intellect, we have long regarded him
as one of the most brilliant and prom
ising young men of the Southern
States His history is au interesting
one and we'll known to many of our
readers. When scarcely beyond his
majority he was elected tn the
Legislature from Lincoln, his native
county. A bright and glorious fu-
ture opened before him in political
life, but the call of bis God was more
important with him than all the prizes
that earth with its ambitions and al
lnrements could offer. He only re-
mained in the Legislature short
while, handed in his resignation and
went Immediately Y and earnestly to the
study of the ministry. After two
years of hard study he obtained his
license at the UGion TheOlogicaI
Seminary. and spent a number of
months as an evangelist in the extreme
mountainous portion of this State, uu
til he received call from the Presby
terian church at Selma, Alabama. He
accepted the call and had been preach>
ing in Selma about six months when
his throat became affected and he left
for the Hot Springs i'll Arkansas. to
obtain some relief. The waters failed
to effect the desired cure, and on his
return he was stricken down in the
city Of Memphis with a violent fever
which ended the existence he had
entered upon with so much promise
and hope, and cut him down in the
very bloom of manhood, and in the
very beginning of his usefulness.
May the God of mercy bless and
comfort his young wife and bereaved
relatives in their aff1iction.