The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-06-28
REV. JAMES NELSON.
From the Snow Flake.l

From the Snow Flake.l
Seldom in the history OF mortality ha
there been recorded the death Of an lndt
vidual which has produced a profounder I'M
preston of loss or more lively regrets there
for, among a greater number OF persons
than that of Rev. JAMES NELSON. 1ht
friends of religion throughout this and the
adjoining States of Louisiana and Arkan sa'
where his labors as Gospel minister have
| been most abundant, universally feel tnai
their cause has sustained great, a we'll
| nigh irreparable loss for In the work OF an
evangelist, to which, for the last pine years,
/ he for much of his time devoted himself, ne
/ was remarkably successful. OF the multi
| tudes who listened to his earnest appeals,
| great numbers, through the grace OF HIM
/ whose servant be was, were induced TO turn
| from the error of their ways" and embrace
| the truth he preached. Education, through
| all her departments, feeling her incalcu!able
| loss Joins in lamentations over his demise
For years himself teacher, he had imbibed
| the very spirit of education, and under the
influence Of this spirit he became her cham
pion, wherever he went, and with all the
zeal of his ardent nature, labored TO
build up her institutions. Ministerial
education WAS his special love. Called
by his brethren to the position of Agent
and Secretary of its Board, he sought out
the young men who felt that woe Is
me if preach not the Gospel but were
hesitating because they saw no way III which
they could obtain the literary preparation
needed for their work, counseled them as to
the course they should take, and appealed
TO the benevolence of his denomination for
their support, till money in abundance
flowed into the treasury of the Board TO sus-
tain all who sought its benetactIons.
Through his persuasive advocacy, this cause
from little rill became mighty river OF
influence. Having made this interest IN
the main self-sustaining, he turned aside
from it to the direct advocacy of the cause
Of Mississippi College in its Centennial eff
fort to raise an endowment and in his
preme effort in her behalf he laid the foun-
dation for that disease which SO uneXpect-
edly, and for the cause, so dlsastrouslY,
ended his life. Devoted rs he was to these
two great interests of education, he by no
means failed to recognize the the claims OF
female education, but as Il Trustee OF our
Institute, took warm interest IN her wei
fare, and in every way eXerted his influence
in her behalf Long will it be ere teachers
or pupils forget his frequent visits and the
encouragement impaired by his genial pres
ence and kind words. But not only has his
death occasioned feeling of loss sustained,
in the hearts of friends of religion and edu-
cation, but in the hearts of the members of
the communities where he was known.
All looked upon him as q true gentle
man, genial, kind, benevolent; of great
enterprise and strict integrity, and in
every way a good and useful citizen.
Within the last few months, men count
ing their wealth by millions, men great
in learning and high in position, have
died and yet we fear not to say, the death
of none of these has awakened such wide
felt sense of bereavement and such a num-
Der Of heartfelt regrets as that of the one
whose name stands ut the head of this article
And here, did our limits allow, it would
be both pleasant and profitable to analyze
the character of our noble friend and set
forth, in a more extended form, the traits
therein discovered, which made him a sue
cess as a man. a Christian and minister;
but for want of space we can only suggest a
few of these traits and leave it to others to
enlarge the outlines of this pleasant picture
and fill it up by their own reflections. As
a man he was energetic, not above nor afraid
Of work, genial in his intercourse with his
fellow men, and of the strictest integrity In
all of his business transactions us a Chris
tian, piety had made an entire CONQUEST of
him, bringing into submission to her man
dates his every power, all his plans and
aims, causing him to seek to know the Dl-
vine will and to follow its commands, re-
sarQlezs Cf the opposition to be met, the
obstacles to he surniouHted, dr tie SACRIFICES
to be made; is Il minister and preacher, he
laid claim to no marked originality OF talent.
Deprived of the advantages of a liberal edu-
cation, he boosted not of eruditiOn, yet, with
ont any extraordinary elOquence of manner
or diction he drew 90. .e-i mum pelN W ne''
hm-gained their attention. convinced anu
persuaded to an extent seldom effected by
other than the most successful etaHgfllsts.
This great success, so far as human agency
was involved, seemed to have been the re-
suit of the deep earnestness of his manner
arising from the profound conviction he felt
of the truths he preached. His auditors
felt that in him there was no acting part,
but that his utterances came from soul
fired with a burning zeal to do them good.
This same earnestnesS of spirit characterized
him in all his effolts, and made him success
full in all the causes whose interests he
sought to promote.
Such character and career As his are
rich legacy to youth, profitable as study
and worthy of imitation