Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-22
NUMBER %


view him simply as man called by God
70 the great work Of preaching the Cos
fel. this marks Aim at ouce ~ a great
Thlss e issslf Z there were, 4lo-
.slll4el 1olsisisfstiol. osiid .aleogetier
Sufficient to verify aud justify the de-
claration that has been made. simply a
minister OF Jesus Christ, honOred Of
God by that high vocation, he was re-
moved from the ordinary plane Of human
existence, and made the recipient Of
distinguished honor that came not from
man, but from the Lord God. He is hon
ored indeed, who is hOnored of God.
Paul so regarded it, and to his dying day
never ceased to rejoice in the simple fact
that he was a minister Of his Lord and
Master. The honOrs OF man, which are
conferred by men, are sometimes deemed
worthy the ambition OF mortals, and are
sought with an eagerness that knows no
tiring; but what are they compared with
this unspeakabie gift, and how poor they
seem in the last summing up OF life. The
thrill Of that heart now silent in death
depicted in the radiant glow Of his eoua-
tenanee when reyerting to the fact that
he had been set apart by the Holy Ghost
to preach Christ cruclfied to a lost world.
was worth more in a moment than sIl
the hOnOrs this world can ever bestow.
But IN his distinctive character rs min
lister, he was prince and a great man.
IL was thr exclusive work of his life in
which his whole heart was engaged He
preached, not from a sense OF duty-as
some men keep the sabbath, or come to
the Lords table-but because he loved to
preach. To him there was a fascination
in the privilege of preaching the gospel.
He loved his work as he loved his Lord.
II was no cross or sacrifice, bur a work Of
love for which he was ever ready, and in
which he took a growing interest and
pleasure. II so absorbed his mind that 1t
filed him with rapture that animated
his whole being, and often carried him
beyond the fraii physical strength with
which he was endowed. The. matter Of
his preaching was always Of the purest
and simplest character. His great power
lay deep down in his heart, and in his
public ministry tbs seemed to be an in
exhaustible fountain of Inspiration aud
love. He preached what he knew to be
true from rich and blessed experience,
and habitually confirmed every word by
the infallible truth Of God. His sermons
were simply reflections from his own
heart which made them ever rich with
spiritual truth and burn with living
thoughts. His constant theme was, the
free and sovereign grace OF God, which
he preached with an amazing power that
was the wonder of all and the joy of
many, No man could surpass him in
clearness. His manner was his own. He
had his own way of looking at truth and
his own peculiar style of presenting il to
others. The feeling with you was, no
one ever preached like him and he viii
never have successor Always animated
and earnest, his care was TO make known
the truth, fasten it upon the conscience
and give you something to think Of that
would do you good
In his forms Of expression he was per-
fectly simple-even AS child, while his
illustrations and manner Of presenting
them were only such as you would expect
from him..
But, brethren, let me ask you, are you
prepared to meet him at the Judgment
bar? What saecount will you be able
to give for the favor Of hearing, so many
years, that great and good man faithfully
unfolding TO you that precious gospel (?
How did you receive his message? How
did you heed his counsel? II you have
not believed, if You are still the enemy
of Christ, oh, let me ask you now, IN the
presence Of that once eloquent but now
silent witness how can you bear to know
that he may be in the judgment, swift
witness against you,
shall say but little with regard 70 his
character as presbyter. He was prompt
and always faithful. Honored and great
ly beloved by all, his cOunsels were val
liable, and generally decisive. No man
enjoyed TO a higher degree the universal
esteem of his brethren than he did. We
all loved him very tenderly indeed.
With sad and heavy hearts viii they
meet, one week from to-day, and behold
the dark void which death has made.
You may be assured that every heart in
that assembly will partake of the feeling
Of this congregation.
Finally, as a christian, he was prince
and a great man. He loved the Lord Je-
sus Christ. He believed the bible. His
distinguishing characteristic was his he
roic faith. IL was this which seemed to
raise him above the rest of us. He was
! in pre-eminent degree man of faith,
who regarded it his privilege to believe
whatever God has said. Faith was his
I strong fortress in every trouble. In his
/ faith he was as simple as he was in his
I life. He believed il was his privilege TO
ask for God for everything. And now,
I friends, should it be thought strange
/ thing that the end of such a man should
( be peace? After such a life we would
reasonably expect the closing scene 10 be
one of triumph, and that even death
would be robbed of its terrOrs. Thanks
be to God, in this we were not disap-
/ pointed. He died as he lived, preaching
the gospel. No fear beclouded his vision
as he came down to the dark waters, but
/ laying aside frai and feeble body in
which for years he had been suffering, he
put on the mantle prepared for him, and
went up with an everlasting song unto
the marriage Of the Lamb.
His personal history is soon recorded
He was born in Mecklenburg county, n.
C., in the year 1921. At the age of TWEEN
ty-two he gave his heart TO the Lord.
He was licensed to preach in 1916 by the
Presbytery OF Orange, and by the same
was ordained the following year. For
twenty years he continued to preach rs a
faithful herald in his native State, where
he was Instrumental in doing much
GOOD. Iu 1867 he was called 10 this
church, which he accepted to the great
good of many Of you. His death which
occurred yesterday, March 10th, was a
happy and triumphant one.
May God, in his infinite love, bestow
upon you, dear bereaved ones, His Holy
Spirit, and ill you always with that
spirit which animated the heart Of our
dcardcparted brother, Cyrus h. Caldwell