Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-10-30
OBITUARY..

manly frame yielded To the burden OF Old
age, and at the bidding of the God he ~
loved and trusted he gave up the contest
1t saddcned very many hearts to know
that Major JOSIAH II. Gill. was dead.
The writer knew and loved him we'll, and
finds il a source of EXTREMIST regret that
it is not in his power to render in fitting
terms the ample tribute that is but just to
his memory.
The sweet singer of Israel in Que of his
most beautiful Psalms asks:
Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernaclei
Who shall dwell III Thy holy hill'
All those who knew the good old man of
whom We write will bear us witness that
he, as near rs it WAS possible for MORTAL
verified the description which follows
ale that walketh nprightly, aud work
In his heart;
He that baekbiteth not with his tongue.
nor docth evil to his neiglbor, nor taketh
up rcproach against his Deighbor;
In whose eyes u vile person il condemned;
but he that honoreth them that fear the
Lord; he that swearrth in his own heart,
and changetb not;
He that putteth not out his money to
usury nor takctli reward against the limo
ceut-Iie that doeth all these things shall
never be moved"
We know that it is but too common to
extravagantly laud the dead; but in this
instance it happens that no voice will ever
be heard TO dispute the words of praise
here written, for our friend was oil that il
good and acceptable in the sight Of the
Lord.
Mai. JOSIAH II. GILL W a. born in Chester
District, South Carolina, on the 24th day
! of July l77H, aud died on the 10th day Of
October 1873. He became church men,
Der early in life. He WAS made an elder
in the Presbyterian church When = young
man. and although he attached himself to
the Methodist church in after years be-
cause there was no Presbyterian church
near the place to which he removed in
Georgia, he always remained true to the
church of his early choice, aud several
years ago he became a member aud elder
in the Presbyterian organization in
Homer.
As an elder he was specially efficient.
All of the largo congregation vino heard
the Rev. J. T. Davidson preach his fu-
neral will remember how elequently and
foelingly the pastor told Of his ministration.
How he loved his brcthren how sad be
was when some ono seemed about TO wan
der from the fold; how earnestly he strovc
to reclaim them; how happy he was when
they gave evidences Of repentance and
reform. There are some who will read
these lines tha, will tcarfully remember
the loving advice and adrnonitions Of
Father Gill.
Our dead friend had remarkable menu
Org. From iu seemingly inexhaustible
stores he would relate to the young who
always loved to bear him talk, many incl
dents Of his long life All innocent and
pure, all interesting and very many full of
instruction. Ne had hoped to relate many
Of them in this notice but have space for
only one.
When the Marquis De Lafayette visited
the United States in ISIS We believe,
| when h. entered South Catoliua he was
received with marked honnrs. MaJ. Gill
was the orderly sergeant of the company
of cavalry which escorted the distinguish
| ed Frcnchman from the Georgia line Ia
the State Capital. II was with parlona-
BILE pride that he would relate all the in-
cidents Of this trunphal progress. His
description Of Lafayette was vivid and
| lifelikc. He told how with courily grace
he inspected the company, and with what
politcness and earuestness he stated to
| the captain: IL have reviewed troops
more handsomely uniformed, older soldiers,
bat have never seen in my Whole life
hand-omcr body of men than your troop"
Mai. Gill was link that connected the
present with past aud noblcr generation.
When he came into the world many Of
the fathers Of the Republic were alive.
He grew up under their teaching, and re-
membering the nation as it was in his
youth, he looked with horror and righte-
ous Indignation upon the corruption and
immoralities Of the present day.
The deceased had always b@p highly
houored by the people among whom he
lived. He was at one time member of
the Georgia Legislature, aud was for many
years q justice Of the peace,
The last time that we saw our old
friend alive he was very week and feeble.
With whispering voice he told us that for
two years he had laid aside all worldly
care, that he had long ceased to handle