Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-09-02
Grassy valley news.

CRAWFoRDSVILLE, Aug. oil, 1873 =
Mr.. EDITOR: The Rev. j. B. Porter,
the young pastor of the Washington Pres
byterian Church, has left for Union Theo-
logical Seminary, New York, where he
will spend another year in com pleting his
course of study in theology. Recently,
upon invitation, he preached a very inter-
esting discourse in Corinth Church. Just
before the close of his work at Washing
ton, he held missionary concert on Sun
day night, in which he was assisted by the
Rev. M. Tedford, of Maryville. The ex-
ercises were of avery interesting character.
We will all miss this noble young brother
from our midst during the year. He is
universally liked, I believe. by all denom-
nations, and is the special pride of his
own Church. He will 20 into any church
and go to work, where invited, whether it
be Presbyterian, Methodist or Baptist, or
any other denomination. Brother Porter
cogoizss Christian workers as his brethren
wherever he finds them. Thus, by pos
sessing the "mind of Christ" he has en-
deared US all to him, and which has given
him great influence for good among all
classes. He sess most worthy example to
all our ministerial brethren everywhere, to
be more of Christian than sectarian.
In preaching his las. sermon at Wash
ington on Sunday, after witnessing the
most triumphant death of Miss Cynthia
Anderson on Friday night, he alluded to
her death in most touching and enthusi-
astic terms. He said, privately, that he
was sorry he could not prepare and preach
one more sermon before leaving. In
speaking now, in the more calm moments,
of her death, would here observe that it
was the most remarkable that ever occur
red in the history of our people. It has
produced a most salu'1ry effect upon all
the surrounding country. Her death was
the theme of the Sunday night prayer
meeting at Corinth Church. She has left
a record and testimony of the power of q
Christian life and the happiness of Chris
tian death, which is more potent for good
upon the living than thousand sermons.
To those who could not visit her, she
sent most tender messages. Many, old
and young, heretofore Indifferent to the
claims of Christianity, wept at her bedside
as she pressed heme to their hearts some
Scriptural truth and exacted promise
rom their trembling lips. She remem-
bered the rich and poor alike, and called
in the colored servants around her and
| ly of their duties in life and their reward
in Heaven. She sent most loving mes.
sage to her Church, at Washington, which
was delivered on Sunday, after
Mr.. Porters sermon, by J. j. Thomp-
son. She also sent cheering words
to her Sunday School at Fancy Hill
which was delivered by Jas. III. Crawford
Her death-chamber was the scene OF the
most touching and thrilling interest fol
several days and nights before she expired
While her emaciated form lay almost en-
| tirelv helpless on account of the loss Of
bodily vitality. yet she chung to life with
wonderful tenacity,- her mind clear, her
eyes sparkling with intelligence and her
countenance ali radiant with happiness and
intense interest. Friends and relatives
visited her from many distant parts Of
| East Tennessee, all of whom received q
most kind and solemn message from her
| dying lips. Those who had not yet visited
her she sent for, pleading with those who
were not christians to seek Christ and
meet her in Heaven. The Christians
she would exhort to go forth and
do more to save the lost and live
more devoted to the cause of Christ
in the church and Sunday School.
| Her funeral exercises were conducted in q
most imp essive manner by The Rev. Mr..
Caldwell, of Bristol the Rev. MIR. Heron,
of Spring Place Church, and the Rev. Mr..
Porter. The music was sweetly rendered,
led by Mr.. Charles Conner, with Mrs. DIR.
Bently at the organ
Thus, while We grie7e oyer her loss, we
do rejoice in the rich legacy she has left
those who follow her. It does seem she has
done more for the living in her death than il
was possible to do had she lived.
| 81 W. R, NJ