Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-08

Action Of the stephens Home Assoeia-
sion gCoIoredA.

Action Of the stephens Home Assoeia-
ton tCoIored1-
Editor Merafag gescs: At a meeting Of
the stephens Home Association (eolored)
Of the city Of Savannah. held on Tuesday.
9th inst, Abraham Burke. by invitation
Of the society, made the following remarks
upon the death Of his late Exeelleney
Governor Alexander b. Stephens:
1Hr. President and Members of the STE
gAeHS Home Association. One OF the most
Ilustrious and most beloved pers9nage
this state has ever produced, His keel
lencv Al. 1T. stephens. late Governor
Of Georgia. is no more. alter having
filled the measure Of his duty q
his country and assured his own political
fame. On every occasion he performed
MS duty 10 his country. not only Win Ahat
fidelity and devotion which becomes
good citizen. but with that WISDOM anu
paternai -solicitude which have obtained
for him the esteem Of mankind. Inc
venerable counsellor was known a.
Christian gentleman. whose WISDOM
moderation and integrity endeared MN 70
the hearts Of his people. he mas Deeh
called at last By the Almighty Father, we
hope TO the enjoyment Of that rich reward
which is promised 10 those who act well
their part on earth.
=
Of affection and sorrow on the departure
Of those whose virtues and goodness have
endeared them TO our hearts. Ii eleYates
the finer feelings Of our natures Inc
sons and daughters OF 6eorgla- OF
both races. mourn the loss OF III. Ste
phens with a community soFroW. Inc
4 feelings of the people have been mani
I tested in measures of respect and yenera-
I tiOn worthy Of peoples anecuOn ana
gratitude
Governor Stephens was truly Chris
tian gentleman. To his equals he was
courteous. to his interiors kind and 10 the
dear object Of his affections exemplaTlly
T tender, Vice shuddered in his presence.
/ Virtue always felt his fostering hand.
I The purity Of his private character gave
Z effuIgence to his public virtues.
The last scene cOmpOrted with the whole
4 tenor Of his career. Although in extreme
/ pain not a sigh. not a groan, escaped him,
I and with undisturbed serenity he closed
( his weIl-spent life.
When We asunder part
1t gives Is inward pam:
But we shall still be Joined IN heart
And hope to meet again.
have the honor 70 present 10 you a let
/ ter from Mr.. Stephens in his own hand
f writing. which viii throw light upon the
+ kindly regard be had for the colored race:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
/ ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 3, 1888.
4 Abraham Burke, Corresponding secretary
/ Of the Stephens Home for The Old, Aged
/ and Incurable, Savannah, Ga:
/ DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 2Sth ult..
/ requesting me 10 address the cOlOred citi-
4 zens Of Savannah on the afternoon of the
I 18th day OF February next, in the interest
I Of the Stephens Home, was received sew
I eral DAYS ago. You must excuse the de-
I Law Of nv response. 1t has been Occa-
stoned BY the absence Of my private secre-
tary on a visit home during the holidays.
/ Allow me now to say that if my health
i and strength will permit me, will COM
/ ply with your request and make the ad-
dress you wish. / cannot now make
positive promise, but YOU NAV let it be
/ known that / will make the address if my
physical condition win enable me TO do
/ so. With earnest wishes for the success
of YOUR enterprise, / remain very truly
yours. ALEXANDER III. STEPHENS.
1t was on the afternoon Of the 18th of
I February, in the city OF Savannah, thatI
/ had the honor of being one Of the COM
mittee that held the interview with our
4 departed friend with the view Of obtain
ing his influence and aid to erect a home
I for the old, aged and incurable Of our race.
I We were received with all honor, and the
+ last words heard fall from his lips was
/ when be said to his private secretary:
I Take the name Of the Rev. j. \. Nesbit
q ana MS post DIHEE duuEESss 54dAA HEnn
/ to him fifty dollars TO be added TO the sub
7 scriptiOn as my contribution towards the
. home for the old and afflicted c0lOred
Z people," He further stated that he would
( take an active part 10 help MS TO complete
I the home.
| Such was the man we have lost. Such
+ was the man for whom our people mourn.
Methinks ! see his august image and hear
Z falling from his venerable lips these deep
+ sinking words, ''Cease, sons and daughters
/ Of Georgia, lamenting our separation. 90
4 on and confirm By your wisdom the fruits
/ Of my counsel Our advOcatOr for the
/ home for the old, aged and afflicted is no
I more. He is gone to rest with his God,
and we must submit to the will Of an all
+ gracious Providence.
I But when monuments shall have crum-
+ bled, when nations now existing shall be
no more. when even our far-spreading
/ empire shall have persisted, still Will our
I Stephens glory unfaded shine, and die
/ not until love Of virtue cease on earth. or
/ earth itself sinks into chaos. May God
+ help us 10 continue the good work until a
I home for the old, aged and incurable is
/ completed.
/ on motion, the following resolutions
I We're adopted. tO-wit:
{ The Stephens Home Association fcol-
ored Of the city Of Savannah is highly
I gratified with the manner in which our
/ young brother Abraham Burke has per-
I formed the service assigned to him, and
/ therefore be it
Res0lued, That the proceedings be
/ handed 10 the editor Of the Savannah
! MORNING NEWS, with the request that
I the same be published as expressing our
! sentiments Of respect and our grief at
( the death of the illustrious dead.
I ReSolred, That a copy Of this memoria
/ be forwarded 10 Col. John A. Stephens
I and to His Excellency Gov. James ;.
Boynton. Respectfully,
Rev. J. NEsBIT, President,
/ REV. VIM. ROSE, Vice President,
/ Rev. j. Clark, Rev. II. Taylor,
+ Rev. j. c. Houston, L. Jackson,
I III. c. Chisholm. VIM. Ford
Rev. p. I. Sweetwine, H. A. Wallace.
Rev. X. Mifiin, Rev. J. Williams,
/ W. 6. Clark, George Abbott,
i Rlnp