The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-10-09
DEATH OF DR. JAMES BARNETT.

THURSDAY. OCTOBER 0. 1884
DEATH OF DR. JAMES BARNErr.
When the life Of good man is ended
hts family and friends, though walking
most deeply In the shadow, and stricken
by the keenest sense of bereavement,
are not alone in their sorrow, but the
shadow Of the darkness, the regretful
sense OF loss extends alike TO all who
have come within the benedcent circle
OF his life and influence. Especially Ii
this true when one Is gone, the simple
purity Of whose daily walk has been
speaking language more impressive
than words, whose unassumlng yet lofty
devotion has lifted HIM above the range
OF common men whose whole life has
been q sermon on the dignity
and value Of righteous living.
Rarely In . community do words
like these apply 90 iittingIy to any man
~ they do 70 him who is the subject OF
this sketch, Rev. JAMES Barnett, whose
life has thus impressed itself upon our
community, and the announcement OF
whose death will be read with sadness,
not only by those among whom he has
mingled here, but numerous and valued
friends elsewhere, especially in the cir
Giles of the church, whose interests were
SO dear TO his heart and for whose
ministry he has given life of such dis
tinguished and efficient service.
DIR. Barnett was born in 1916. was edu-
Gated at the Miami University in Ohio,
and over forty years ago began = career
in the ministry which exhibited that
spirit Of seIi-sacTihcing consideration
that has 30 emioently charac.
terized his entire life After
his graduation, the first years OF
his ministry were spent In missionary
work in the then new and unsettled por-
tiOns Of the west. HIS first sermon was
preached In the city of Chicago, then
scarcely Indicating the promise of its
future greatness. He was the first mis-
sionary sent out under the auspices of
the United Presbyterian church and IN
his early missionary trips he preached
IN the Indians in some portions of this
state, within whose bounds he has now
quietly ended his days, and whose won
derful progress he has thus been per
United 10 see from the beginning. Next
moved by the divine impulse, he heard
the voice of need in foreign lands, and
was sent by his church as a missionary
10 Damascus, where he spent ten
years, thence going TO Cairo, Egypt,
where, after ten years more of labor, he
returned To his native country in 1865.
During his visit to this country at that
time he married. Immediately thereafter
returning to Cairo, where he and his wife
continued TO engage In active missionary
effort, until the condition OF his health a
few years later necessitated
return, the return trip
occupying several years OF travel through
Palestine, Syria, Italy, other portions OF
southern Europe and the British Isles.
He nrst remained for time IN Spring.
field Ohio. but coming on q visit to
WOodson county. Kansas, the home of
his father-In-law, he was proVidentiaIly
directed TO EmporiA, which, about
eight years ago, he made his
home, entering upon the pastorats
OF the then feeble organization
Of his chosen church, whose present
prosperity and success is felt to be due
IN the largest measure to his wise coun-
sci, generous support and consecrated
effort. He continued IN the pastoral re-
lAtIOn to the Emporia church until two
years ago, when his falling health
caused him to seek q cessation
from labors too arduous for a
constitution enfeebled by the
years of selfforgetful labor he
had given TO his church and TO God.
Since his coming to Emporia his life has
been one Of unostsntatlous but unremIt-
ting effort In the lines of Christian work,
and ais wise counsels and the true spirit of
Christianity shining out through his life
have merited and met the heartfelt ap
probation not only of the members of
his church, but OF his ministerial breth-
rem and OF Christians OF every
name in the community. DIR.
Barnett. possibly from his long years
spent abroad, and from tho promptings
of a retiring nature. devoted to study and
spiritual contemplation. seemed to those
unacquainted with him, almost TO shrink
from contact with man. but those who
knew him best knew we'll that he was
alive To every interest for good in church
and community, and in every
commendable movement OF pub
lie character his efficient sup
port could be relied upon. Mot
hastY In forming or expressing an
opinion, yet unwaverIng In his adher.
ence TO his convictions, one of the type
that would die II need be "for conscience
sake" DR.. Barnett in his judgments on
personal and public matters exhibited a
quiet and penetrating sAgacity that
made his counsels valuable, his con-
illusions often being expressed in
quaint and unexpected way that
showed the vein of human SYM
pathy permeatIng native cast in
the sturdy mold in which his was cast.
DIR. Barnett was a man of a large fund of
Information, with scholarly habits and
attachments of a high order. He was an
accomplished lInguist and possessed one
OF the largest and most carefully
selected private libraries in the state.
For several years past as a
member of the city board
of education he has been actively identi
ned with the educational interests OF
EmpOria and brought to that work, as
TO every public work In which he engag
cd, spirit of conscientious painstaking
that afford worthy model for every cit
lien. The cod OF DR.. Barnctt's long and
useful career was pathetic vet prophetic.
A fitting close 10 life thus crowned
with fullness of days.
A week ago last Saturday coming from
his residence west of the city to Com
mcrcial street on business he was oyer
come by heat and over exertiou. He
was scarcely able to return home, and af
ter his return he was taken with sue
cessiOn OF congestive chills, from the ef-
fects Of which he has been grad
uAllY sinking until he peacefully
passed away at about 10
o'clock Thursday evening. His last
work had been the preparation of a SER
mon In which the central thought was
that Of the multitudes lgAIhered around
"the great white throne" and in his
closing hours his utteTances indicated
that the vision spirit unconscious of
earthly scenes, was that of the great
white throne, with the multiludes
washed In the blood of the Lamb" He
rests from his Iabors and his works will
follow him. DIR. Barnett's family consists
OF his bereaved wife and ak children.
the eldest two of whom were born in
Egypt. The Youngest is four years old.
-
THE FUNERAL OF REV, DIR. HAIR.
NETT.
The opportunity of paying the last sad
tribute of respect 10 the memory of the