Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-08

01tWenty three years il is neiateQ Oh niin tlat
whilst still student In the law-school. ne
was written to by young acquaintance 70 ae-
fend him against a serious charge preferred. he
t. the and M sis Sv 'Gs
brilliancy and power.
As soon as eligible Mr.. Faulkner was sent by
Delegates Many questions Of great Importance
came before that body
In all the years of his public liie from that day
interest. with which he did not grapple with a
strong clear mind and abold hand.
In 1856 he was chosen as chairman OF the Ma
ti0nal Democratic Committee; and to the ability
and energy with which he executed the trust, is
due the election of Mr.. Buch man in that year;
s AT m s
that they had abandoned their principles. he re-
fused to support Gen. Scott and advocated the
In October. 1853, Mr.. John Y Mas on, minister
to France, died whilst still at the post Of duty
and Mr. Faulkner was At once appointed 20
and success. There. as everywhere, ne was
very busy man. He attended diligently and
e sss duties 2, ms G
Department in Washington 1t is said, NIL four
large folio vols
Perhaps no American minister has ever i'm
pressed himself more upon European courts, than
did Mr.. Buchanan's minister, although his stay
was brief owing to the troubled waves which broke
upon our own shores in 1861.
1t Is due to his sagacity and courage that citi-
zens OF the different countries OF Europe who
have become naturalized on our side the sea, can
have their rights as American citizens respected
by the governments from which they came.
German or French subjects by birth, but citi-
zens Of our country BY adoption. returning to his
native land, found himself held still as citizen
there and liable to military impreSsment or any
other duty which any subject was required to
render.
Mr.. Faulkner set himself to correct this
and he did 1t. In 1860 this concession was ex-
torted from the WHY Emperor OF the French,
and IT was the first concession forced from
any of Europe's crowned heads TO the true dig
nifty of the privilege of citizenship in the
United States. On his return TO this country
he cast in his lot with the people of his native
south, and continued In service until the
close OF the war.
since then he has given himself to the active.
business of his procession in which he has
been recognized as facile princeps by ALL
The Bar of Martinsburg has suffered a heavy
loss; and the community will not be slow 10
attest Its sense OF obligation and sympathy, as
witness this great concourse assembled to-
day.
We all feel a deep interest to know the
which has transnired withis fSe mind and
heart OF this busy man of affairs; for religion
is the vital matter before Which all others
pale into inslgniticance. The grand issues of
this life are not those which centre in the
courts of st. Cloud, st. James or Berlin. but
in the court of Heaven. 1t is not immortal
fame but eternal life which makes up "the
whole of man. With this, life is complete
without it, 1t Is q failure. If we can say of the
dying beggar, he is a christian, we at once
exalt him TO an everlasting thIone-to the
very pinnacle ofgreatness. lfnot christian,
the monarch sinks to eternal perdition-his
life but the prelude to the tragedy of DEATH
less doom!
Nineteen years ago Mr.. Faulkner made d
public confession of the name of Christ and
united with the First Presbyterian Church of
Lynchburg, Va. Although he did not con-
tinne to commune in the church, he was not
entirely unmindful of the claims of Christ
upon him. We do not defend his course of
conduct during these years. Nor did he. More
than once within the last eighteen months 1t
has been my privilege to speak with him upon
this high theme, and ii was most gratifying
to hear him express in earnest tones his deep
sense of the wonderful goodness of God in for
bearing with him for SO many years during
which he had been entirely neglectful Of his
obligations to Him! This thought pressed
constantly upon his mind and heart. 1t was
his intention, had his life been spared, TO
unite with the church at the next communion
season. His faith in Christ was clear and
firm lie apprehended very inteliigently the
plan OF salvation and his logical and legal
mind approved its wisdo m an loved its grace.
even rs it trusted in its power. He lamented
that he dad suffered SO much time, full of
golden opportunities for usefulness, to pass
unimproved He was very anxious for his
children, that they should begin at once and
do what he had failed to do. With deep feel
ing he compared his life to the barren fig-tree,
and earnestly desired for the rest of his days.
whether few or many, to devote hilaself TO the
service of the Master. He wondered when he
saw the carelessness of men, and he often
would exclaim, what is life He felt clearly
the necessity ofa new heart Mans nature
must be changed. He had come to find great
delight in the worship of God. He loved to go
to church and he loved to read the Scriptures,
which he held to be the word of God and the
only infallible rule of our faith and practice.
His familiar face and form has now gone
from us. His quick, active step will arrest at
tention along our streets no more. These halls
will never awake again to the echo of his
tread. But faith bids us lood upward and
onward. We shall meet again.
We go into the quarry and the great stones
are lying broken and scattered in confusion
and desolation. Why Is this? you ask. What
means the quarryman by this ruthless work
of destruction! But you pass from hence and
enter the beautiful street and you see on
either hand the colossal buildings with their
massive masonry and brown stone trimmings
and the chaos of the quarry is explained. The
broken stones-the giant upheaving of the
solid earth-bed, was all necessary to the erec-
ton of these beautiful dwellings. Do you
ask why has the strong unseen hand entered
this home or that-yours or mine or our
friends and shattered the object of tehderest
affection? Look within the veil. Behold the
fair streets of the new Jerusalem and then con-
template that matchess temple not made with
hands, built with the living stones of our I'M
dying spiritsi And the heavy blows of the
great Quarrymans hammer are understood
4 Sorrow, affection, trial. bereavement, suffer-
| ing the Master workman is cutting, Dress
ing, fashioning, polishing the rude, earth be-
| grimed granite to flash in snowy whithness and
| to glisten in the glorious tembe of God in
heaven! And as we look we wipe our eyes
and in grateful Submission say. THY will be
done!"