The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-03-05

pei. I10 wax DOb OIQ6lDGQ, BOWSN
er, until 1873, after he had preach
, ed for % years or more and afteI
his services at Brick Church and il
this appears that"unaffected, modes
!. ty" so Characteristic of the mar
o which often kept him back from
: high places.
About 1855 he accepted a chap
e laincy in the regular army and was
e stationed few years at Fort I'm
e ion, New Mexico. After this he
: preached at New Store and other
: points in Virginia. About the close
. of the civil war he came to Tennes-
D see and took charge of this church.
After this.charge he served Lynn
: vile and Culleoka churches. In
1878 he went back to Virginia and
; served as pastor of mberland
church until 1882. Thence he
went Sto Mexico, Mo, where he
served as stated supply until his
death, which occurred on Monday
evening, Jan. 10, 1885.
Thus ended The labor of 90 long
years, thus ended the life of truly
humble, yet eminently great and
good man. In life he knew much
affliction, and in his last sickness
his suffering was very acute, but
his bedside was tenderly watched
and his wants abundantly admins
tered to by able . physicians,
the members of his church, land
Eome of his old pupils. His faith
in death was like that in life-un
faltering. The last honors of love
and affection which mortals can
pay their beloved dead were paid
him by a large concourse of people,
the funeral services being conduc-
ted by three ministers. The spirit
to God who gave it, and the body
to dust until the voice of divine
awakening shall command it to
come forth. The pilgrim sleeps
And now, my friends, we who knew
him in life shall know him no more
in this world except in memory.
AS his was no ordinary life, let US
study it to our own profit by recall
ing some of Its characteristics.
First, 1 would remind ysu of his
distinctive character. 1t is no dis
respect to say of him that he had
peculiarities or his eccentricities as
they were often termed. Every in
dividual has his distinctive marks |
of characters, but his were more
marked and impressive than or
binary. Indeed to know the man
was to know of his pecularities,
and l might almost say that to
know his pcculiarities was to know
the man. They ran all through his
being, and appeared in his habits
of life, his mode of teaching and his
style of preaching. And yet they
were free from affectation, they
were natural, and therefore power
full. In these very peculiarities
rested a great power for good. By
reason of them he was enabled to
present the truth from the sacred |
desk pointed and barbed." He
could, also, administer the most
pungent reproof to student or
friend without giving ofense.
These marks of his character ena-
bled him to attract and enforce
when other men would have failed.
II. Next, 1 would have you re
call his untiring energy. He was a
persistent worker, he believed in |
diligence, and as the result of his
faith, he accomplished a great deal.
In this he was q model for imita-
tion to all about him, and especial
ly to the young men whom he col
lected around him. He taught |
them by example that success was
the result of constant labor. He
was a hard student all his life. |
He never reached that point even
in his age (Which some men think
they reach) where he thought
he could recline on past eff
forts. Although he had opportuni-
ty to do SO, 1t was not his custom !
to use old sermons. On the contra
ry, it was his endeavor to make one
and often two new sermons every |
week, and consequently, he always |
gave his people something fresh, |
instructive and entertaining. His
exemplary teaching was "better
wear out than rust out" By his
constant application he kept |
abreast with the times. He was
naturally a man of strong mind,
and of great originality. 1t is not |
at all surprising that he became a
man of extensive and varied knowl |
edge, and that his views were high
ly respected by his brethren, and |
that his articles stood side by side
with the learned Of his calling.
It is to be regretted that much of
the labor of his pen, some of which |
the people were anxiously awaiting
in book form, was destroyed by fire |
when his home was burnt in Vir-
ginia.
This, suppose, was a final loss
as it overlook him late in life, and |
1 never have heard of any effort to
reproduce. But his labor is not |
lost for many hearts and minds to
day bear the impress of his giant
intellect which neither flame nor
the ravages. Of time ..can ever de-
stroy. Yes, grand and glorious re-
suits crown his persistent efforts.
How admirable his life of energy
and toll, and sacrifice, together with
it's golden fruit standing out be-
fore all, especially before young
men, worthy of imitation! How
forcible it's lessons. That success
crowns efforts and that we are never
wise enough to be indolent. Let
US remember them.
III. Again let me remind you of
his influence as an instructor, He
was one of the few men who could |
both teach and preach successfully,
yet his teaching was always limited
to few, and they advanced pupils
put upon their honor and apprecia-
ton of time. 1t can truly be said
Of him that he was s"prince
and great man." as public instruc-
tor, both as a lecturer and a teach
er. His reputation as q lecturer