Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-01-22
DEATH OF DIR. sroDDRRT.
A Good Nan Gone to His Reward.

and in certain expectation OF hles-
sed immortality, the Rev. William
Stnddert. d. D., pastor Of the Pres.
bytcrian church of this city.
The deceased was a remarkable
man possessed Of qualities Of heart
and intellect in connection with spir-
iiual deyotedness that always make
their mark upon communities and
impart success TO the Gospel minis
ter. There was in him also q strong
and radical individualism that perva.
ded his every word and action. The
community is too familiar with his
honest and pleasant eccentricities to
need reproduction Of them. OF all
the ministers the writer ever met he
was the most devoid of cant. It
was joy to listen to his plain direct
ness and note that true man might
at all times give expression to his zeal
thought without offense of any sort
to anybody. He was indeed peculiar,
but he was gifted at the same time
with that personal magnetism without
which few ever become the lnstru-
ments of such extensive and perma-
nent usefulness as the deceased
achieved. But his great merit was
never obtrusive. /: seemed to de-
light to hide itself behind most un-
assuming modesty. He ever had
that charity which, in the language of
the Apostle, "suffereth long and is
kind, that envieth not, that vaunteth
not itself, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil, rejoice,h in thr
truth. beareth all things and hopeth
oil things" 1t was his earne>tdesire
| in death as in life that neither his
| abilities or services should be over
estimated. He seemed always to
think less Of himself than did those
that were acquainted with him. In
the pulpit and out of it he appeared
to be wholly unconscious of the value
of the services he was rendering to
his church and the community. His
sermons were always prepared with
care and exhibited the freshness Of .
quickened and vigorous intellect and
were Indicative of the strong inner
spiritual life of the divinely commits
stoned preacher. Throughout bis
iiscourses there could be detected
almost always vein of suppressed
humor that enabled him when he
winged a polished shaft at vice OF
folly to strike with ringing effect
His attractiveness drew and retained
large Sabbalical audiences and most
Of those that heard him only in the
lecture forum retained high apprecia
ton of his ability t. instruct ant
entertain.
| AS minister he sought, found ant
embraced opportunities to voluntee
all the courlesies that can be extend
ed hy a pastor to those of other de
. nominations. He looked upon til
work of all the churches as his Mas
ter's work and held himself pledge
, to assist it in every possible way tbs
l,eart as broad as the Saviur's inv
tation could suggest. To his ow
church he occupied the position of
lover to bride. and his faithfulnes
to her interests in public and privat
will long be a Bond of union t
the society in this city to which b
minlstered. As an instructor HI
aim was to attract those he taught t
service of his Master and the churcl
As the pastor of baptized childre
and the youth of his charge it ws
e his delight to impress Gospel tru'
a upon them. He. always regrette
the absence of any of them fro
J. his sanctuary ministrations al
a spared neither pains nor expense
# attaching them personally to himse
that success might crown his effor
O in their behalf. 1t was indeed
is touching sight to see the young me
a. of his charge officiating as pailhea
ers at his funeral, carrying his r
mains to their final resting place I
. carefully and reverentialIy as if the
. were those of beloved father.
DIR. Stmldert's funeral took pla'
on the 2Oth. The exercises were a
- proprlately conducted ny Rev. Dr.
}" Robertson. Armstrong, Wayman al
Smith in conformity to the wishes
the deceased, who. previously to i
II death, advised with those atiend.l
D. him concerning its minutest detail
I'd HIS LAST WORDS.
At the conclusion of the sermon
following characteristic communicate
3 from the deceased was read:
or To My Friends:
or / want to thank the whole church
the kindness that has been shown me.
want to thank those members esp'
tally who have watched over me In
IL sickness, and who have been as loving
ne children to u father.
want to think the able physici,
''s whose remedies, by the grace of God,
alleviated my snfferngs
And may heavens own blessing be
ret all those who have administered to
wants and to the many more who W
~" SO ready to d. it.
of And especially amongst the friends
whom l wish to testify my graiitud
the noble, faithful colored woman v
It. has nursed me so devotsdly and so 10
May this church be blessed with
n plenteous grace of God, and shine in
co holiness and devotion is my prayer.
Dec, 80, 1884. WIN. SToDDEa1
CLOSING REMARKS OF REV. RoBERTso
ate Rev. w. W. Robertson, of Fulton
of winding up his most excellent discou