The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1888-09-12
Arthur Wallace Patterson.

no death has ever produced such a sen.
sation in this vicinity as the death ol
Arthur Patterson. II is no exaggeration
in this case TO say that it cast a gloom
over the entire community. Taken in
what everyone supposed to be vigorous
life, so young, so well and favorably
known, the shock was a severe one to all
and even the most thouehtIess were ar
rested by it and said, sin the midst of life
we are in DEATH"
Arthur Wallace Patterson was born
in the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee,
December 80, 1858. His parents removed
to Bozeman when he WAS about four
years old. From infancy he was net of
robust health and strength, but having
been brought successfully through many
serious illnesses in early childhood he
seemed at last to be about to overcome
physical difficulties and to attain mature
manhood. He was of religious temper
ament and was regular in his duties at
chucrh and Sunday school, He was con.
firmed in 1882, and since that time had
beena regular and devout tcommunicant of
thechurch. He did mt get too old for relig.
ious things and for Sunday school work,
as so many of our boys in these days do,
but at the time of his death was a prac.
tical helper, secretary of the Sunday
school and acting superintendent in the
absence of his Rector. After his own
loved home the church is that commun-
ity which will miss him most. As boy
he gave promise Of being 4 good, con-
scientiousstudent. After studying in pub
lie and private schools here, in 1888 he
became member of the University of
the South at Swanee, Tenn. There he
acquitted himself most creditably, at.
tanning great proficiency in his studies,
and gaining the approval of all. 1t was
his intention to push on his studies and
enter the holy ministry, but on account
OF trouble with his eyes he was Obliged
to leave Swanee and come home after
the completion of Que year. He never
however gave up his purpose to study for
the ministry, but would have gons back
to the University On soon as his health
permitted. 1t seems to US that life of
& reat promise for usefulness has been
taken, and that many another could have
been better spared. We are apt to think
that such men are necessary for this
world and the good of It, In this case it
seemed otherwise to God. Young as he
was, his life was an example TO his ac-
quaintances and friends. He sought the
good, he refrained from the bad, evil
companions and evil places knew him
not. Hard as the blow is, sadly bereaved
though his friends feel, they are proud
of his life and thank God that he was
taken from them, not defiled all over
with sin, nor corrupt at heart and after
wicked and worldly life, but that he
was pure and clean. free from gross sins
and innocent in word and thought. Such
a life as that. though closed at the very
beginning of manhood, is noble life
and worthy the imitation of every youth.
He confessed Christ as his Saviour and he
tried to live worthy of Him whom he
claimed to follow. i~ss ,--'r .--.- IS,
Is it not better to die young, and be
thus honest, pure and Of good report,
than to live long to be corrupted by the
world. defiled by its sins and spoiled by
its ambitions and its cares? We take
leave of him with the utmost sadneso
and sorrow, but we believe that there
was that good in him which lives after
men and is not inferred with their bones.
Alas, that the young men are 30 few,
who are not ashamed to be good, do not
think it weak and girlish to attend to re-
ligious duties, and be bravely religious
men; SO few also, it is to he feared, who
on their death-bed could speak consola-
tion to their friends because of their in
dividual faith in the worlds Redeemer.
He was gathered to his fathers, having
the testimony of good con science in
the communion of the Catholic church /;
in the confidence of certain faith in
the comfort of reasonable religious and
holy hope; in favor with God and in
charity with all the world. We mourn
him dead. The saints in Paradise, We
believe, rejoice with him living forever
more.