Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-20


his voice was as full and clear as that @
young man. He said his intimacy wit
DR.. Martin nmenced in 1887 and LASTED
fifty-one years. In that year. said MI
Eskrldge, l was married, and Brothe
Martin was my groomsman. The follow
ing year [ united him in marriage to Mis-
Susan Ruff, daughter of John Ruff, ii
Rockbridge. From that time we were a
intimate as any two members of BaItimor
conference. Our intimacy grew init
friendship. 1t is not necessary for me tt
speak of DIR. Martin as a minister and {
Christian gentleman. He was too long
and we'll known here, not to be appreciated
in every respect. So far as I am person
ally concerned L feel that in his death
have lost true friend. Who would have
thought that 1 would have outlived DR.
Martini Such a thing never entered my
head-that 1 should be speaking in men,
DRY of him. But so it IS, and only God
knows how it is 80. Not very long since
and 1 am glad [ have the privilege of say
ing what l am going to saY-I was just
as we'll assured of heaven as I am of my
own existence. and thought should not
live to see this day, But thank God L
am still here, and waiting for the Master Is
call. and expect in very short time the
friendship of DR.. Martin and myself will
be renewed and perfected in Heaven.
During the delivery of the venerable
minister's brief address he was several
times affected to tears and could not go
on, while there was hardly dry eye in the
house
THE PRESIDING ELDER OF THE
DISTRICT.
Rev DR.. J. H. Waugh, Presiding Elder of
this district, next made brief address. He
said that like tie audience present, he had
listened with profound interest and deep
emotion to the addresses they had heard.
The brief presentation of DIR. Martin s life
had touched all our hearts, though it was
but glance at ministry that spread
over half century. None of us can do
full justice to life like that. 1 can only
think of DR.. Martin as neither dead nor
biCOpIuSs UuV %p AOW III O DlSuCl ll1C, d
brighter, purer and wider range of service
to the Master-a life where all is explain
ed, all is made clear. My thoughts follow
him as nainister-a servant of Christ still
in his service, to remain therein for ever
and ever. In my Utmost soul I believe
that after death, God has work for you and
me still, the field for which lies in another
world.
During my later meetings with DR.. Mar
tin. remarked a perceptible change in
him, and said to my wife. "Dr. Martin is
ripening for better land" During the
week at the last Conference, when I met
him in council with the Bishop, there was
certain gentleness and sweetness in his
manner that l never saw before. Even
last summer when he visited here it was
discernable-more Of a tender regard for
the comfort and feelings of those around
him, a greater forgetfulness of himself.
He has ripened for better land and gone
there-but he is not dead to us he has only
gone before.
REMARKS BY LAYMEN.
Mr.. A. M. Simpson, one OF the Oldest
members of the church, next spoke. He
said his heart was too full for speech. He
had known DR.. Martin all his life, and
they were boys in the city of Alexandria
together. DR.. Martin was a good man
and has gone to his reward We all loved
him here and he loved US. The last con-
versation [ had with him, he said 81 be-
lieve Staunton is the best station in the
Baltimore Conference.' Our people loved
and appreciated him and he had some
warm friends here not in the church.
0h that his departure might make them
strive to join him in the country to
which he has gone.
The venerable Harvey Risk next spoke.
He said that on the 10th of January,
1887, he had been received as a probation
er into the Methodist church by DR..
Martin. AS boy he was kind to me and
80 too afterwards in manhood. I never
expected that he would go before me.
thank God that I have a hope of the
Immortality which believe he has won,
and L hope that I shall meet him by and
bye in that rest prepared for the people of
God.