Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-05-01
Eloquent Language on the Death
of Hon. John NJ. Clayton.

/
A few months ago the whole Ma
ton was shocked by the brutal as
sassination of Col. John NJ. Clay
ton. Up to the present writing hi,
vile murdcrers have not been dis
covered. The victim was Deput,
Grand Commander of the Arkansa.
Jurisdiction, Knights Tcmplar, ano
the following order has been issued
by the Grand Commander:
10 all lSir Knights throughout N,
Jurisdicti0a OF this Grand Com
mandcry.'
In the discharge Of the mournfai
duty of officially announcing the
dealt, Of our well beloved fraicr. V
T.. Sir John Middleton CLAYTON.
Deputy Grand Commander, il is
not improper To pay fraternal tribute
OF respect to the memory of him
whose life and career has so sud
denly met with such uniiincly end.
The Hon. John M. CLAYTON was
born at Bethel, Pa. on the I5lh day
OF October, 1870, and departed this
ife on the s9th day Of January,
1850, at Plunnncrville, in Conway
county, Arkansas, and was buried
al Pine Blull, his home, February
Ist--thc Grand Commandcry oil
ciafing.
Death is at all times and under
every circumstance ghastIy and
gTicvous presence; bat when he
smitcs the young, We are consoled
with the thought chat the victim
escapes the sorrow and trials so in.
cident to human lie. When the
aged fall, we know that natures
last, sad debt is paid and the weary
spirit is at eternal rest. But when
the solemn summons comes, comes
as voice in the night, To one like
our deceased brother, a man rich in
the promises OF wcll.earned honors.
ripe with the grace and years OF
mature and vigorous manhood. in
the very zenith Of an eminent and
enviablc public career, in the pur.
suit OF a laudablc ambition, and m a
season of profound peace; when at
such time and TO such man, the
last dread summons comes swift as
the lightning's CLEAN, quick as the
comets flash, and borne by the hand
murder, with no warning and no
cause OF malice, well may the hui
man heart stand still for horror and
the blood of the slain cry aloud for
justice.
Perhaps the death Of no man in
Arkansas ever invoked more wide
spread indignation or more profound
sorrow than the death Of our la
menied brother.
The manner Of his murder IS too
well known to the public to render
any COMMENT proper, further than
to say (the least that can be said }
that IN the future yet to come, the
cheek Of every honest friend 10 the
good name Of the good State Of
Arkansas will never fail TO mantle
with tie blush Of shame at the men
ton Of the memory u the deed
As to the causes which inspired This
fearful tragedy, for the present pur.
pose it IS as idle to conjecture as il is
vain 10 regret.
Neither doth il avail the dead
that nOddiog heafse plumes she'd
their sable shadow over the solemn
pageantry Of woe, nor that the tears
of fsnguisb ram on the fresh turned
sod, when tic loved and lost are
borne to the silent tomb, Tor no hu.
man love however deep aud true.
can rranimatc the still and pulseless
heart, or wake 70 life "the dua. cold
ear Of DEATH
But when all is finished. when
the book is closed and the curtain
drops on career like this, for the
sake Of the living IT is eminently
90 that We pause, that we call halt
in tie busy hum and rush Of life.
that We renew ibe inquiry Of inspi.
ration, "Oh God, what is man. that
thou art mindful Of hims7 And
not less meet and proper that We
drop tear on the grave Of our
deceased brother aod pay due trib.
ute to tie many manly virtues and
noble attributes that characterized
his life and adofn bis individuality
with the love and respect ofall who
knew him
lie fell in the prime Of his man.
hood, with the laurels Of many hon
ors yet fresh on bis brow, fell q sac
rificc 10 unknown and unreasonable
malice, victim To- human depravify
and an illustration Of the uncertain.
~ Of all human expectation. Among