Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-16

No grander Christian character has the
country furnished. Honored and blessed of
God, honored and revered by all people, old
and young, saint and sinner; petted and
praised by friends, but never puffad mp with
vanity and ACKNOWLEDGMENT. His trust
and reliance were always in God, and to Him.
he looked for support and guidance.
After the grand celebration OF his ath
and 25th pastoral anniversary by
the church here last January, he received
pressing invitation from his first charge, the
Walnut street Baptist church, to visit and
preach for them once more. On his return,
giving an account of his trip, he said to his
wife: "The brethren here tried very hard to
turn my head, but my Louisville brethren
came mighty near spelling me-" eyes" re-
marked the good wife, "that was what was
afraid of and that was why wanted TO go
with you. but you wouldn't let me-" 1t was
Indeed an ovation calculated to initiate an
ordinary mortal, but the effect upon him
was no more than pleasing qualification.
AS before remarked, no sketch of Dr. Sears
life can be complete without the frequent
mention of his wife, whose life was so inter-
woven with his that they had become as one.
Bright and charming in all of her ways, she
was ever cheering him all through life, add
ing blessings to his every good deed and
work. and his thoughts and care for her were
no less.
The most touching incident denoting his
c ire for her occurred some days ago, while
he was yet fully conscious. She entered his
room, and he held ont his hand, taking hers,
with the remark: "We have walked togeth
-,
won't be long" There are many incidents
attending the close of his life which are
worthy of being recorded.
Dir. Sears abhorred the idea of becoming
uperannuated, often expressing the desire
that he might die before grow
Ing too old and feeble to preach,
saying that he ''wanted to die in the har-
ness" In less than thirty minutes after the
accident he had some one out hunting Dr.
BardwcE to preach for him Sunday morn
ing. His first earthly care was for his wife
and his next was for the church.
Some one spoke of the accident in his
presence. "OhW he said. alt was no acct
dent; 1t was providence. 1t might just as
well been me as any one else. The Lord has
his own good purpose in all things" few
days later he remarked. 81 may never
preach again. but If l don't will have come
very near dying in the harness. for had pre-
pared the best sermon of my life and was
very anxious to preach 1t to the church, but
the Lord knows best" He then quoted his
text: "Whatsoever your hands find to do, do
IL with all of your might, and gave an out
line OF his argument,
About one week ago he had presentiment
that the end was near, and it did not disturb
him in the least, but in an intelligent, quiet
business-like way, he called his wife, daugh-
ter and grandchildren around him and pro-
ceeded to make disposition of his personal
property, books, etc, directing the manage
ment of his AFFAIRS kissed them all good bye
and commencing Mrs. Sears to the loving,
tender care of his grandchildren, he turned
to Miss Matte Beach, prominent member of
the Young Ladies' Church Society and said !;
"Matie, leave it with you to have the base
ment of the church nicely fixed up.
He then turned to Capt. Crusman, who
was sitting by, and said: "Tell the BiVOuac
that love each and every one of them as a
father loves his sons, and that have asked a
blessing for each of them. Tell them that /
think it a noble brotherhood and am proud
of my membership; tell them to see that it
is perpetuated tell them that the convictions
of my life are still those of my dying hour"
Capt. Crusman says these tender expires
sions fell from his lips with a heroic sub
Unity unequalled by anything he had ever
heard. They were expressed without the
change or culver of muscle, and with all OF
that cool, intelligent deiberatlon which
characterized his preaching.
1t may properly be remarked here that his
last public service was for the Bivouac three
days before his fall, in decorating Confeder
ate graves.
He then requested those present TO sing, 81
am Going Home Tomorrow"
His death was calm and peaceful, without
"A single struggle. Mrs. Sears was assisted to
his bedside, and taking hold of his hand
and finding it already cold, she pulled little
shawl from her shoulders and wrapped 1t
about the clammy hand rs tenderly and in-
nocently as if he had been a sleeping babe,
and, although she is quite deaf and nearly
blind, and not sound or expression of the
deep-felt grief was uttered by any one
present, the very moment the last breath had
escaped she rose up, eXclaiming "Now
may kiss him ?' Following this she broke
down, Frustrated with that sorrow which no
one else but she can know.
A bunch of beautiful lilies grew in full
view of DR.. Sears window, and during his
illness his eyes delighted to rest upon these
lilies in the early morn, when frightened by
refreshing dew-drops as they were kissed
away by the early sunbeams, and remarking
ON the beauty of the lilies he said: "Thats
what | want upon my grave.
Let friends, ifthey Will, pile lilies and other
sweet flowers expressive of loves offering
mountain high ON my grave, but no costly
wreathes and other designs, let them be sim
pie, sweet flowers us they are gathered from
the garden, and this is why the funeral cards
announced "no flowers" still friends are at
liberty to carry rs many flowers as they may
wish and every one drop n blossom upon his
grave, which will be appreciated by the
family.
DR.. Sears greatest ambition during late
years was to see the Baptist church finally
completed which is just now being done.
He has watched the progress of the work
with great interest and remarked that he
wanted to live to preach the completion
sermon and witness the meeting of the
Baptist State convention in it next fall, and
then his work would be very well rounded
up. The old saying and generally n true one
that new churches always change pastors
has not been verified in this case in the
usual way, but the Lord in his wisdom has
seen proper not to allow His servant to live
TO finish the work that has prospered so well
in his hands.
THE OBSEQUIES.
The main audience room of his
church is now in no condition for the