The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-09
HON. RICHARD Il. SMITH.
News 4 Observer. 3rd.

Hon. Richard y. ) nh. ~ II. ll'x
county which occurred 1t the rest
dence Of his -o--in-la~, T. Il. hns
nee. ESQ, ia this city esrl, vesterda.
morning, Will be received throul hout
the State not only with m@lancholy
interest, but with the siocerest sor-
row. Although i. bad beeu evident
for some time past that he was iu
falling health, yet the end VAS some>
wh.t sudden and Unexpected. On
Monday he was on the streets and
In the halls Of the General Assem-
bly, greeting his hosts Of friend. and
manifestiny lively interest IN
everything pertaining to the welfare
| Of the State that he go loved and
bad go long and faithfully served.
Becoming somewhat overheated
hs took cold, which rapidly develop
ed into catarrhal pneumonia. Ga
Tuesday his physicians were con-
WINGED that they could =. most but
| alleviate bis suferings. and that the
| end was Inevitable These suffer
| logs he bore with that meek pa
thence and beautiful Christian resig-
nation that had always 80 adorned
bis long life. His MUD was clear
to the end, and be spoke Of his app
preaching dissolution with the ut.
most composure.
| Shortly before his death he ex.
pressed = desire to partske Of the
Blessed Sacrament, by which he was
greatly comforted, aud thus lin the
communion Of the Catholic Church;
| ia the confidence of q certain faith,
In the comfort Of a reasonable, re-
lgious and noly hope, in favor with
God, and IN perfect charity With the
world,' he peacefully passed away.
Surely
1.-The chamber whore the good man meets
| his fate
| Is privileged beyond the common walk
or virtuous life, quite in the verge OF
heavon."
Richard II. Smith was born on
the 18th Of May 1912; he studied
law under the late Judge Hall. of
Warrenton, whose daughter Sallie he
married.
! OF tue eight children born of this
marriage, six survive-two daugh.
ters, Mrs. DR.. James NJ. johnson,
Of Baltimore, and Mrs. F. H. Bus
bee, Of this city, and four sons, Nor.
deet, Richard, Alexander and Isaac,
allof Scotland Neck.
Mr.. Smith during his long and
useful life neld many positions of
honor and responsibility, both In
Church and State, and be was al.
ways faithful to every trust. For
more than sixty years be was thor
oughly we'll Informed and devoted
COMMUNICATE Of the Church OF his ar
dent love. For years be was a deputy
to the General Convention, continu-
ously 90 indeed until the infirnites
of age prompted him much to the re.
i9ret Of the Diocese. to decline a rec
lection. He ably represented the Ur-
tdivlded Diocese in the Confederate
Icouncil Of the Church held In 1868
aud subsequently prepared a valu.
able brochure on the constitution OF
that council to the formulation OF
which he largely contributed.
He was at the time OF his death
and had been for many years the
tSenior Warden of his home parish
Trinity Cnurch, Scotland Neck,
whose maintenance largely depend
cd on his ever open purse, where in
the absence of clergyman he act,
most acceptably as Lay reade: for
the edificstion of a people whose
confidence, respect and love ne had
oil his life enjoyed.
In affairs of State, it IL safe to
Isay that no citizen Of North Caro-
lima ever inspired to greater degree
or more universally the respect and
Implicit confidence Of the entire peo-
pie than did Richard II. Smith OF
Halifax.
He was an Influential member Of
the memorable State Convex ton of
1861; for years President Of the
North Carol ma Agricultural Society;
President OF the Board Of Directors
lof the Insane Asylum Of this city at
a most trying period in its history,
and at the time OF his death Direct
OR in the same Board. Mr.. Smiths
Illegal training aud learning, though
ne never found 1t necessary to prac-
t!ce law, were constantly seen and
felt in his public uttsrances and eer>
vices. He was a ready and able de-
batter, o wise counsellor, cool, dis.