Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-06-24
THE LAST OF EARTH
A GOOD AND FAITHFUL SER
WANT GONE.

The ClOsinK Scene of The Life of
The Late Maj w w. Mcdowell
Largely Attended Funeral at
The Fr1rst F.resbyterian Church.
The funeral of the late Maj. w. w.
Mcdowell at the First Presbyterian
church at L O'Clock this morning, was
very largely attended.
There were present many friends of
, this we'll loved man from other churches,
besides the usual congregation of the
First church, where Mai. Mcdowell had
been 80 long an elder and leading men,
ber There was an expectant stir in the
silent church when the organist began
the solemn funeral march. The Rev X.
F. Campbell, followed by the Rev. Mr..
Baldwin and Rev. Mr.. Parker, moved
slowly up the right aisle. preceding the
funeral procession. First came A. T.
Chas. M. Stedman as honorary pail
bearers; then the coffin, draped i'll
| black, borne by Mayor T. w. Pat
ton. w. A. Blair. Col. A. T. Davidson,
Maj. T. c. II. Dukes, Col. A. H. Baird,
City CLERK F. Nd. Miller. The family of
the deceased, relatives and intimate
friends filled the front seats in the middle
aisle, and helpful hands completely COW
| cred the coffin with bea autiful offerings of
| flowers.
Mr. Campbell began with, II am the
resurrection and he life." and read appro-
pirate selections from the service for the
dead with effective simplicity.
81 will not deliver the customary ad-
dress this morning. he said, but have
| asked Brother Baldwin to take my place
for two reasons: First, because have
fr-Nv c.s.LY bod and RI l0f
feel able, and, second, because Brother
| Baldwin has been for several years so
closely connected with the deceased as a
friend, and in his relations with the
Southside chapel"
When the Rev. Mr.. Baldwin stepped to
| the pulpit he was evidently much at
| fected, for his relations with Maj. Nc
| Dowell and his family have been tenderly
intimate. He said:
| "If l could have folio wed my own In
clinations and consulted my own feel
ings, my place this morning would have
been, not at the desk, hut in the
congregation with the family and friends
of the departed. But l have a painful
| duty to perform for the living, and to
offer, for the departed, the last solemn
| rites, tribute of our respect. Why is
this large congregation gathered here i'll
this sanctuary ON the last day of the
week? 1t is because great. good and
just man has passed away. prince has
fallen in Israel Last nights CITIZEN
contained a long article testifying to
Maj. McDowell's nobility and integrity
of character. Perhaps there was never
known more perfect character, more
tenderly affectionate husband, father and
friend. This morning when asked his
eldest san IS thcie was anything he
wished me to say in my remarks he
said: 30, what father we have lost !!
He was always true, always just, but he
t.rs- ttt1lxI m
one of his children
What a testimony is this OF how few
ot US could these words be said! have
been so intimately associated with the
departed and with his family for the last
two years that l realize the bitterness of
such loss, the depth of their att1iction.
1--WE can hardly realize that he is gone.
!. We shall meet here Sabbath after Sab
bath and note his absence. We shall
gather in his house and see his chair
vacant. till at last we realize that he has
departed from us. We are called upon
once more to learn the lesson that this
occasion teaChes-the lesson of our NOR
tality. Are there any who haye not lost
friends Those who have left US are not
dead but gone before. and are as so many
, bright links in the chain that binds us to
: Heaven.
st is to be hoped the mantle of this
great and good man will fall upon some
? one in his household. What lessons o
l christian living he taught to those
t about him; and his teachings are not
: lost; though dead. he speaketh.'
with his afflicted family the Com
fortcr has been present for the last two
days. He has said to the widowed, y
will be as husband; and to the children
| am the father of the tatherless.'
Mr.. Baldwin who was present at thu
S dcathbed of Maj. Mcdowell added: :"
e have never seen so beautiful transition
Y While his children crowded about hin
asking for one last word, his lips moved
but he did not speak for he had alread'
:. entered into heaven. 20, death where /
: thy sting? o, grave where is th'
n victory?' Thanks be to Him wh'
r has given us the victory and tina
IL through our Lord Jesus Christ we to-
may enter into paradise"
t Mr.. Campbell offered a short closin
= prayer full of comforting promise, an
the services at the church closed with th
singing of the hymn it was Maj. Nd
Dowell's custom to sing every Sunda
evening:
"One swcetly solemn thought
Comes to me DER and DER,
Nearer my God to thee
4 Than c'er I've been before"
n There were short services at the cern
2 terry where the remains of Maj. w.
n Mcdowell were committed to their las
resting place.