The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-06-20
DEATH OF REV. 4. A. MORSE.
END OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER'S LONG
AND LABokroUs LIFE.
After Much Journeythg Around the
World He Came Home 10 Die,
Among Hls Friends aud Kindred

AT two o'clock last Sunday morning, June
10, 1894, the Rev. Albert A. Morse died In the
home OF his son, Mr.. Amos B. Morse, OF this
village.
Al i've o'clock In the afternoon the tollIne
OF the Presbyterian church bell, summoned
our people TO the funeral services, and Dr. J.
LoWrle wilson performed the last sad rites
from the pulpit In which the deceased had
preached on the third Sabbath Of May.
Although the evening threatened rain, yet
that large building was flled with friends OF
the deceased who hold his memory In sacred
remembrance.
PRAYER BY DIR. BAYS.
After the choir had sung beautiful and
suitable hymn, the Rev. Dr.. Bays was asked
to make prayer.
DR.. Bays in recognition of the benefits re-
sulting from the labors OF our departed friend
gave grateful and hearty thanks TO Almighty
God for his useful life, and for the good deeds
sh 10 he he had aSs aSus aa AaaHas Ssdfn h had
form lay in the casket before us, yet he waa
not dead. He still lives In his good works,
which are benediction 10 us. Good works
ever and shed halo of glory around the soul
that shall wear the immortal crown that
awaits the Redeemed sons OF men. AR q tree
Ia known by Its fruits, 30 the life of man ia
through our blessed Lord and Saviour, lead
us to hope for seat at the right hand Of Him
who win at bis good pleasure judge the quick
and the dead.
THE FUNERAL SERVICE.
DR.: Wilson in affectionate and appropriate
words paid tribute OF love and respect for
the lie and labors OF his deceased brother,
reading the following sketch Of his life, which
the deceased had written with his own Ian d.
Nothing could have more modestly and more
faithfully portrayed the real character OF the
man. Although he met with reveraes and
lost all his estate, yet he was never despond
ent. In sunshine aud shadow he labored still
hopefully and prayerfully. While the great
one pretext or another for abandoning their
work In the field OF danger and hardship, yet
Mr.. Morse barely mentions the fact that he
coming home TO find bis fortune gone. The
paper is as follows:
AUToBIoGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ;
Abbeville, 8. c., Sept. %, 1893.
leave this brief sketch OF my life for the
qualification Of my children, grandchildren
and friends when am gone. am now In
my seve1ty-hhh year and mus! soon leave
'f II vast was born March 2stb. Isls' at a. Railway, %
New Jersey, where resided with my parents
until November. 1S a, when I went to New
York city and was clerk until October, 1885,
and then went to Colum bia, 8. c., and was q
clerk there hrst In the clothing house Of A. C.
Squire for nearly three years. Then in the
dry goods house OF Snowden q Smith until
1912. Then determined 10 study for the
mlulhIEy, udtluR U6COLu6 b h6LuD6E Vi tp6
Presbyterian church in Columbia, then under
the pastoral care Of the Rev. DR.. ]. H. Thorn
we'll. In February. lS42. went TO the Ebene-
zer Academy, In charge OF the Rev. P. =.
I was received as member of the sophomore
class OF the South Carolina College at Cotum.
bia, 8. c., and was graduated I'm December,
1886, with the second honor Of my class. In
emy at Abbeville, 8. G., and continued to
teach for two years.
ION the last day of March. 1913. was Ii.
Of
whose care had placed myself whlle in the
Academy at Ebenezer) at Fair Forest church,
Union county. 8. z. was Immediately
lima and was received BY il: at areenyilie
church, Abbeville county, 8. G. My health
was feeble and BY the advice OF friends and
appointment Of Presbytery went at once to
counties Of Oconee and Pickens). as q mission
ary, and continued in the work for six
months and then in October, ls4s. took charge
The one at the Court House, North Pacoiet
and Calvary for one year and served them un-
til October, 1850. During this time. December
league, OF Abbeville, and she is yet, after
nearly Al years. spared 10 me.
October, 1850, I returned TO Abbeville and
resumed charge Of the Male Academy, and
also OF Little Mountain church. nine miles
North OF Abbeville. This arrangement con.
tinned until June, 1858. In July, 1853 &C.
cepted an invitation TO become pastor Of the
church at - Andsrson G. b. Was 3 ordained and
one Of the professors In the Anderson Female
College, giving 2h hours day TO this college
work. At the end OF two years was COM
and strength was giving away. but oontin.
ued In the pastorate until 1852 when became
chaplain Of the l7th Regiment South Carolina
Volunteers, under the command Of Col. +. ".
hnM nf H0l mi n nd % n.
ued until the close Of the civil war. In the
retreat Of the Confederates from Richmond
and Petersburg, was captured just South OF
70 lust was as dasF
locked up in the old capitol prison. on the
night on which President Lincoln was assas-
ION the lst day OF May, 1865, was sent to
Johnson's Island at the western end Of Lake
Erie, q few miles North Of Sandusky city, O.,
was kept there until early In July when
the 10th day Of July with sl.sO in my pocket.
For more than two months my wife and fam.
lily were utterly ignorant rs TO my fate,
whether dead or alive. When came TO take
children living. Eleven children had been
born to us but four had been left behind In
the cemetery at Anderson and one had died
In my absence and was inferred at Due West,
chaplain, and soon after my return Qn Sep.
tember) our twelfth child was born. So then
myself, wife and seven living children we're to
be provided for. We had on hand small
amount OF provisions and the one dollar and
ninety cents above spoken Of Living In q
rented house. Slaves had been set at liberty,
and all other Property was gone, but the pro, Q,
Such had been my zeal In the Confederate
cause and confidence In Its success that sold
all my possession IN Anderson, home. farm.
Interest bearing slOO Confederate notes. All
this amounting to nearly or quite $25,OOO was
now utterly worthless. The whole people
were utterly impoverished. No church 1elt
and the only foundation TO rest on was "Trust
In the Lord and do good and verify thou shalt
dwell In the land and be fed." At the very
close Of September the Presbytery met, but
our children could not attend, but soon In
formation came that had been appointed by
the Presbytery as Its evangelist, Near the
end Of October when the sick ones were some
what recovered removed my family from
Due West to Greenwood, Abheville county, as
more convenient point for my work and en-.
tered upon the work early In November, 1855,
and contin ned In 1t for more than five years
up to the early part Of 1871. During these
years was away from my family about four.
fifths Of the time.
church at Gainesville, Ala, and 80 continued
until May, 1885, little more than IA years.
In May, 1885, took charge OF Browns Chap
el, q mission work at Coosaw, Beaufort coun
W, d ". duu COuIluucu tu6I0 uuLll Luo lcdE-
fui storm OF August 9th and 18th, 1Ss}, deyas-
tated the entire coast, nearly destroyed Coo
saw and rendered church and manse untena-
BILE, carried awsy my study and with IL NY
entire library and all my manuscripts and
put the lives of myself, wife, daughter, Al
berta, and son, William, In imminent Jeop-
srdy. On the 7lh September, 1898, we got
away from the ruins and came TO my sons.
Abbeville, 8. c., at whose place i now am,
September q 1893 being 74l% years old. Good.
ness and mercy hath followed me all these
days and years."