Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-06-14
A SPLENDID GRAFTON
Delivered by Mr.. w. C. Munroe on
the Life of our Late Lamented
Col XNiIIin M rIvoUIor-

|
Mr.. W. G. Munroe, who had been
selected for the purpose, deliv-
cred the following chaste and
unique eulogy on the life of our
late lamented townsman, Coll
Wm-Taylor, which should be
read carefully this Sunday morn
ing as it portrays the noble vir-
tues of the life that is worthy of
imitation:
| NOBLE GRAND AND BROTHER ODD
| Fellows accordance with the Gus
tom of theOrder, and in compliance with
a resolution of this Lodge, [ am here
tonight to pay an humble tribute to
the memory of Brother William Tay-
lor the only member of our Ledge who
has died since last memorial day.
| There is no feature of the Order
which more readily engages my affec
tiOn or excites my admiration than this
custom of annually paying tribute to
| the memory of those members who have
died during the year.
| 1t has d tendency to recall to our recol-
| lectiOns, to impress upon our hearts, and,
it may be, to reproduce in our own lives
| IH6 ullSt GEdl6S vi Un0lf Cndfdcb0ES.
In the world at large it is common
custom to pay like tribute, only, to the
| memory of distinguished citizens, men
who have occupied high and exalted
stations, and whose lives have been
conspicuous examples of success. In
many respects | think the custom of the
Odd Fellows preferable to that of the
world at large, for I believe that long
and virtuous life spent in privately and
obscurity requires greater fortitude of
spirit. evinceS more real herOism than
a similar life spent in the public glare
and under the influence of popular ap-
proval and applause.
| Then, again. it is u greater incentive
| to others: for few of us can hope to at
| tain to high and exalted station, or
possess those transcendent virtues that
| will attract the attention and admira-
tion of mankind, even in the obscurity
| of private life. We are, therefore, more
| apt to try to emulate the example of IA
man who occupied an humble sphere
than of him who shOne conspicuous
above his fellow men.
| Lord Brougham wrote memoirs of
| many of the public men of England who
had not attained to the highest rank,
whowere considered men of ordinary but
Off espectable abilities: and he gave his
reason for so doing. The fact that bio
L
could have no other effect than to daz-
zle and discourage men of ordinary
| abilities, while the life of man of like
abilities with themselves. who by in
dustry and perseverance had won dis
tinction, would have a tendency to
spur them on to greater eXertion in the
hope that they, too, might win equal
honors.
He relates that young man who
| haH hi tn h lip
i speaker, went into the House of Com
mons one day while Mr.. Pitt was speak
ing, and that in short time he came
out ID sad, disappointed and almost
heartbro6en man. A friend who no.
ticed his detected countenance asked
the cause. when he said he had as
pired to be an orator, but that since he
had heard Pitt he had no hopes of ever
becoming one, and he never attempted
anything afterwards in that line.
In the Scriptures, you know, we have
a beautiful instance of service he'd in
memory of one who had made life beau
tifu. and instructive by the homely but
useful virtue of making garments fOl
the poor. The inspired writer with that
direct and touching simplicity nowhere
to be found outside that sacred book,
tells us that all the widows stood around
him weeping and showing him the gar
|
was among them.
So following the example of Lord
Brougham and in imitation of these
primitive and godly people, let us look at
: some of the traits of character that dur
| ing life made Brother Taylor respected
by his fellows and loved and admired
by kindred and friends. The first time
[ remember having seen him was ir
Snow Hill, where he appeared before {
: referee in case in which [ was coun
I sell He was or had been book-keeper fol
, Mr.. A. Day, and was witness for the
l purpose af explaining the dealings O.
| certain parties litigant; and [ remem
| Der as if it was but yesterday how sim
E pie and truthful he was, and how com
plete a master he was of all the details
of the somewhat intricate accounts he
: was called upon to explain.
/ One of his employers for the last tel
), or fifteen years told me that he wa
, honest. painstaking and efficient. 4
j gentleman of this town who had known
him for years said in our presence OF
: the day of his death that Mr.. TaylO
O was good citizen, quiet and unassum
= ing, but thoroughly competent to ever.
: task that had ever been imposed upol
: him.
What member of this Lodge does no
= remember the familiar figure as he sa
- behind the Recording Secretary desk
Z his kindly manner, his friendly interes
o in all. his familiarity with his wOrl
here as in every other post of duty, eve
present. ever faithful, ever efficient.
!, For the last seven or eight years G
u his life lived on the same street witt
J. him, and, as a consequence, | saw hl1
[. nearly every day, and met him fire
4 quently. He was always friendly an
: cordial in his greetings, always seeme
/ pleasant and hopeful. l saw him ais
It frequently with his family, and the i'm
n preston, silent but certain, that he mad
;, upon my mind was that he was an idea
Il family man. than which [ know of n
more beautiful family trait.
d Bro. Taylor was born in the city {
Ii New VI ork on the 1st day of Februal J
y 1929, and died at his home in this cit
\ on the 1st day of January, 1884, he be
ing. at the time of his death, 81 yeal
Le when boy with his parents, was fC
n while building contractor, was el
gagged during the war in the rallroa
service was for several years bOOl
keeper for Mr.. Albert Day and occ'
pied the same position with Messr
a. Arnold and Frank Borden for the la
ten or fifteen years of his life. He W;
Pr a member of the Knights of Homo
W joined Lodge, of which he was lor
- its Recording Secretary, when he W;
al q years of age, was for long time
y member of the Baptist church,
=, which he was a deacon for p years
I'LL his life.
y. A friend to whom I applied for the
rs particular facts, and one who h;
al known him long and well, says "a
- these positions he filed with cred
u and was considered by all as one of t
most correct, careful and painstakil