The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-24
IN MEM0RIAM.
REV. HENRY THOMPSON SLOAN, DID.

Beautiful and Deserved Tribute to the
Deceased by His Lifelong Friend
and Admirer, Judge J. 8. COthran.
Paper read before the Abbeville District Bible
Society at It's Annual Meeting in July,
1s94.l
Since the last annual meeting Of thisSociety
baps as I the very @ ripess f Of our sheaves in the
person of Henry Thompson Sloan, who was
born in Newberry county (then districD In the
year 1928, and died at his home In this county
to more than three-score years and ten.
It is but to repeat the old, old story, of
which we never tire, to say that he was born
81 aow Uona have
than what he was? Do men gather grapes OF
thorns or figs Of thistles His father was
ruling elder in old Csnnon's Creek Church.
rael. He was q child OF the covenant-the
thai we saw and knew and felt Of his beauti-
full life surprised us not, for we expected 1t to
What % q tribute is such life 10 the good old
ways, wherein the Sabbath was indeed holy
day, where the scriptures were diligently
searched, where the Shorter Catechism was
taught and the home. humble though It may
DR.. Sloan was a graduate Of the College and
Theological Seminary Of Erski1e. going out
diligent course OF training in the latter, he
was licensed to preach the gospel by the
Second Presbytery Of the Associate Reformed
Church at Generositee, IN Anderson county,
In destitute fields, and, as did the Master, he
too sojourned In the wilderness.
On the 18th Of October, 1850, ne was installed
Installation services being held in the latter
church. This was his only pastorate, and for
full forty years OF his long and useful life:
What o tribute TO the pastors worth! What
tribute 70 his peoples Love- love b,s orm. tho
little lambs OF the flock as he placed upon
their youthful brows the seal OF the covenant
OF baptism; and when these had grown 70 the
unite them in the holy bonds Of wedlock with
pious admonition; and when the Reaper
came, as he so often did, with bis sickle keen,
and reaped the bearded grain at breath and
tones and with melting words, yelling up
from his great big heart, did he conslgn their
bodies TO their last resting place hard by,
there to await with him who now sleep with
them, the glorious resurrection OF all who
sleep In Jesus.
It is hard to analyze character 80 we'll
rounded, 30 symmetrical. SO ftly Joined TO-
gether In all its parts. I will not attempt TO
do so There is. however, a mainsprlng in the
most complex mechanical contrivance.
There is q ruling principle In every human
In his 1t was Observation-Disclosures to duty
in its highest and broadest seuse.
This divine principle and say 1t with rev.
erence, was conspicuous In the boy who In
honoripg father and mother, realized the
blessing Of that commandment with promise
of length Of DAYS upon the earth.
1t was alike conspicuous In his diligence as
q student; in his selfdenial and privations
as a domestic or home missionary; IN his
burning zeal for bis Masters cause and for
dying world in bis love Of learning and the
promotion OF 1t: In bis faithful ministration
as chaplain In the army TO the wounded
and the dying on many hard.fought field;
and last, but perhaps not the least praise
worthy of all these, was bis constant, tender
and affectionate love and care for hel who
was the pride OF his early love, the sharer Of
his Joys ana his chief earthly solace In all
times of trouble.
Within the sacred precincts OF her grief We
are not permitted to enter.
stranger intermeddleth not Herewith, but
how soothing would 1t be even to the dull,
cold ear Of death, If 1t were possible for him
to hear, not those words Of ours spoken In
such well-deserved praise of himself, but TO
know that even In the face of our great loss,
we have not forgotten to commend her, so
we'll beloved by him, to our Fathers tender
care and to beseech Him to comfort and sus.
lain her even to the end of her lonely pill
grimage here, in the happy hope Of an ever
lasting reunion above the stars
Where there shall be no more sea, and
where all tears shall be wiped from their
eyes.