Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18
REV. J. B. LAURENS.
THE VENERABLE DIVINE DIES IN HIS
SlxTY-ElcHTh YEAR.
Founder of the Rosebud Missionary
socicty-As n Soldier.

ASHLAND. VA, May i7.-(special.)-
Rev. John r.. I.aurcns, as already an
nounccd In the Dispatch. died this morn
Ing at his residence, In Ashland. after
an illness OF many months. 1t might be
said OF years.
He was born on January 10. 1877. IN
Loudoun. Va. of French parcntage on
his fathers side; his mother was a ""-
tive OF Rappahannock county, virginia
Though baptized a Catholic. ne Joihe'
the Methodist Church when Il years oi''
and he became a minister In IT In 1900
After continuing in the regular work OF
the ministry for over twenty years III
health caused him TO retire from ac"'e
service in the pulpit.
For a number OF years he was assistant
in the Office Of the Richmond CHRISTIAN
Advocate While thus engaged he ihau-
slrated the Rosebud Missionary 90
clety. in which children take the lead IN
raising funds for mission WORK iheSe
societies have annually raised between
5000 and 500 for the support OF teach-
CTS IN AItAlfp Hib ~
INSTITUTE LAURENs.
The founder lived 10 see the Institute
Iaurens built and opened at Monterey
Mexico. in August last. which Is no"
cfying instruction to t5 children. Inc
nuilding cos, about $1,000. In feeble
ness extreme,' by dint Of strong WILL
IN. deceased has written a letter every
week for years past. which was puplSne.
An the Advocate for the Children the last
one appearing last week. ~,
Mr.. Laurems was a soldier III wv
Mounted Rifles, In General Scott 5 army
and took part in the principal battles
~ tbe Mexican war. He was promoted
for eallantry at the battle of the Clty oi
Mexico. His acquaintance with the MeNi-
cans bcgat a great sympathy lor .h,"i'
which caused him 10 spend the iat'ei
years of his life in laboring for their
benefit.
IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
Uo was also captain of Company r
organized In Petersburg, in the Cohleuc-
rate army under General Malone ne
was forced to resign. however, on acCoun'
of W-hcalth. 1t is somewhat reinarhdpic
that two Confederate officers, both SUPER
auuuated ministers Of the same Church'
living side 10y side. should have been sum
,.ousI away in the space of a lew |
months. Reference is had to the deceased
and the late Rev. +. J. Boggs.
DIR. LAFFERTY'S TRIBUTE.
Dr. LaH,rty. in his sketches Of the Viz
giula Conference. Methodist E~plscopdl
Church. South. has the following to say
OF Rev. John Il. Laurens: Mr.. Laurehs
laI In him the aptitude for organization
and the magnetism for leadership III the
church enterprises. but these qualities Iay
LARGELY dormant til f%avoring conditions
developed thfm. Indifferent health had
uttered his zeal All along his itinerant
Ute til il disabled him entirely In M.
lie retired from the active field. a Trend
shin of vars between the conductor OF
the Advocate and himself brought to mat
paper hIs discretion. good viii, and ener-
gr. tI disturbing maladies confined nm
within IA own doors and made the use
oi The pen irksome. While connected with
the AiVocat- he turned his attention 10
tn children. and. starting with a mite
contribution. made in the family Of Rev.
Thomas II. Campbell. Of our conference. |
he uourishod this tiny plant till its broad
lourhs bore fruit among the heather be
yoni thc Pacific. and also In tn land Of
the Alttc=. and among the red men of the |
Vest. The story of how this broken sol
der of the militant church mustered the
thousands of infauts Of our homes into \
the hand Of The IIoeebuds' mas become a
Alta lilili- UNiiH'ii|4l toif III our boAilIS. |
AT FIRST MITES.
''The recruits AT first wee few n the
finances were COUNTED in nickels and
coipcrs. by inviting their little letters
- the ch,ldron's department. Of the paper; |
~ authorizations. short. ait. and simple; |
by wis. organization. by personal visits
ana addresses; the Church saw with a
glad wonder Il children-crI sade for Christ /
sl4r ..rrr.1 STARTED nv rIarfe and moved l
by marnctism. The gifts ran up to an
annual sum Of thousands Of dollars. but |
the value of the missionary education
among the boys and girls % the church
81 th. future cannot be rcckoned in coin |
or currency. Tho name of Uncle Larry
ia known as widely as any bishops in
the Church. and his achievements as the
head Of the 'EOsebudS' makes an en-
gazing page in our annals. In these last
years he has been not only a confirmed
invalid. but a victim Of excruciating |
pains. HIS body l. omaciated till tendon
and bone come to the eye everywhere in |
his anatomy. The Gnawing of the nerves |
is the pastine of his hungry disease. on
such a frame the gravest venture OF
modern surgery was attempted. Before
the knife brought to view the cavities
of his body life only hung by IA thread. |
II went abroad in print that this extreme |
experiment would be made. ms eVokel
a thousand prayers for n safe issue. Inc |
voices Of the babes ana Sucknhss came
up before God.
Uncle Larry was spared. From his
bed. amid unceasing torments to joint
and marrow, he conducts the analrs OF
4onD children at home and their mission |
airy matters in distant lands
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral services will be held In the
Duncan Memorial church tomorrow uSth)
at 4 =. NJ. The "Rosebuds' Will conduct
the singing He will be buried IN Nood-
land cemetery. near Ashland.