The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-11-21
DEATH OF DIR. G. UTRHA ".

Convention, died suddenly at his home
in Raleigh last Thursday night. He
had been unwe!l for few weeks, but no
one supposed that there was anything
serious in his illness. Heart failure
was the cause assigned for his sudden
demise.
Considered in all his makeup, DR..
Durham was easily the strongest man
in the Baptist denomination in North
Carolina. lie was wonderfully gifted
as a preacher Of the gospel, was thor
oughly committed to whatever cause
he espoused and never knew what it
meant 70 abandon his cause or yield
one inch Of his conviction. The State
has lost a valuable citizen and the Bap-
list denomination has lost leader
whose place can hardly be filled. Thons-
ands of people throughout the State
feel personal loss in his death.
DR.. Durham had many warm friends
ana admirers in Scotland Neck and
vicinity. Quite numbe: of prominent
Baptists OF the State were III Raleigh at
the funeral Saturday afternoon. Among
the number Was Rev. ]. d. Hufham
D. D., for many years pastor OF the
Baptist church in Scotland Neck. Alter
the funeral sermon by DR.. ]. w, Carter,
pastor of the first Baptist church in
Raleigh, DR.. Hufham paid DR.. Dur
ham the following beautiful tribute as
reported by the News and Observer:
DR.. Hufham said when the telegram
came announcing DR.. Durham's death
it seemed as though the sky had been
suddenly clouded over. Everyone from
tho little children to the old men
mourned. An old soldier who wore
the gray took my hand and said, :" Go
and tell them what Cleveland county
and the old soldiers feel" EVERYBODY
grieved. Throughout the State fol
weeks and months to come there will
be weeping as the news is told that this
good man is gone. He was the mos:
widely known OF any OF us. He was the
most loved, the most trusted, and nc
man in the denomination had such a
hold upon the hearts of brethren and
sisters, and I can say that to day a
Prince in Isreal has fallen. His death
has brought grief to hundred thous-
and homes and hearts, such is the al
lection that clustered around him
Years before the Revolution Alamance
Baptists were prosecuted and driven
from their homes. This mans ances-
tors were among them, and among
those who in spite of persecution
planted churches and preached the
gospel. He grew up in the region
where the morning and evening sun
glorified Kings Mountain, where the
traditions of Cowpen's and Ramseur's
Mill, with their deeds of heroism and
courage, are told, and the stories OF
the bravery of our ancestors who
fought for religious and civil liberty
He could not help BEING patriotic con
sidering the blood that was in him.
Then the war came, and father and
sons went into the war, he the youngest
of them all. Two came out to serve
their country and their Lord. Al
Charlottesville news came that the
farther had died in another part of the
field That boy said, "My father il
dead, let me go look for bis body" Bu1
they said, You can do him no good
and maybe by night the South vii
need every man." He did not go. Dc
you wonder men trusted a man like
that That man got his education in
the army, and he was soldier to the
end of his life. His only question was
"What are orders % and once he hao
gotten orders, he never stopped tt
reason. "His not to make reply, hi!
not to reason why, his but to do and
die" He was entirely free from selfish
ness or thought of personal gain. HI
did not seek promotion. He had II
him just those qualities which com
mand success, the qualities of yelling
ton, Napoleon and Washington, master,
of detail, rapid generalization, instan
determination, pluck, cheertulness ane
perseverance. They would have made
him a great master of railroads, of man
ufacturlng or business enterprises. Ye
he had laid all these powers at the fee
OF Jesus and consecrated all to Him
He had one purpose, and that was tt
gloryify Jesus Christ and spread tn,
knowledge of His truth among men,.
am thankful that God gave him to us
and though it is hard for us to under
stand why he is taken, we know tina
God can make no mistakes. 1t i
pleasant to think that he has left thes,
two boys to take his place, and tina
they will be enabled to follow the ex
ample of their father and fill the plac