Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-05-13
Lilfe's Busy Scenes Over.
"Lo! such the child whose early feet
Thn nnILa Al annnn lna-n Iral

10! SUcn tne cnllu whose early leet
The paths of peace have trod
Whose secret heart with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God"
Rev. John S, Henley was born May
20, 1881, in Washington County, Ten.
nessee, and died at his home not far
from the place of his birth, January 2,
1896, after an illness of only a few days.
He was married February 10, 1857, to
Miss Margaret A. Broyles, eldest daugh.
ter of the late Jacob F. Broyles. He
leaves to mour his departure three
sisters, an affectionate wife, two noble
sons and three devoted daughters.
Reared by pious parents, this good
man was early taught of heavenly
things, and in childhood became inter-
ested in the Gospel of Christ. He was
converted young and Joined the NJ. E.
Church, South, the church that he wed
most tenderly and served so faithfully.
While yet a mere lad, he was made as.
sistant class leader and afterwards
repeatedly served as Steward and Sun
day School Superintendent. He was
licensed to preach at old Sewer
Church, April 20, 1889, and was or
dained Deacon by Bishop McTyeire at
Abingdon, Va, October 0, 1887. His
ministerial labors were confined chiefly
to the people of his own neighborhood,
choosing rather to garner in sheaves
for the Master, from the rich fields
about his door. He preached in the same
church where he knelt down when he
was a child. And how he did love to
kneel down there by the alter and pray.
Who of the many that heard him can
ever forget his earnest applications?
After he could rise from his knees, with
his face bathed in happy tears, and
lead the congregation in one of the
sweet old hymns, such as How Fair a
Fountain" He loved the story of the
cross and told it again and again to
waiting Christians, to sinners, and to
the little children in the Sunday School.
The very joyousness of his religion
made people love him. He found his
greatest happiness in working for
Christ's kingdom aud in doing deeds of
mercy, kindness and love. The poor
and needy were never turned empty
handed and disappointed from his door.
He will surely hear in that great day,
the blessed words, ''Inasmuch az We
have done it unto the least of these nv
brethren, ye have done it unto me-"
He counted the Bible his most sacred
possession and spent much time study.
ing Its pages.
Brother Henley's lips praised God for
more than sixty years; and when they
were growing cold in death, how
sweetly fell from them the words, II
love Jesus" and Heaven. home.
Heaven"
His last sufferings were severe, but
the grace of God sustained him and his
end was peace. He wanted to go; and
when his family told him that his pain
would soon be over, he said, "Yes,"
and looked so glad. When he closed
his eyes on earth, we knew he had gone
to his rest, and that he had exchanged
the WEAKNESS and pain of this life for
the glad Joy of heaven. He had so long
anticipated the brightness and glory of
his heavenly home that it seemed like
in his case death was no more than an
entrance into Immortality.
Every act of his life proved that he
counted this world as nothing but a
place of waiting to prepare for better
things. The simplicity of his faith and
his child like obedience to the Savior's
commands were very marked. His
life told plainly that he had a home in
a city not made by hands.
He loved the beauties of nature and
saw God in everything. The freshness
of the bright May morning, the splen-
dor of the midsummer sun, the soft
tents and purple shadows of the Sep
TENDER twilight, the reflections of the
stars on the bright surface of the muir.
muring river that lulled him to sleep
at night-all brought messages of peace
from God to his sole.
~ thank Thee, O my Father.
That mid life's toll and dust,
The birds and flowers can bring us
Such heavenly hope and trust;
Quickened by faith they whisper
The Masters word in peace to me:
IF God for these so careth,
Will He not care for me?'n
We thank God for such men as John
Henley. The poor and needy ones tina
he has comforted will bless his name
to their dJ ing day. His old neighbors
will hold him in grateful remembrance
and speak his name tenderly for his
neighborly kindness; for who could
minister to their sick like he did? Who
else could pray with the diving as fer
vently and effectually as he could? Al
to his reward for his honest hearted
love to God and man, the sweet peace
that attended his way was all he eve
asked or cared for.
When the old friends that have beer
ours ever since we first opened our eye
TO the light, grow weary and enter into
their rest above, the world SEEM
emptier and poorer, and our Joy is al
saddened. But let no murmur be heard
for it is only q little while ''till H,
come"
Beyond this vale Of tears
There is a life above,
Unmeasured by the flight of wears
And all that life is lnyaU