The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14

EOAA~AS $500
which cast a shadow through his life,
he had survived more than five thous-
and of our people, whose dust now
mingles with it's Mother Earth, in that
silent city of the dead. In war, in
pestilence and in famine, he was ever
faithful, and trusted. and true; and al
last, like a full shock of ripest grain,
that has been shattered by the blast,
he, too, has been cut down by the reap
er death, and he shall return no more
to his house, neither shall his place
know him any more The closing
year of his unsullied life was marked
by constant suffering. in which the
kindly sympathy of the community
vas tenderly manifested. For a time,
he resisted the disease with wonderful
vigor at his age, but it was lately seen
by those around him, that the soul
vas soon to leave it's mortal tene-
ment, and was already closing up its
windows, and putting out its fires To
him the King of Terrors brought no
fears. Supported by the everlasting
Arms. he saw beyond the gathering
darkness of the valley, the steady and
increasing light of an eternal day.
Surrounded by those most dear to
him On earth, in the house of his
birth, he breathed unconsciously until
near the turn of midnight, the vital
spark still lingering,
But when the sun in all his state,
"Illumed the eastern skies,
He passed through Glory's morning
gate,
"And. walked in Paradise
Mr.. President and gentlemen, the
years of 1896 and 1897 are marked to
the memoir of some of our noblest,
| md n11r haSt-Ca0rOa Davis A1fraI
Martin, John S. James, David G..
Worth, Armand j. DeRosset-'a
galaxy Of moral excellence, the most
| perfect; of intellectual ability, the most
eminent; of fidelity, the most
ing. BY the light of their lofty deeds
n kindly virtues, memory gaZes back
into the past, and is content; by the
light of Revelation, hope looks beyond
the grave, into the bright day of i'm
mortality, and is happy"
Mr.. c.. H. Robinson moved that the
remarks of Mr.. Sprunt be appended to
the resolutions to be reported by the
committee, and adopted as the senti-
ments Of this exchange. The motion
was adopted.
The committee having returned, Mr..
James H. Chadbourn submitted the
resolutions and said:
Before offering the resolutions pre-
pared by the committee I beg leave to
say a single word for myself. l have
known DR.. DeROsset for nearly a half
century. The great respect I had for
him at first has, in more recent years,
grown into admiration and love, and I
know of no man, I never have known a
~ n n uyhnca oIo va oto,, ND --LNra 1;eo
in all it's relations, were more worthy
of imitation than his
Mr.. Chadbourn then read the follow
ing resolutions:
The produce exchange is called upon
to express its sorrow for the removal
from earth of one of it's founders, and
it's Oldest charter member.
The exchange was organized in
April, 1873, by twenty-one firms in this
city, and the first name on the list
was DeRosset & Co.
On the 18th of September following,
the incorporation meeting was held and
the first named incorporation was A. J.
DeROsset, and he remained a member
until he retired from all business.
But the mere fact Of his member
ship of this body, while it would justi-
fly a formal expression Of grief at his
death, constitutes but the smallest
part of his claim to our consideration.
He was not only an enlightened, pub
lic-spirited, and able merchant, but
was a model of integrity in business,
and had established that character be-
fore a majority of us were born. No
man has ever lived in this community
who commanded more universal re-
spect than he, and therefore it is
Resolved, That in. the death of DR..
Armand j. DeRosset this exchange has
lost it's most venerable and profoundly
respected member, whose stainless
character will be cherished as one OF
its prOudest memories, and whose con
duct in all the relations of life will
serve as an example to those who sur |
vive him..
Resolved, That the members of this
exchange be requested to meet at 10
o'clock, December 18th, and attend the
funeral in a body.
Resolved, That a copy of these pro- |
ceedings be sent to his family, with
the respectful sympathy Of this body, |
and be published in the city papers.
(Signed) JAS. H. CHADBOURN.
(Signed) M. S. WILLARD,
(Signed) H. K. NASH,
Committee.
Colonel John Wilder Atkinson said:
There was one characteristic of DR..
DeRosset which especially impressed |
me, and that was his firm integrity |
and high. sense of honor. Nothing
could induce him to swerve from his
ideal OF right. I recall now his course
when his financial OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES |
whelmed him, which may Well be an
example to us.
II had sent for the late Mr.. Donald |
'MacRae and myself to advise with {
His creditors had offered to COM |
with him, I think, at fifty |
cents on the dollar. He sternly refus- |
n compromise, saying he owed
the entire debt, and if he sold his prop |
erty, it would yield enough to pay his !
debt in full. With this purpose he sur +!
the handsome house in which |
he lived. which he had built, and
in which most of his children were |
Dorm and to which he was greatly at
tached, and cheerfully took up his |
abode in a much humber dwelling. |