The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-06
THE MASONS HONOR HIM
SERVICES CONDUCTED BY SIEVE
RAJ, METHODIST PREACHERS.
LED BY Dr.. JESSE A. CUNNINGHAM
Leading Ministers and Educators Come to
Take Part--Addresses by His AS
sociates in Church Work.

w. s. Black preached at Edenton ouee'
Methodist church. Its congregation helu
him in tender remembrance and nowhere
was there greater regret at the announce
ment of his death. 1t was therefore
fitting that the last sad rites shou'u
no held from that church. A large con-
xregation was present.
The body of Dr. Black, accompanied
nv his widow, by Miss Birdie Black, Kew.
B. III. Black, Mr.. Will Black, Messrs.
Grant. brothers of Mrs. Black. Rev. Il.
II. Davis. pastor of Littleton Methodist
church: Mr.. w. III. johnson, Leading
,avman of the Littleton church; Rev. }.
Sanford. of Warren Circuit; Rev. j. A.
Hornady. Of Weldon; Rev. A. McCullen,
of Henderson; Rev. ]. d. Pegram, Rev.
!. r. Lawyer, of Garysburg, and others.
They were met at the depot by the
Nasons and the official board of Edenton
Street Methodist church, and the funeral
was held at 4 o'clock. The altar of the
church was most tastefully draped ana
the floral offerings were numerous ana
lovely.
At the church the funeral services were
conducted by Rev. Jesse A. Cunn1ngglm,
who walked at the head of dozen OF
DIR. Blacks ministerial brethren. read
ing the service Il am the Resurrection
and the Life" as the coffin was borne
to it's place at the chancel. The choir
sang ''Thy viii Be Done" after which
Rev. NJ. D. Hix, pastor of st. John
church, in Richmond county, read as the
first lesson the ninetieth Psalm. Rev. >.
A. Hornady, of Weldon, read as the sec
onN lesson the fifteenth chapter of First
Corinthians, beginning: Now is Christ
risen from the dead" Rev. A. McCullen,
of Henderson, read the 25th hymn, which
was sung by the choir. Prayer was
offered by Rev. w. G. Norman. The
solo, 'Some Sweet Day." rendered by
Miss Mamie Robbins, came like bene-
diction that follows prayer"
DIR. Cunninggim spoke briefly and
fittingly from the words in the second
lesson: "But thanks be unto God which
giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ" He said that he and DR..
Black Joined Conference the same year,
and that he felt deep sense of loss in
his death. He paid high and touching
tribute to his worth and usefulness to the
church and to society, and recalled an
other sad scene four years ago when the
funeral of Rev. DIR. Frank l.. Reid was
held from the same church. They were
long associated together as partners in
the publication of the Christian Advo-
cate.
Rev. E. III. Davis, pastor of the Little
ton church, spoke of DIR. Black as
citizen. and said that he was priced as
resident of Littleton by the whole COM
munity. He touched upon his personal
association with DIR. Black, who had
been his presiding elder five of the ten
years he had been in the ministry. MIR.
Davis told of the impression DIR. Black
made upon him when he was sent as
Junior preacher on a circuit in the Doc
tors district, how he seemed to be a
spiritual father to him, and how the
relations strengthened his respect and
affection for the man of God who has
passed away. The preachers on his dis
trict loved DIR. Black because he loved
them. His great love for the church and
his singular gifts as a presiding elder
were elaborated by the speaker, who
said that the District Conference held
two weeks ago was one of the most de-
lightful DIR. Black had ever held. 1t was
on Sunday afternoon of this conference
that DIR. Black felt the first prenomition
of the illness that resulted in death,
when the conference adjourned, DIR.
Black went to Northampton for a few
days visit and returned to Jackson APP
parently improved in health. Two days
before his death he felt that the end
was near and told one Of his children
that this illness would terminate in his
DEATH A short while before his death
his wife, who was writing to an absent
child to apprise him of his fathers i'll
ness, asked what message he desired to
send to his son. The Doctor said: "Tell
1, 41o% l. ;e faf 90 wi fo. f,
Concluding Mr.. Davis said: GAS he lived
he died. He is not with us to-day for
God has taken him."
DR.. Cunninggim called upon Rev. J.
Sanford, of the Warren Circuit, who had
been more intimately connected with DR..
Black than any other preacher. DR..
Sanford said that DR.. Black was his
first and last presiding elder. He was
elevated to the presiding eldership in
South Carolina when yet a very young
man. When he was first appointed to
this responsible office, some of the older
preachers said they didn't like to have
boy put over them as presiding elder,
but before the year was out, by his wise
and energetic discharge of his duties,
DIR. Black had won all hearts. II have
often heard DIR. Black say that his
motto was to do his level best. l sup
He was a lovely character, full of mag
netism and Christian grace. / had a
loving talk with him at Enfield and 1
feel glad that it was given to me to
have the last old-fashioned country ride
he took before he passed away. He
seemed himself, we talked Of old times
and old friends Of new times and new
friends. We talked of our prospects for
life and death. 1t makes no difference
if, riding along that quiet country road,
we two old preachers did cry. We came
to the conclusion that we were ready to
die"
Rev. J. r. Sawyer was the next speak
err He began by telling of the love of
Christian woman who felt that she owed
the life Of her husband to the prayers
Of DR.. Black. 81 had heard this good