Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-03-18
Vol. XXXVIII.

Rev. W. E. Ellis, who succeeded DR..
John A. Brooks at Memphis, Tenn,
when he went to London, at his fun
eral said:
"Another one of our valiant soldiers
has fallen on the battlefield. "A prince
and great man has fallen this day in
Israeli John A. Brooks is dead, and
the church of Christ in England and
America will mourn his loss in SYM
pathy with the bereaved family. He
was not permitted to live out his three
score years and ten. But we measure
life by deeds, not by years. The 81
years of his life were filled full of
deeds of heroism in efforts to bless
and uplift humanity. He was recog-
nized by his countrymen as a man of
ability and worth, and upon several
occasions was called upon by them to
serve in offices which it were an honor
to fill. He fought bravely and well
for the great prohibition cause that
was SO dear to his heart. He listened
not for the voice of policy which wait
ed for public approval; he was not
bound by the conventionalities of
society, nor was he scared by the fiut-
ter of a newspaper-but with utter
disregard for human criticism, and
with unwavering faith in God, he
plunged into the thickest of the fight
in the full assurance of the fact that,
sooner or later, the right must prevail.
ellis greatest work was done as a
preacher OF the gospel, and in this
chosen field his labor was richly
blessed by our Heavenly Father. He
was eminently successful as an evan
gelist and as pastor. There were
heroism that are kindling to the fires
of hope in every struggling young
man, because these are the underlying
principles upon which his success is
based. Loving sympathy, extreme
conscientiousness and answering
bravery are the principles of the soul
| upon which he seized with singular
force. He was fearless in saying what
he thought. He never lost sight of
his purpose. The tenacity with which
he held on to his purpose in life is
worthy of the admiration of all true
men. Whether in his social relations,
or his business transactions, or in his
relations to Christianity, underneath
Il
trolling purpose of his life-a deter
mination to accomplish something for
God and humanity, and resolution to
make Christianity dominate the circle
in which he moved as we'll as the
means by which the kingdoms of this
world are to be made the kingdoms of
our God and His Christ. Hence his
hope of future glory was bright, and
his resignation to the will of God COM
plete. He said, Il am ready to go'. 1t
was fitting close to a Christian life
spent in active service for his Master.
His sickness and death revealed more
fully the elements of his character
that were SO prominent all through
life.
GAS an evangelist he ranked high,
having heard thousands of souls con-
fess the name of Jesus under the pa
thetic appeals and persuasive power
of his preaching. AS q pastor he has
served some of the best churches we
have. His last charge was in London,
whittier he had gone with his wife and
youngest daughter In response to the
call of duty-to which voice he never
turned a deaf ear-but after stay OF
only seven months he was compelled
to sail for America on account of fail
ing health from the effects of the dense
atmosphere of the great city. He ar
rived in Memphis Nov. 2, 1896, where
he has had all the attention anC
care that loving hands could bestow ol
, the best medical aid furnish. But witt
. all of this the chilling hand of deatf
was stayed but for a brief season.
"Of his life as a preacher and re-
former enough has been said. Tha
, is known by the world. 1t was in hi
, private life as a husband ana father
that we see thoee beautiful traits o
3 character that tell OF his loving hear
' and sympathetic nature. Here he wa
brightest; here he was happiest; here
r he was best. The bright light has gon,
@ out and sorrow reigns supreme in tha
d once happy home, over which so few
# clouds have ever gathered and abou
g which cluster sacred memories of tn
# paradise on earth, in which God ha
: placed them, and into which he ha
q sent loving hearts to comfort and sym
q pathize with him in hours of sorrow
He was dependent upon his loved one
for sympathy and manifestations c
love and endsarment. 1t was the foo
III upon which he fed and which his sym
pathetic nature craved. He was tn
. idol of that home ,and mutual love an
- sympathy ever manifested itself in O.
the associations and relations of the,
u home life. The last ray of light tn,