Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-08-20
JUDGE BENJAMIN t. GUNTER
In tho Home and In tho Church.

now my purpose to write. l leave 1t
to others to speak of him as a public
spirited citizen, lawyer and a judge.
That lie was jurist of ability, and
that he wore the judicial ermine most
worthily, are facts we'll known to the
general public. 1t is of the purity of
his inner and private life, in the home
and in the church, that | wish to
write. Some two years ago it was my
privilege to be in his beautiful home
and share his generous hospitality,
where l was deeply impressed with
the beauty and simplicity Of his pri-
yate and domestic life. He was a
kind and tender husband and a de-
voted father. My heart was stirred
and my sympathies were aroused as
he took me into his parlor, and point
ed out to me the portraits, of his
four handsome. noble. cultured,
christian sons, who had followed each
other to the spirit world in quick
succession while in the vigor of early
manhood, and while life of honor
and usefulness seemed to lie before
them. He then took me to the sacred
spot, where sleep side by side these
four promising brothers whose
graves are marked with suitable
monuments and inscriptions. And
as there we stood the devoted father,
with tears coursing his cheeks, spoke
with tenderness and affection of these
noble boys, who were the pride and
JOY of his life, of his deep affection in
their loss, of his submission to Gods
will and of his hope Of reunion with
them in heaven when his life work
was done. No doubt while / write
that hope has been changed into
glad and glorious fruition.
A mans real character will always
be more visible in his home than
elsewhere. His practical wisdom will
be better exhibited, by the manner
in which he bears rule there, than
even in the larger affairs of public or
business life. 1t is in the home that
his real quality of head and heart
display themselves. 1t is there he
shows his real character, his faithful
ness, love, sympathy, consideration
for others and his manliness, upright
ness and integrity. One could hardly
go into the beautiful christian home
of Judge Gunter without recalling
the lines of Thomson in 1.-The Sea-
sons."
Home is the resort
Of love, of joy, of peace and plenty;
where
Supporting and supported, polished
friends
And dear relations, mingle into
Bliss,
But l pass from speaking of Judge
Gunter, in the beautiful, hospitable
christian home, to say something of
him as l saw him in the church.
went to aid his pastor, Elder J. Man.
ming Dunaway, in the Drummond-
town Baptist Church of which Judge
Gunter was most devout, active and
useful member. We held two services
each day, for some two weeks. And
though one service was held at night,
and his home was several miles away,
he was present at all the services
both day and night. He took an &C
tive part in the meetings and contri-
buted largely to their success by bis
fervent prayers, his presence and his
exhortations. He was man of devout
spirit, exemplary life and was deeply
interested in the prosperity of his
church which he most sincerely
loved and cherished. He was
thoroughly loyal to his pastor whom
he loved and actively supported in
every good word and work.
Not only did he love and cordially
support his local church, but his
denomination and the general cause
of Christ as well. He was a recog-
nized leader in the Accomac Associa-
ton. over which he gracefully pre-
sided for number of years as Mod
orator. He was chosen by the Pun.
colleague church to deliver her CEN
tennial address in 1890. This address,
which he sent me in printed form at
the time, showed much historical
research, as we'll as great familiarity
with the Bible and its doctrines.
make here q brief extract from
that address, because it reveals much
or his private life and christian char
acter, showing as it does his modesty
and filial reverence and affection.
He says, MY selection was doubtless
due to the fact, that l have been in
timately associated with this church
from my childhood days; and that l
sprang from the loins of father, who
was received into its membership as
early as 1909, in less than two years
after its organization. One who was
true to it in prosperity and adversely
and in old age when life's Pickering
lamp ceased to burn, died one of its
honored deacons, after more than
forty-eight years service in the cause
of his Lord and Master"
Judge Gunter then was the illus
trious son of noble sire, furnishing
another illustration of the force OF
the law of heredity, and the influence
of early training and family religion
Where the spirit of love and loyalty
10 duty pervades the home-where
the head ard heart bear rule wisely
where the daily life is honest AND
| 1, 4 o,1rary,