The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-29
BY REV. GEORGE F. SMITH
The Services Were in Keeping With
Mr.. Burton's Character.
THE CITY JOINS IN MOURNING
The Body Was Taken to Halifax County Yes
terday and VIII be Inferred Today at
the Old Family Home Near
Roanoke Rapids.
Roanoke Rapids.

The funeral of the late Mr.. R. o. Bur-
ton took place yesterday morning at
Elenton Street church.
The services though as simple and fret
from display as the life of him in whose
memory they were held, were impressive
throughout They were conducted by
Rev. Geo. f. Smith assisted by several
of the pastors of the other churches of
the city.
1t was attended by the official members
of Edenton Street Church in body, and
the members of the Raleigh Bar Both
of these bodies accompanied the remains
TO the depot after the service had been
completed at the church.
1t has. been long since a funeral in
Raleigh has taken place amid circum-
stances showing the city so deeply be-
reaved. or so universal the bereavement.
the bereavement.
Appropriate music was rendered by the
Edenton Street church choir. Miss Belle
Watson sang a solo, after which the choir
sang Lead Kindly Light" Then follow
ed,sa touching, but fervent prayer by
Rev. G. T. Adams, pastor of Central
Methodist church.
DR.. A. A. Marshall, pastor of the First
Baptist church read very impress
sfVely the &c Psalm beginning: Lord
Thou hast been our dwelling place in ali
generations" The 18th chapter of LIST
Corinthians was read by Rev. I. Mex.
Pittinger, d. D., rector of the Church of
the Good Shepherd
yellow Firm a Foundation" was sung
BY the choir after having been read by
Or. r. H. Whitaker.
short but apprecative sketch of Mr..
Burtons life and character was read by
!. Rev. Geo. f. Smith. the dead mans pas
tor, and after a closing prayer by DR..
Eugene Daniel, the body followed by
the family of Mr.. Burton, the stewards
of Edenton Street Methodist church, and
:, the Bar of Raleigh, and large crowd
Of friends, was taken to the Union depot.
= 1T was accompanied to Halifax county
which was Mr.. Burton's old home, by the
members of his own immediate family,
by four of his brothers, Messrs. John q.
Burton, of Weldon; A. j. Burton, OF
Reidsville James H. Burton, of Weldon,
and DR.. E. A. Burton, of Greensboro. 1t
was also accompanied by Mr.. w. 0. Bur
we'll, of Warrenton, Mr.. Burton's brother
in-law, and Rev Geo. f. Smith, of this
save those named above, attended the
funeral.
Speaking of Mr.. Burton's character at
the funeral service, Mr.. Smith said:
'In speaking of brother Burton it is
not necessary to carefully choose words,
to cut and trim expressions, to dodge in
and out between the virtues and the de-
linuuencies of the man. The strongest
and most emphatic language may be used
without exaggerating his virtues, for he
was a true man in all the relations of
life-strong in body in intellectual pow
ers., in moral and religious character.
HE was the third son of Rev. Robt. @.
and Elizabeth Burton, and was born Jan
uary 8, 1852, at Poplar Grove, in Halifax
county. His father was Rev. r. o. Bur-
ton. ID. D., Methodist minister of posi-
tive character, and unyielding integrity
and great spiritual and intellectual power
in the pulpit. And his mother, the dauSh-
ter of Hon Andrew Joyner, enjoyed fine
religious and educational advantages.
Young Robert was richly endowed by
nature. The possibility of greatness was
his by inheritance. Some one has said
Back of the almost inaccessible peaks
in the Appenine mountains in Italy, are
the quarries from which were obtained
the beautiful Whlte marble uSeu III Duliu-
ing the Pantheon at Rome, which for the
fineness of the stone, no less than for the
skill of the sculptors, has been the admit
ration of the world
'"The boy, Robert Burton, had the fine
ness of nature which, under the hand OF
the Divine Sculptor, developed into
strong, beautiful character.
'sdis natured gifts grew and enlarged
under the stimulus of a college educa-
ton. After his graduation at Randolph
Macon College he taught school for {
time and then began the practice of Law
in his native county. Later he moved
to Richmond, Va, and nine years ago
came to Raleigh and opened law office
here. His reputation as an able, homes
lawyer is not confined to our city Of
State. Indomitable energy and capacity
for hard work and conservation of all his