The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-12-19

out 10 ecstasy Ny father, my father, the
chario.s Of Israel and the horsemeD thereof |
The sight Of this occurrence was the condi-
ton that Elijah bad imposed. So when
Elisha saw it be took up the mantle that fell
sron his master as be was borne upward and
sooo found it to be the symbol of the spirit
aud the power that he bad craved SO legacy.
Aud thus, though Elijah was lost to sight
aud could oot be found, even With the most
diligent and persistent search by the sous of
the prophets, this mautle remained az the efec-
tive and abiding symbol of all the character
is,ies and forces that made bin what be was
and enabled him to do what he did. In
this scripture, then, think We have su;;-
able setting for the Lesson most appropriate to
this sad occasion which lesson is simply the
legacy OF worth tha. our eminent aud below
ed father snd brotoer has left foe our example
and profit 10 the mantle Of character tha, be
wore while he lived and which he bequeathed
to earth in his fight to heaven.
Every one, my friends, whatever nay be
his charac,e. or conduc, in this world, leaves
a mantle Of Influence and power of one sort
or aoosher as legacy to those who are lef.
behind 10 his departure from earth. If bis
character has been vicious and. his example
bed be drops In death mantle Of like sort
as legacy to earth, which remains after be
is gene and even compounds and intenei6es
perhaps the power and the influence of toe
evil which operated in his owp person while
he lived
Aod 80, on the other haod. if the char.c-
ter and infuecce of the departed was for good
while he lived bis personal absence through
death ia compensated for and sometimes even
more than compensated for by the mantle Of
e1eellency and wholesome iodoence which be
beaaeashed to earth in his departure.
Add now am sure that not only all pres
ent 10 this mourning sssenbiase, but also all
everywhere who have had the privilege of
knowing our dead, whether personally or
only oy report, will unite With me in the
convictioo that only the latter mantle, CT the
mantle of good, claims our attention today,
fos though, like Elijah, our falhe- and broth
er and friend has beea suddenly taken away
froE; rs 50 that we shal. see hin GO more ID
the dssh, ye: in bis departure be has left a
uan,ie of beauty and OF worth and of useful
ness that has aireee5 beer blessing for macy
years aud will continue to prove such mose
and more If we ooly taae it up snd try 10
yea. it as he did.
wish had the power to describe that
mantle as it deserves. Aud ye, why should
I regret my lack when it was held up to
vies for 30 many years by him himself who
vore it aod that not as picture only bat as
. p,cseos and living reality I. So be began to
bold this mantle mp to view even in bic child
hood 10 mis- faithful observance of the COM
nsndment "Hopor thy father and thy moth
81 that thy days may be louE on the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee" For
in this aspect of it ell who can ,esufy in. the
matter say that this mantle shoue with uu
common b,ightoess. He was \ most deliEht-
fal child. Then 10 bis school aud college
days his mantle bore the lustre of faithful
ness to duty, to diligence and to stadious.
sess to degree that crowned him With the
pexs to the highest Donors of bic class and
prepared hin for the position in life and the
fsrthes honors Of which he was considered
worthy m bis subsequent life Again, THE
mant.e, ss he wore it afterwards, whether in
soe legislative balls, or on the tented 6eld, OF
at the bar or on the bench. fulfilled all the
promises Of It's beginning and thus wrought
il toto oneness and completeness and seam
lessness. 80 to speak, euc5 as could not be
divided without msrring lie beauty and
value as whole. AZ worn by the barrister
whatever i, may have lacked of what s call.
ed o1il!iaocy or eloqdence was in large Meas
u,e COMPENSATED for by the more solid quail
the absence of the tricks Of the pet.,fogger
aod the presence of such koowledRe sod
practical wisdom az made him judicious
and cafe counsellor snd Of high toned
conscieotiousness that, bowever it may have
interfefred With big peconiary euccess, served
TO keep the maotle of his character unsullied
by anything selfish, low end deoasing.
As Il Legislator, his mantle was equally un-
so,ied and highly adorced With all the quail
ties whico should characterize one wbo series
his country 10 this capacity.
As colder, bis mantle was clean and
bright With the sheen OF patriotism aud
ardeat self denying and uoconprouisirg de-
votion 10 duty
And when to a maptle Of ercb character,
possessing 10 all iss phases Of it the featores
named thus "a: there was added the jodicla
ermine, this special yesture served to bring
all the beauties and the e1c.llences Of the
other garment into oolder relief aod to dis
play other qualities ;hs. needed perhaps ,his
eruine to bring them more fally to light.
81 Toao