Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-09
WILLIAM H. BRANS0N.
A Beautiful Tribute to His Life
and Labors.
Annual Meeting of the Historical Society of
the North Carolina NJ. E. Conference
The Address of Rev. t. n. Ivcy, ID.

New Bern. n. c., Dec. Sit is a
standing custom in the North Carolina
conference for the anniversary of the
Conference Historical Society to be
heid on the evening preceding the open
ing session of the conference. In COM
piiance with this custom, the ami
versary meeting OF the society was held
Tuesday r!gnt.
Key. \. ii. d. Wilson. president of
the conference Historical Society. pre-
Siueu over the meeting. The opening
hymn was. II Am Thine Lord"
After the singing OF this hymn Rev. ].
T.. Underwood read a lesson from the
eleventh chapter of Hebrews. After
another hymn the opening prayer was
otiered BY Rev. X. +. Bumpass.
OR. IVEY'S ADDRESS.
The address of the evening was de-
livered by Rev. r. n. Ivey. d. D., and
his subject was The Life and Labors
OF William II. Branson." The address
was one Of thought and high literary
merit, and the following sentences give
but few OF the thoughts expressed
In this excellent address, mo vision of
Methodist triumph is complete" said
DR.. Ivcy "wthou, the Methodist lay
men. He works in and ,Arough the
scene. and the panorama cannot pass
before the people without the Melho-
dist laymen.
III is Il special pleasure to present as
the subject this evening the Lie and
Labor OF William Henry Branson.' We
al! knew him ana loved him. Il model
loynan in North Carolina Methodism.
In the last years OF the last century,
Thomas Branson came TO this State.
the father OF the subject Of this sketch.
The area in which William Brarson
spent his early life would not at this
NJ no .I-.,- 4
the DAY OF modern improvements. The
school days of William Branson closed
at IL years, and the little country
school house was his college and uni
rerSity, but his after life proves how
he improved his early advantages. At
the age of IL William BranSon went
from his home 10 Greensboro, where
he entered the store of j. y. Odell and
there he worked for four years for his
board alone. He was not ashamed to
work. He was member OF the family
OF Mr.. Odel during this time and there
he was admired and loved for his man
ly character.
1T Is not surprising that at Ii WILL
lam gave his heart TO God. The only
surprise is that he did not take this
step sooner. He connected himself
with the old West Market street
church in Greensboro. and was almost
at once made steward. He was n
prayer meeting and Sunday-school
steward. May their tribe increase.
mere are two places where the
CHRISTIAN layman must secure his
power, the Mercy-Seat and in his home.
and from these William Branson
sought and found his He was married
10 MISS Clara Sargent. of Greensboro.
ana their home was an ideal Christian
home.
THE IDEAL. METHODIST IAYMAN
me ideal Methodist layman mus, be
good business man and with his tal
ent and worth In this connection WILL
IAN Branson impressed all with whom
lie came in contact. Had he lived long
enough he would no doubt have ac-
Iuirea large wealth. and as 1t was he
lelt MS family an ample fortune.
Wm. Branson had time for all din
Ties ana discharged the smaller with MS
Inuch pleasure as he did those of great
er Importance. He laid all of his tall
eht on the altar of the church. He was
steward, member of the district, annual
ana general conferences He was an
ardent believer in Christian education
RE was staunch friend of Trinity
College: he rejoiced with her in her
success and wept with her. in nor
trials. 1t is Citing that his name is
commemorated in one of the buildinrs
on The campus.
mere We're two doctrines which gov
erned his life. The first was. 1t ia
better TO give than to receive He ex
empiined the unselfish spirit. His
other doctrine WAS. Except the Lord
pc with us, all is vain the words of
which was found in note book OF
ms short time after his death. and
ms life proves how he lived in Keeping
with the sentiment of these words. OF
course he had his frailties. but his
beauty is for men and women To lool,
upon and the scars for God and the
angels, who long since have smoothed
these away. Let us chersh and love
MS memory and exemplIfy his life."