Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-04-27

! 't"NN - anu AN-SASNltu LOT uNC %
ennial sessions.
After the election of Mai. Barksdale
to Congress- the Clarion" in lssS, was
merged with the State Ledger When
Col. Power was nominated for Secretary
of State, in 1895, he severed his connec'
tion with the printing business con
nection that had extended over many
years, but he has since continued to be
a regular, industrious and entertaining
contributor to the press of Mississippi
He wieids 'the pen of a ready writer ~
and as he is complete encyclopedia Of
historical and political information, his
articles are much priced by those seek
ing statistics and information on spe-
cialized subjects.
Col. Power is one of the best known
secretaries in the State, and as he had
been tried so long in that capacity it is
not surprising that his friends should
think he was the man for the position
Of Secretary of State. 1t may be inter.
eSting to give a summary of the num-
Der of times he has served in the ca
pacity of scribe, lie was clerk Of the
mousse of representatives when it met
as refugeed body in Macon, Miss, in
August, 1864, he being then on parole
as one of the Nicksburg garrison; was
elected clerk of the house in 1867; was
secretary of the constitutional conven-
ton of 1865; reported the date Of the
| secession convention in 1861, and was
the only outsider admitted to its secret
sessions; has been secretary to most of
the political State conventions that
have been held at the capital. 1t is as
grand secretary of MasOns that he is
the most widely known, and his name
is familiar TO that ancient and honoab bic
craft throughout the Union He was
elected to that office in 1869, and is now
serving his thirty-third year. He is
also secretary of three other Masonic
grand bodies, one being grand com
mandery of knights Templar of which
he is the senior grand recorder in
years of service in the work.
When the Worlds Masonic Congress
met in Chicago, during the Worlds
Fair, he was, on the nomination of the
Illinois delegation, unanimously chosen
secretary of that august body. The
grand lodge and grand commandery
presented him many years ago elegant
and costly jewels as testimonials of
their appreciation of his services,
Col Power is also past grand master
Of Odd Fellows, and has been grand
treasurer for many years. H. is also a
member of the Knights of Honor and
Knights of Pythias; is the scniorruling
elder in the Presbyteron Church at
jackson, and for more than twenty
years was superintendent of its Sunday
| school,
The greatest work, and the one of
which Col. Power is especially proud,
is in connection with the great yellow
fever scourge of 1873 He received and
iudiciously disbursed to more than
thirty stricken communities, nearly
100000, being vested by the CON
tributors with unlimited discretion
as to its use. lie sent to Grenada alone
$500, lie employed and paid physi.
clans, dispatched nurses to various
points, and ordered supplies that could
not otherwise be procured The rail
road, express and telegraph companies
gave him carte blanche in his work Of
relief. lie visited many Of the stricken
towns during and after these epidemics,
and distributed relief to all regardless
Of race, creed or fraternity. Being
grand secretary Of the Masons and
grand treasurer of the Old Fellows at
the time, the brethren of those noble
orders throughout the Union kept
sending relief until he had to make an
appeal to them to stop. Minister
Foster, from the City of Mexico con.
tributed 500 in gold, and several
amounts We're received from the odd
Fellows of Honolulu, Hawaii. The
nomination of Col. Power for secretary
of State the second time was fore"
gone conclusiOn-he had no opposition
There are not many men who are per,
mitted to enjoy the fruits of a well
spent life and the applause of their fell
low-citizens to such an extent as Col. j.
l.. Power. Too often the grave has
closed over them before the world is
ready with its praise and laurel wreath;
In this instance, however, the flowers
are brought to the living, instead of be.
! ing reserved for the funeral services.
All classes and ages and colors and con
ditions Of society recognize in Col.
Power the kind and sympathetic friend.
lie receives more private letters, asking
for help, for information, for advice,
perhaps than any ten men in the State
and the heartiness of the response in
every instance is as beautiful as it is re-
markable. A case in point will illus.
trate his well known characteristics
and the confidence placed in him by
Others When that great souled wo-
man, Mrs. Annie Peyton, whose letters
signed, mississippi Woman" did more
than anything else to cause the found
ing of the |. |. and c., at Columbus, Law
a-dying, she sent for Col Power and
said, with her latest breath, Don't let
the college go down! Don't let the col
lege fail for lack of money!"
She shared the general belief that if
Col. Power championed the cause of the
college it would he safe. In the midst
of loving and cultured family, in
city that he loves and in State that is
proud to shower honor upon him, this
grand old man is spending the evening
of his life in active work, loved and re.
spected by all who know him,-Mary
V. Dnval, in Commercial Appeal.
Hattiesburg is much talked of town
these DAYS. She is abont TO hind her.