The gold leaf., 1901-08-08

fight The end came and it was peace.
Now we are trying to say. Thy will be
done" We do say it.
Reuben Gillian Hart was born Nov.
%, 1867, making him not quite thirty
four years OF age. Being yet in the morn
ing time of life many years OF glorious
promise seemed to lie before him. He
had only had time to get foothold in
the world. This, however, was a secure
one He was one of the first tobacco
men who came to Louisburg and began
to build up market here. He stood in
the front rank of business men and was
always in the van of movements looking
to the development of the town. Con-
servatiye methods and steady adherence
to business had brought success.
The many enquiries concerning his con-
ditiOn during his illness means much.
At every turn some one would ask for
the latest report from him. These came
| from all classes. He had a secure place
| in the business community and will be
sorely missed. But there is another place
| in which he will be more sadly missed.
| That home can never be the same again.
| The husband and wife were a happy
| couple. Theirs was the happiness born
OF genuine love that fuses two souls
into one and renders sacred the marriage
| tie That dear little woman who had
walked for some ten brief years by his
side feels poorer today than ever before.
She is robbed OF her hearts best treasure
and the jewel OF her life is stolen. Sad
and lonely she sits in the weeds of her
widowhoOd nursing a heart that is
almost broken. His affection for that
true woman and those dear boys was
beautiful indeed. tender love was
shown at home. The father and mother
understand. They knew him ere he left
the old roOf-tree.
| do not say, and would not do violence
to what 1 have heard him confess. by
saying he had no faults and weaknesses.
He had these and acknowledged as much.
But with them all were the elements of
true manhood and genuine worth These
all entered into the making of his home,
putting sunshine into his wife's face, thus
making more pronounced the shadows
there since he went away. May God
bless that shattered family today that
feels like the remnants OF an army slain
with it's leader left dead on the field.
Thou faithful One be their guide.
Brother Hart joined the church at
Louisburg some five or six years before
the beginning of my pastorate. On my
arrival | found him Chairman of the
!
He was much interested in the enterprise
and was anxious to get into the new
church. He was a faithful attendant
upon the services and one of the best
listeners in the entire congregation.
Never OstentatiOus in life, the same char
acterized him in his church relations.
always found him ready to respond to
the demands made upon him. We shall
miss him sorely. A good man, upright
citizen, devoted husband and kind father
has gone with the great throng that one
| by one silently creep to rest. Will
stricken hearts we lay his body away iI
hope of the resurrection of the just. My
brother, | expect to greet you on the
other side OF the river
But why multiply words? Earth has
no consolation to give, man no hope tC
offer, and human speech is vain on occa
sions like this. Only to Him who is thu
source of life and the conqueror OF deatl
can we turn. Dear troubled heart, cas-
your care on Him for He careth for you
Prostrate and dumb would we lie il
the dust had we not His hand to lift III
up. That pierced hand now holds th
sceptre and that bloody brow wears {
crown. This is our glory. Thanks b.
unto God which giveth us the victor.
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The burial service was an imposing
and impressive one, the dead maj
being buried with the honors of th'
Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights o
Pythias fraternities. The active pail
bearers were two members from eacl
of these lodges wearing the regalia o
their respective Orders, while ther
was long list of honorary pail bear
!, ers many of them being from out o
town.
E At the grave the Pythians first wen
through with the burial service o
that Order and the Odd Fellows fol
lowed. The Masons closed the ser
u vice, the grave was filled and tn
! floral tributes placed in position. l
q was a very solemn service, at tn
Y same time one of the most beautiful
. and impressive that we have witness
i ed. The funeral cortege was one o
Y the largest and most imposing see1
here in long time, bearing mute bu
+ eloquent tribute to the popularit
!, and esteem in which the dead ma
y was held and the sympathy and re
e spect felt for the sorrowing ones.