Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-22

changed without his notice ana con-
sent. This applies to all bodies Of matter
although the laws which govern them
differ greatly. There is the law that
governs the lower class OF the animal
creation, the law that rules the mani
mate class of matter such as t. earth,
fire and water. But to man there is
still a higher law which includes all the
other laws and more. There are wide
| differences In the laws which regulate
the animate and iDanimate classes OF
which We have spoken but to man is
given that law which gives him domin-
ion oyer all others. The laws under
which the horse acts are superior to
, those governing the metal of which his
shoes are made but neither equal TO the
man who is over both. And while we
1 speak OF mans free will 1t is subject to
law. and he must obey his orders or
pay the price of rebellion which in
Yariably follows.
What We Call Accidents
or CONNECTS OF law py WHICH lHulVIc-
uals lose their lives and property Is
destroyed aud great calamities follow,
are not accidents with God fer He is
the same yesterday, to-day and forever.
These are hut the bugle calls OF the
Creator, and the summons 10 obey
orders. These laws and ordecs are
based upon the Interchangeable love OF
God, and therefore must FOR fcr mans
eeod. 1T does not seem SO when the
reether is taken from the family OF
small children or a father who is carry
ing great family. or in soma Gases
gsea. public responsibilities. is cut of
suddenly.
But lie who looks on al these things
from an altitude far above that attain.
cd by the brightest mind knows the
best. For He knows all the relations
of every interests and when the bugle
should call for the greatest good for
the greatest number and it is mans
duty to study the call of the bugle.
On last Monday there was a call In our
midst that sent sorrow to many hearts
when it was made known hat Alfred
Courtrite, the veteran engineer of the
Ohio River railroad, had been killed by
that engine to which he was SO dearly
attached. He had lived near this
church for a number of years and his
form and words had become familiar
to many of both old and young. He was
a man of character whose word was
as good as his bond, and who was
too noble in spirit to do a mean thing.
A man Of no ordinary ability as shown
by his long and honorable record in
railroad service, having been employed
in it probably more than the average
life of a person. He was well and
fayorably known between here and
Huntington not only by the railroad
men but by the people who liver near
the road. And scores and probably
hundreds could say what n of oil
ministers who lived close to the road
upon which he passed almost daily, 1T
was a pleasure for me to exchange
smiles and salutes with him almost
every time he passed. And not ten
minutes before the crash he exchanged
salutes Good be with you) with nc
for the last time"
He was a master workman and man
aged his engine second to no man, pos
sibly in this country. He delighted III
his work and took supreme pleasure in
his ability to control one of the finest
engines in the valley, and one that drew
after it a vestibuled train that was the
pride of the road. This pleasure he
shared with the people along the road
by a nod or a smile as his train sped
by them like a living beauty. He culti-
waited kindness along the road and all
who knew him seemed to rejoice with
him in his mechanical triumph. | was
informed that in all of his long scr
vice that he had never been the cause
of an accident in which he was blame
able, and his last act was in keeping
with his life's record.
A gentleman who was a passenger
on the train said that the first evil
dence he had of anything wrong was
the jar caused by the locking of the air
brakes, the next the crash, by which
u knew that something awful had hap
pened though | was unnurt." l am told
that the accident would set the air
brakes, but it is evident that Courtrite
set the brakes as his last act before
the engines came together. One of the
first men to see him said that his eyes
seemed to be fixed as if he had been
looking at the approaching engine in
mis- last moment, and his hand remained
on the throttle OF his engine when life
had left the body. showing that his last
act was obeying orders.
He stood in the front rank Of the
A. o. L. w, of the G. A. R., of the
Brotherhood of Engineers, and of the
A. +. ana A M. AS a father he was
kind and generous, as a husband true
and faithful to his obligations. And