The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-12-17
DIR. ELIAS, TRIBUTE.
Address Made at fhe Funeral of Gener-
al E. VI. Noise.

Let us linger sor few moments,
dear friends, ere we accompany our
honored brother to his last resting
| place, for I would fain pay not only
| the last tribute of friendship, but
offer the tribute of loving recognition,
too, on behalf OF the community of
which he was so esteemed and deserv-
edly esteemed member.
/ I have not come to distress you, my
friends. There is nothing to weep
or wall or knock the breast in such
a death as this For death is tri-
| unaphal march to glory when it fol-
lows such a life as this. Oh, that [
had the tongue OF eloquence that I
| might fftttingly bring home to you some
OF It's Inspiration.
But it is only human to mourn The
tcloudless sky outside is not reflected
within. for our hearts are heavy and
l5our heads are bowed in sorrow for the
prince that is fallen in Israel today.
Silent are the lips that have thrill
ed SO many by their impassioned elo-,
fquence still the voice that has sus-
tained many suffering one on the
bed Of agony: cold is new the hand
which by its gentle pressure has as
sured many a bereaVed one of his SYM
patty We cannot but mourn That SO
much goodness is now no more.
Need tell you, in whose midst he
lived his life, what Edwin Noise was?
Need I speak to you of his ardent pa
triotism, in war as well as in peace?
Need [ tell you of the Wondrous love
Of his fellow men that marked his
whole life, Of his boundless charity
charity thas knew no distinction of
race or color or creed? Need i speak of
him as, husband, father, relative,
friend9 In all these things he needs
no eulogy. The simple record of his
Life is its all sumcient praise, for of
him 0e may truthfully say that
throughout the wnele of his career he
wore the white flower of a blameless
life.
!" His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might
stand up
And say TO all the world, This vas q
man.
God be praised for the example of
such a life. II we live in deeds and not
IN years, if he most lives who feels
| the noblest and acts the best, then
what full and rich life was his!
What beautiful sunset he ex-
Iclaimed insshis dying moments. It was
fitting description Of his own beau
tifUI life's end, for, like the great law
IgiYer, Moses, his hands, too, were
steady till the setting Of his sun.
The Anglo Saxon chieftain was re-
Yelling with his boon companions in
the brilliantly lighted banqueting hall
when suddenly from out of the dark
ness bird emerged and fitted through
the chamber. Even SO is human life, :"
exclaimed the chieftain out of dark
ness we come. ne speed for while
through gay and merry world, and
| then lapse into darkness again.
But, surely, it's not SO. Il we have
| risen to a true conception Of hfes'
| duties our latter end Will not be a
leap into the dark, but
Life's race well run.
Life's work well done,
Life's crown well wop.''
Then comes rest and peace.
| When the great roI-call is made our
| brothers. name will be found on Gods
| roll, even as his name will live i'm
perisbable in our annals as one who
served his country and his fellow men
well.
'Tis fitting and proper that the
wheels of industry have at this hour
cease to revolved; 'tis we'll that the
flags elsewhere are at half-mast in
| honor of a man whose life will ever be
an inspiration to those who shall come
after him, and whose memory shall
be for an everlasting blessing.
May the great Father of US all, who
dceth all things we'll, soothe His sor-
1 row-laden loved ones, that they may
be resigned to His dispensation. May
they be enabled to say, Father, thou
knowest best, Thy will, not ours, be
] done.''