The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-16

A<Vt NE tell Oh duOlueI luCluShls -
Leroy M. Lee became an enemy of my
friend, and was active against him be-
cause of the original misunderstanding
with DR.. Smith. Riding in the cars with
DR.. Deems some ten years before his
death, l referred to his visit to Oxford
IN 1S49, when he and Lee were guests OF
my venerated father, and had a room to-
gether. My own room on the same
floor, was near by. When these two
rarely gifted men deems was but 2S
them had returned from the services or
meetings at night, / more than once went
into their room to enjoy for little while
their delightful company. 1 had never
before met two such kindred spirits
who seemed to love each other. They
were so gentle and genial, so bright and
witty, so full of bonhomie and pleasantly
that l sat and listened and admired l
was only twenty-one and susceptible
Retiring to my own silent room, l would
sit and gaze into the fire. and then say
inwardly: II wish / had some one to love
me as they two love each other" 1 TOLD
this to DR.. Deems quite thirty years af
ter when with moistened eye and voic,
of emotion he said: did we not love
each other? 1t was Jonathan anG
David. | have some of that old love TO
him still abiding in my heart" He was
not good hater," as old Dr. San
Johnston said of Savage in his life OF
him, but he was indeed a manly, open
hearted, forgiving, Christian.
Now let me consider him briefly as {;
preacher. He was admirable, mos
gifted-clear, direct, nipple
full of spiritual power and i'm
pressiveness. His style was wonderful
ly free from scholasticism and rhetorical
gush and rhodomontade that tickles tn
unsuspecting and ignorant. His voic
was clear resonant, melCdious Otter
with certain tone of pathos and sym
pathy. He could say pointed, impressiv
things in singularly soft and engagin
way. / remember hearing him address
ing the young preachers in the Confer
ence, when leaning upon the pulpit, an,
looking down most kindly into thei
faces, he said in soft, low tones-"M,
young brethren, believe me that there
a pulse in every verse in the Bible bu
the only way to find it is to put you,
hearts right on it," That, is fine an
memorable. He did not quote poetry of
ten, but when he did it was with master
full effect. l heard him very aptly quot
some impressive lines from Tennyson'
great elegiac poem, "In Memoriam"
But what am l?
An infant crying in the night:
An infant crying for the light,
And with no language but a cry"
The effect was immediate and decided
1t is forty years ago since those lines
were SO impressively rendered, and nov
l can see him and hear the full tones Q
a rich voice, as he drove home the grea
fact of mans utter ignorance and help
lessness out of Christ.
Lest 1 forget it, let me mention her
that in the great war; in 1863, l think II
was, he made a canvass in the endeavo
to awaken interest among the people il
behalf OF establishing an orphan
asylum for the children of Confederate.
dying in the service. / heard for som,
two. hours in the finest court house il
the State at Yanceyville, Caswell count,
cit is probable that the Wilmington
court house is now the most imposing
costing $60,000) -deliver very able, pa
triotic and eloquent address. The lat
distinguished orator, Judge John Ker.
was present, and said to me afterwards
that it was a speech of much splendo
and power. There were two or three
passages of rare beauty, felicity anC
force, and the whole was elegant anC
memorable, and delivered with unwonteC
spirit and effectiveness. He held us il
leash a large crowd from opening t,
ending. / spent the night with him a
a private residence, and he slept I'm
brokenlyas if his good work had secure,
for him perfect rest.
At Louisburg, in December, 1861 h
preached by request of the Conferenc
then in session, a sermon on ThankSgiV
ing, 1t was the first year of the war. !
was cxquisitely appropriate, in the fines
taste, overlooking with animation, so
briefly and beauty and impressed every
body as the best possible sermon 70
time, place and conditions-a genuine
inspiration. | said to him afterwards
when did he get time to think 1t over
1t was just before adjournment at ]
O'Clock, when the resolution was adopted
He had to attend in the afternoon a spe
CldI IOIIlIitIttC, LIlC uoS . NClC NC4S ShOl
and at night he was with the Bishop an(
his board of stewards. The Conference
met for prayer at quarter to nine tn,
next morning. 1t required in the shor
morning much push to get there, blu
DR.. Deems was never behind, alway
prompt for duty, and holding delays t.
be immoral if preventible. His answer
was-.I had but quarter of an hour tt
consider the subject" In readiness ne
man could surpass him. He was a min.
lister of many and striking qualities anC
endowments, a man of much acquisition
of scholarly attachments, accomplished
gifted, rich in saving common sense
with genuine eIoquence, a delightful
personality, and a conversationalist o
conspicuous Resource and powers of en-.
tertainment. He was religious, believed
in God and the Saviour and his fellow
men. He would have made great
Bishop But for his difficulty witt
Smith and Co., he would have beer
chosen Bishop before he was forty years
old, l believe His fine work on tho
Saviour is a. very useful, enjoyable pro
duction l have read it twice. An Ameri.
can missionary to Greece, when he ha6
served for decades abroad, said that O.
all thn Iivac Of Christ that had beer