Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-14
DEATH OF LEWIS n. rHoMAs.

On Tuesday, February 4th, the spirit
OF the person whose name heads this
sketch took its flight from the affections
and sorrows Of this present world to be-
mold the eternal beauties of the land be-
yond, and now IL only remains that we
lay tender tribute upon his grave, for
while he Is dead he Is not forgotten
Capt. Thomas had been sick about twelve
weeks. four Of these were spent at his
home here and the remaining eight in
one of the best hospitals of Baltimore,
at which place he died.
He was born in Accomac county. Vir-
ginia, sixty-eight years ago. In that
county he made his home until he was
grown and married aud became a man
OF considerable family, leaving Accomac
few years ago for Wheaton, where he,
with his two sons, K l.. and B. W..
Thomas, have been engaged actively
and continuously in the oyster industry.
he was not member of any church.
out always had tender regard for the
church and all sacred and holy things,
and contributed of his means to the
support of her institutions and was
not slow to manifest his benevolent
spirit and charitable disposition In
practical way. He professed religion
when young man, but very soon there.
after began the work of a sailor, which
made 1t necessary to spend a great deal
OF his time away from home; and because
OF this fact, chiefly, he never became a
member of the church, for his idea of
church membership was that Que ought
always to be at his post of duty in the
army of the Lord and keeping step to
the music of Gods commands. He was
always diligent In business, for while
young his father died, leaving to his care
mother, for whose support and COM
fort he had to do his part.
AS husband he was faithful and true
AS father he was devoted TO his chill
dreu. He was not a man of education
himself. but was interested in the vel
fare OF his children to that extent that
he saw to 1t that they were trained men,
tally and fitted by education for the re-
sponsibilities and duties OF life. When
he was taken sick he seemed to be i'm
pressed with the idea that his sickness
was unto death. The second time i
visited him In his affection I made In
quiry as to whether or not he would
like for me to pray with him, and being
assured that he desired II, 1 moved
toward his bedside and said: "Capt.
Thomas, we will have word of PRAYER
with you before 1 CO." He looked up
Into my face aud said: 'Pray for the
Lords will to be DONE"
Soon after that visit he was taken tn
Baltimore for medical treatment. Dur
ing his stay there he sent me a message,
written by his wife. who was by his
side, In which he said: 81 feel that vour
prayer has been answered God has been
with me, is with me still"
II was his purpose to join the church
IL he had been permitted to live and
reach home, but God willcd IL other
wise. Patience and resignation marked
his conduct all the way from the b egin-
ming of his sickness to the end.
ne never murmured or complained be-
meath the Christening rod,
But In the hour of grief aud pain he
leaned upon his God.
When the end came who will saw he
vas not ready? His deathbed was like
the deep calm repose of summer even
Ing sky. when all nature is hushed to
rest, his departing soul, like the vanish
lug sun, peacefully disappearing only to
rise aud shine in another and brighter
land. There we may meet and greet
him again.
A wife and four children, two sons
and two daughters. are left to linper
longer upon the shores of time. They
are all In the church on earth. Nav thew
constitute 1t last one unbroken family
In the church Of the First Born which is
written in heaven.
Rest comes at length, though life be long
and dreary.
The day must dawn, and darksome
night be past.
All journeys end in Welcome TO the
Weary,
And Heaven, the hearts true home.
will come al last
4. 4. GARNER.