The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-13

,,ortralture Of His Character by His
Lifelong Friend, Or. w. E. Hatcher.

lor. Curry, from the pen OF his lifelong
friend, Rev, William E. Hatcher, D. D.,
president OF the Board of Trustees OF
Richmond College. appears below;
friend DR.. ]. L. NJ. Curry, has filled the
city with the deepest sorrow. 10 those OF
us who have long been associated with
3 him and have seen him under various CON
6iticns and had the annplest opportunities
for measuring his personality, the poss-
bility of his departure from the earth
brings the most bitter sense OF loss Dr..
Curry has filled great place in Southern
history and 1t would be happiness In
deed II some one worthy of the task
could make such a portrayal OF the man
as would answer to the deeper conscious
ness Of the public
remember most vividy the first time
aver saw DR.. Curry. It was during the
Confederate war and found myself upon
\ public platform with him nnd others
without having the least Idea as to who
he was. It was religious assembly the
object Of which was to secure money to
send religious literature to our Southern
poldiery. The audience crowded the build
Ing In every nook and corner, and recol-
lect tho occasion as one Of the most thrill
Ing episodes OF the war, but am con-
4 strained to confess that ! remember no
nne who took part In Che occasion except
pr. Curry. 1t was not until he was called
nut and his name announced that was
Sblc to identity him. At once l was
booking body ! have not seen a king.
Her man. His broad shoulders. his Won
aerf,lly expressive. flashing eye and the
boundless ardor Of his personality came
apon mo with an Irresistible effect The
ADDRESS. beginning soberly and broadly.
hook on strength, grew in warmth and
elevation. glowed with an ever-swelling
eloquenco, until he became the very charm
and wonder OF the hour. When he fin
lshed, the responses to his appeal were
hmply beyond control or computation.
The money. not the best, but all the peo-
pie had. flowed In with mighty current.
and 1t looked as If each one WED with his
neighbor In the eagerness and abandon
Of his giving.
x GREAT MAN.
I went out from the meeting feeling
that had looked upon q great man. and
the spell that he put upon me that night.
though tested by companlonship with him
through third Of century. never SUI
fered abatement. l spoke Of the kinsly
element in DR.. Curry. Some men are born
without leadership; some lead by suffer-
ance or by force. but DR.. Curry was
ieader everywhere. and that by the inher-
fnt forces of a majestic manhood. He had
little of the haughtiness or royalty. 1t
Is true that at times he was FESTIVE under
uttelable disdain from ruaeness, vulgar
lty or yillainy. He was honorable by In
stinct and it was impossible for him to
Z be tolerant toward that which was igno-
BILE or inscriptions. But as man among
men, while he never lowered the standard
OF his dignity, he had a commanding
courtsey and a polteness, genial and ex-
hsustless, and toward women a chivalry
almost inimita BILE. Not long after the war
he entered the Baptist ministry, and SO
attractive was he that he would have
been the honored guest in every pulpit Of
his denomination. His appearance upon
the pulpit platform always attracted great
audiences. and his sermons. while partak-
ing Of the nature and form Of political
addresses. more than OF the homietical
Mcetles of sermon. were singulary free
from political colorng or sensational as
poets, always devout and evangelical. His
services as pastor were earnestly sought
by some OF the most distinguished pull
pits Of the country. but from the first he
had distinct persuasion that 1t was not
his duty to be pastor and In the course
Of time he became profoundly convinced
that he could serve his country and his
God moro effectively out OF the ministry
than In It. With that Intellectual and
moral honesty so largely characteristic Of
him. he withdrss1v from the ministry. but
this act Indicated no wavering in his
Christian fath.,y no cloud Of skeptcism
upon his religious horizon. and no de-
parture from the doctrines which he had
maintained while in the pulpit. 1t ls
simple Justice to say OF Dr. Curry that
his retirement from the pulpit never en-
feeoled the esteem Of his Christian breth-
rem. It would have been happiness to
them II he had felt that his life had to
DO given to the Christian ministry, but
II he was to fulfill his destiny by diff
ferent ministratton. that was satisfactory
to the thousands and thousands of friends
who everywhere revered and loved him.
SURPRISING SOCIAL GIFTS.
Dr.. Curry had surprising gifts for So
cial life. He was congenial. rich in oon-
Tersational gifts. exceedingly attractive
4 IN person, far superior to all affeotation,
and yet faithful to every rational pune
ttlio of social life. There were few fami.
lies In this country that did not deem II
an honor for him to cross their threshold.
and those who met him In these social
assemblages and had even brief contact
( with him, felt the warmth OF his nature
Z were captured by the charm Of his voice
and never ceased to recolIect with pride
the delightful how Of his oonversat lonaI
grace. AS travelling companion he
was e1haustless in his good humor. his
helpfulness and his power to grapple
my rare good fortune to be with him In
extensive trips or in the same rooms
with him on tho occasion OF great gather.
lngs. and I always hailed these oppor-
tunities for comradeahip with particu-
lar Joy. and parted with him afterwurd
greatly enriched and lnvigorated by the
unrestrained fellowship which such occa
sons allowed. Oh. there are homes un.
counted among the great and among the
humble and unknown as well which have
been illumined by tho presence of this
distinguished Southerner, tho very mem.
Dry of which has become an heirloom In
the homes
Dr. Curry was fitted by nature and cul.
ture for ompanionship with the great
and he numbered among his friends moi
only Very many OF the most eminent
and highly honored Americans, but also
not few others In foreign countries
His fame sounded around the. world, and
d scholars. statesmen and diplonatists
9 hailed him as their brother. ought Ia
pause here to say that DR., Curry welded
4 pen OF rare wealth and vigor. In The
ma gaz'nss and scientific and the educa-
tIonal journals of the country he often
y appeared as a teacher of tha uenn,a rrha