Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-04-20
IN ME EMORIAM.

Alabama. b. w. Mason lllSt saw The
LIGHT of day, and after an eypntml life
Of ffty-eight years, closed his eyes 10
all earthly scenes. and entered upon
a higher, grander and more glorious
life in the world beyond. In home
Of luxury, surrounded by all the olc-
waiting and ennobIing charms of
cultivated and Christian womanhood
and by the higher type OF gentleman
" men, he was reared, imbibng the
eeutleness and graces of the first and
nartaking in a large measure of the
sentiments and feelings Of the other.
Educated in the higher schools of
ante-bellum days, among the sturdy
and chivalric sons of the south, il is
no wonder that at the early age of
fifteen he babe adieu to home and
loved ones and entered upon the ca
career of soldier, a career which
shed luster upon his name and fam
ily and which those surviving will
ever cherish. Amid the frightful car
mage on the fields of battle. Ben w.
Mason's heart was fired TO deeds of
yalor unsurpassed in the history of
war. During the long and life-destruc-
tive war between the safes, B. w. Ma
sons breast was barred to the death
dealing missiles on all the fields made
memorable by Forrest and Wheeler.
and his personal glory added to the
glory which now encircles the soldier
alarms ceased throughout our country.
B. W. Mason allied himself with that
CLASS of men who have, from the
ashes and ravages of homes and the
despoiing of the institutions, rebuilt
our fresides and set on foot plans and
movements which have astonished the
world Bravely and undauntedly this
tenderly-nurtured youth met the con
fcts of life as a man, always main
tanning his place and honor, and do
ing his part in all the movements cal
culated to benefit his country. Soon
after the close of the terrible war. Mr.
Mason studied medicine, and after
his graduation devoted himself to his
profession and to allevating the ills,
aches and pains of suffering humanity.
Dr. Mason. while administering to The
ills of the body, cheered the dropping
spirits of his patients. | never knew
physician who carried more cheer
and sunshine in the sick room His
presence seemed to send a thrill of
hope through the invalid. and his
Wright and animatng conversation
banished despondency. His patients.
numbering hundreds and thousands.
always gladly hailed him in their
<omes. In 1880 or 1881, DR.. Mason
moved from Arkansas and settled in
Oracle county. Arkansas, and from the
day of his coming to that county to the
day cf his death, which occurred at
Jefferson Springs, jefferson county,
Ark., February IS, 1903. no physician
was ever more popular or more sought
after.
DR.. Mason was not only a very fine
physician, but was a man of broad cul-
lure and remarkably we'll qualified
TO mould public thought and lead
public sentiment His views on NOR
ais. politics and religion were pro
nounced, and he was a recognized lead
ef IN all those fields. In the early nine
Ties he public professed faith in Christ
and joined the NJ E. church. souh. at
sheridan, in which he retained his
membership until his death. He was
not one who paraded his religion be-
fore the world in loud talk or long
prayers, but one who did all the good
ne could to any and all by whom he
was surrounded.
10 his vie and children he was
devoted husband and a kind, loving
| and firm father AS a friend he was
'fue and steadfast, ready on all oc-
caslons to aid with his counsel, money
Or physical force if necessary. long
enjoyed his close and intimate friend
snip which highly valued His death
came like shock to me in my far
#aWay home and repret and sadness