The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09
SUMTER. S. c. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 1908.
REV. SAM JONES' TRIBUTE.
Bill Arp Laid to Rest in Oak Hill!
Cemetery at Gainesville, Ga.

The funeral of Maj. Chas. Henry
Smith, "Bill Arp" took place on
Wednesday morning, Aug. 18th, when
business was suspended and the people
assembled at the Presbyterian church
in Gainesville, Ga. Services were
conducted by the pastor, Rev. E. r.
White, and the most beautiful talk Of
his life was made by Rev. Sam ?.
Jones. "Lead, Kindly Light was
sung, and at Maj. Smiths own re-
quest, "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord. -
Ten children and twenty grand chill
dren were present, and this is the first
break in the family circle since the
death of an infant daughter more than
thirty years ago.
The tribute of his friend and neigh
Dor, Rev. Sam Jones, is as follows:
"My neighbors and brethren, l
count it pathetic honor to mingle my
tears and sorrow with you today, and
say few words of sympathy and love
to the bereaved family and this strick-
en- community.
"Only few weeks ago the press
told us that for five minutes time
every wheel ceased to 60 round; all the
machines stopped, not a stroke OF
hammer was heard for five minutes.
Wherever limited train was making
its schedule along the line of road at
the appointed time the passengers felt
the pressure Of the brakes, the train
stopped, and all was silent on the
road, in the shop, in the Offices. This
was given as token Of respect for the
lately deceased president of the road.
"Major G. II. Smith, Bill Arp as
we called him and love to call him
still, was known around the world,
and today we stop and bow our heads
in sorrow and in respect, and millions
join US in this token of respect and
love to one whom they never saw per-
chance, but had learned to love him
because he had lightened their bur-
dens, soothed their sorrows and helped
them to meet ife's difficulties more
herojcally and more joyfully. In the
past few. weeks of his illness | have
been travelling from Boston to Nebras-
ka, and many warm grips OF the
hand have I had everywhere as his
friends would look me in the face and
hold my hand and say How is Bill
Arp, will he get well?'
'sOh, if he should die how could
we spare him, how much we will miss
his weekly message of philosophy,
facts and love. No man Of all my
knowledge has more friends than he
and none fewer enemies. If he had
given his life to money making and
money keeping and had accumulated
one hundred and fifty millions of dol
lars and then in his last moments will
ed it all to the people of the United
States they would only have gotten
two dollars a piece from his vast for
tune. But with his pen he gave to
America and to the civilized world
that which each man would not take
thousands for.
"What he wrote has made many a
man better husband and many wo-
man better wife, and many child
more dutiful son or daughter. He was
kindly husband and unselfsh faith
er, generous, kindly neighhor, and
we would ali today pluck the sweet
est, most fragrant flowers from the
gardens of our hearts and lay them on
his casket, and say to his loyal, noble
wife and children, whom he loved,
This is bat small token of the love
we have for him and the reverence and
respect we shall ever have to his
memory I loved Bill Arp. would
add q prayer God bless his dear, loyal,
| loving wife and the children and
grandchildren, whom he loved. We
| knew him and loved him, and these
grandchildren of his will sit, in the
years to come. and read the stories
and hear the lessons of their noble
grandfather with an interest that
| would charm an angel.
Ny highest expression OF love TOR
him as neighbor and friend would
| be the wish that if were transferred
today from earth to heaven, would
ask the angels to locate me on the same
street and a nearby nelghbor to the
new home just made for Bill Arp, my
| honored friend.
"To you, my neighoors, I say hard
ly & home represented here today but
has had its sorrows, its burdens, this
year; this has been sad year to Car-
tersville, but we are better because OF
them all. It is said the violet never
sends forth its sweetest fragrance until
crashed by cruel foot. So our sweet
est sympathies, love and kindnesses
are never called forth except by the
deepest griefs and sorrows OF life.
Let these sympathies and sorrows like
cords of gold tie US closer together
every day. Let them twine like the
ivy about our rugged natures and
blooming in its beauty, let all our de-
fcrmities be hidden from the view of
each other, and heart to heart. hand
to hand, effort to effort, struggle up
ward until we Join company with
whom we part company today.