The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-03

Arriving at the church the body was
gently lifted from the hearse and borne
into the sacred edifice where Captain
Graham had worshipped for twenty-six
years by his close friends and associ-
ates.
The active pallbearers were: H. C..
N. Lobman. r. H. Jones, F.
Kennedy, r NJ. Henderson, J.w. DUR.
Jr., s. H. Dent, yr.
The honorary pallbearers were: w.
F., Vandiver, J.. w. Durr. Sr.. Thomas
H. Watts. j. NJ. Falkner,s Ray Rush
ton, w. H. Hubbard, j.. B. Fuller, w !.
ID. Brown, j. B. CASTOR, w. R. Wal
Ter John r. Tyson. w. H. Thomas. A.
p Tyson, A. d. Sayre. w. T. Robert
son. r. S. Sayre, Med. Cain, Jr., I. H /.
Devices, w. T. Northington, A. J..
Alexander, r. F. Ligon, w. A. Nc
ton. r. v. Taylor. ]. w. A. Sanford,
e. L. Russell. Thomas @. Jones. w.
w. Screws.
The auditorium of the church and
the gallery were literally packed with
people. Nearly every prominent man
in Montgomery was there. Citizens of
every element of society and citizens
of every creed gathered to do honor to
the distinguished dead.
Streamers Of black Grape hung In
the church indicated that Captain
Graham had long been one of its Of
ficers.
The services began with a hymn,
Asleep in Jesus" by the choir. Then
the pastor OF the church, Rev. George
w. Patterson, ID. D.. read .impressively
several passages from the Bible.
In q sweet and sympathetic voice
Never Alone" which song had been
u great favorite of Captain Graham.
DIR. Patterson then delivered
eulogy on the life of Captain Graham.
He, spoke with the greatest fee,,ng
friend. DIR. Patterson said.
Edward Alfred Graham was born In
Coosa County. Ala, October is. 1882.
Thirty-eight years ago he became a
resident of Montgomery, which from
that time on continued to be his place
of residence. He fell asleep July 1st.
1904. in the 52nd year of his age.
descended from an illustrious line
of ancestry. and of distinguished par
entage, he honorably bore a stainless
name. and left to his descendants the
priceless heritage of a reputation I'M
sullied, and a character without spot.
His naturally vigorous understanding,
trained in school and University, was
further developed by efficient activity
in the learned profession of the law.
of which he became a most distin-
guished exponent.
Winning easily the confidence of his
fellow men, and strengthening that
confidence by uniform efficiency in the
discharge of duty, he was repeatedly
called to serve the people In variety
of public capacities.
As Clerk of the Court, as a member
of both the lower and the upper
houses of the Legislature, as Mayor
of the city. and as member of the
Constitutional Convention, he gave to
his public work the energy and power
of his splendidly equipped manhood.
How we'll he did his part in these va
rious places of responsibility. is re-
corded, not only in the material ad-
vancement of the city, in the body of
fundamental laws of the State which
he had a part in framing. but in the
mature judgment and settled convic-
lions of approval lodged in the minds
of his fellow citizens
TT has been happily said that the
record of public offices that he has
filled does not compass the accomplish
ments of his active life. nor does such
record convey an adequate idea of
the esteem and love in which he was
held by his people.
The place left vacant by his depar
ture is large indeed. In so many d.
rections did he project his interest.
with so many movements of public i'm
portance was he associated, that many
a man will look in helplessness for
some one else to take his place. In
deed, his place will never be filled.
Others, in the exigencies of the case.
may develop their powers and do the
work that is to be done, but his place
is his own, made so by the very de-
velopment of his life in its relation to
its duties and it will never be filled.
He lived in the open. The fierce
light that beats on the career of the
professional and public man fell
strongly on him, only to emphasize the
excellencies of his character and the
splendor OF his manhood.
1T Is not for me today. however. to
speak of his public services or to utter
over his remains the eulogy that is
trembling for utterance from scores of
lips. Let others speak the pane
gyric OF this man as lawyer, public SER
want, and patriotic citizen. Let mine
be the privilege of speaking of MIN
for a moment as a friend and as cit
izen.
He was my friend. He was almost
the first person / met in Montgomery,
and his home was the first to receive
me as a guest. 1 saw him first as the
genial, kindly. courteous host, as the
respected, well-loved centre of a beau
tiful domestic circle. / saw that here
his deepest interests grounded them
selves, that here the beauties of his
character most clearly shone. Our re-
lations have ever been something more
than those of pastor and church OFF,
GER and 1T is out of deep sense OF
personal loss that I lay this tribute
of affection on the grave of my friend
He was a friend indeed. How fine his
courtesy. How ready his sympathy.
How free and hearty his hospitality.
As DAYS passed into months, and these
grew into years my confidence and es-
TEEN for him increased. Honest in his
opinions and candid In their express
sion. l found him equally courteous
towards my own, and increasingly I
came to look upon him as man on
whom I could always depend. How
ever busy he might be in his office
there was ever a welcome ready. and
he never failed to do his best to serve
me in anything requested at his hand.
found him loyal. sympa-
tbetic. helpful. shall not
soon forget the kindly. tender
encouraging letter which he wrote me
once at a time when 1 peculiarly need
ed Just such help.
"As I found him so did others. Those
who came to him for professional SER
vices often obtained more than their
fees could command. Not only did he
law at their disposal his professional
knowledge and skill. but, If worthy,
he gave them his friendship. He put
himself into his work, and he bound
men to him in consequence with hooks