The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-02
A NOBLE tULOCY
Memorial Address at the
Funeral of Henry B.
Hunter.

Monday by Rev. c. w! Robinson at the
funeral of the late Henry p. Hunter, ST.:
ION yesterday morning, the 9th day
of March, while the people were gather
ing in the sanctuary for the purpose of
worshipping God there came to the dy-
ing chamber of Brother Fl. B. Hunter, Sr..
q messenger which no human power can
turn away. The silver cord was loosened.
the golden bowl was broken--the good
man, the father and the friend of us
al closed his eyes forever upon the
scenes of his earthly struggles and tr-
umphs and was numbered with the dead.
Il do not come to indulge in any full
some adulation of our fallen Father in
Israel. No need of eulogistic praise can
add to the measure of life rounded
up to the day of death as his-the vol
ume is ended, the record is closed and
scaled with the clasp of death.
Il can but bring my tribute of mem
DRY as he has impressed me and cast it
with yours at the dead feet of him, whom
We all loved and appreciated because
of his beautiful and exemplary life
ariong US.
Grace had sweetened his life and made
for US genial companion. Wherefore We
turn aside from the ordinary duties and
cares which have been commanding our
thought and attention, and in our tears
we would give our brother q Christian
burial
The observances of services of this
KIND is not recent custom. The ancient
Greeks and Romans were want to gath
en- about their fallen heroes and recount
their virtues and the trophies they had
won.
And Friends, it is fitting that we
should pause brief moment amid the
absorbing cares of daily life and make
the footprints of those who have attained
worthy prominence among men, by
righteous living; and while we would
weave garland OF flowers to deck the
grave of Brother Hunter, who has gone
from among US, We should take note of
those circumstances which press upon
us the lesson OF our own mortality, and
the needs of our own spiritual natures.
We are charged to speak nothing but
good of the dead. l doubt the merit OF
that maxim. 1t draws no line between
those lives that were worthy, and those
that were barren wastes. But if the
maxim is wise and humane, the life and
character of Brother Hunter Were such
as that we would not envoke the shield
afford. He was one of those who we'll
might challenge all to scan his record.
released from the restraints of the Chart
able maxim mentioned and speak nothing
but the truth.
1.-The long life was an open book, read
daily by those around him.
Il think that if Brother Hunter could
have left an injunction, in the dying
hour, which should bind those who may
sIieak of him in subsequent days, *
would have been; speak OF me as / was
say the truth or say nothing. This is one
of the occasions when truth is eulogy.
and when language does not outmeas-
ure the just need of appreciation due
to high personal character
HE was a man of fine intellectual en-
dowments, student AZ one time of
Princeton University, he possessed an
admirably well-balanced mind and a heart
full of consideration for his fellow men,
this endeared him to all. Being man of
temperate habits, and having a strong
constitution, he reached the ripe age of
81 years, 6 months and 16 days.
'On November the 18th, 1912, Brother
Hunter was happily married to Miss Car
dime M. Patterson, the first graduate OF
Louisburg Female College, and lady of
superior accomplishments no this union
there were born ten children, seven OF
whom with the wife and mother preced-
ed him to the better land.
Il am told and have good reason to
believe that for some months Brother
Hunter has been anxious to join those
on the other side. Indeed he told me a
a day or two after he took his bed that
he felt entirely ready to go whenever
g. In l. Frl.
are no clouds in my sky. He said
Brother Robinson I have tried to live
the Christian life the best 1 could / have
trIed to do my duty. As 1 now look
back upon it, / can see imperfections,
but at the time l did the best 1 could,
as saw it. love everybody
His frequent and beautiful refer
cnoes to his departed wife illustrated a
beautiful devotion in life and that devo-
ton was not forgotten in her death But
d reunion has now taken place, where
there is no sickness, and where there is
no sorrow, and where there is no parting
aod where there is no death. For many
years he lived an exemplary member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
and died i'm this faith. AS a Sunday
school scholar he was among our most
prnctual and faithful up to the time of
fs late sickness, and among the first
to join us in our prayer meeting service
on Wednesday evening. And though among
our oldest men, he rarely missed a Sun
day morning service or Sunday even
ing service He seemed to be glad when
they said let US go up to the house of
the Lord.
Gas steward of the church he was
one of the most faithful that / have
q ever known. He took delight in every
thing that looked to the building up of
the Masters kingdom. We all shall miss
him. To the three surviving children he
leaves a priceless legacy. They know
where to find father. If human sympathy
can ever avail to alleviate the pangs of
irreparable bereavement, the sorrowing
ones may remember that they are encir-
cled with the heartfelt and owing sym
pathy of the entire community.
"How thick and fast come the warnings
to us all, that this earth is not our
abiding place.
"Fleeting as a weavers shuttle. says
the Psalmist, is the life of men on the