The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-27
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Virginius Newton.

4
(, When a fellow-ctizen and friend like
! virsinius Newton dies, we have n feeling
| other than tho sense of personal sorrow
and personal loss. We have the feeling
| that one always experiences when ho sees
a noble tree wantonly felled by the
woodmans axe or great building de-
stroyed by fire, or a mighty ship driven
ashore by the storm ficnd and broken
UP by the merciless pelt of the waves,
In all sucl, experiences the question Will
arise, why this waste?"
Mr. Newton was more valuable than
tree or house or ship. He was the most
valuable asset that any city or State or
nation can have, purc-henrted, consci-
entio,,s, prblic-spirlted, patriotic citizen.
He was noble specimen Of Virginia
raDhood. He was as courageous and
chIvnrcus as any knight Grant daring
to do all that was right fearing only to
do that which was wrong. Yet with all his
courage and chivalry, he was gentle and
tender-hearted, and syinpathtic rejoicing
with those who rejoiced, and weeping with
those who wept He was q modest man;
he never pushed himself forward he
shrunk from publicity and notoriety; no
declined many honors which his Fellow
citizens would have thrust upon him;
he preferred modest retirement yet ne
was in this community known Of all men
for his purity and righteousness, noble
exemplar in Richmond and throughout
Virginia.
Mr., Newton was a man of scholarly
attain1nents. He had "a brilliant intellect
and nc used 1t well. At college he was
n hard student, and took his degree under
most trying circumstances IN the race OF
difficulties, which. to most men, would
have seemed insurmpuntable. Having
thoroughly trained his mind, he went
forth into the world to study the more
serious and more practical problems or
life, problems political, problems COM
mcrclal, problems financial, problems
Sociological Money was committed 10
him, Tut he handled 1t as a sacred trust,
handled 1t discreetly and judiciously for
the good OF his community. The estab-
| lishment Of two 9of theSlargest industries
in the city of Richmond was largely due
to his genius and liberalityJ and the en-
viable reputation which Richmond en-
toys as financial center is due as much
to his talent and honor as to those OF
any other financler, He was always
Jealous Of the credit of our banks, jeal-
| GUS ct the credit Of the city, Jealous OF
! tho credit of the State, and he was al
| ways opposed to and used his influence
against any measure which he Thought
Il would Impair private. OF, public credit.
In the social circle, tho was O. model OF
good manners and good morals. Guilt
| waited. chaste, amiabe, man who at
tracted pure men and pure women, q
| man whose friendship was not merely a
| JOY, but an honor.
| Above all this, Mr.. Newton eHempllfied
Christianity in his daily life, praying for
Divine guidance with the simple faith of
little child, praying not merely for
himself and his own household. but for
friends in distress and believing that his
prayers would be heard.
It seems a waste, that such a man
should be stricken down and destroyed
| in the fitness of his strength and use
fulnesz. His death is personal loss to
hundreds Of devoted friends, loss to
business, loss to the municipality a
! loss 10 tho State. His untmely removal
makes vacancy that cannot well be
filled, and there is from humanity's be-
clouded view no sufficient reason for his
taking off and no comfort, for mot all
the preaching since Adam has made death
other than DEATH" EgT
Yet in another sense, 1t Is good to know
that he was called away from the actyi-
ties of his busy life to the saints rest,
before the day Of his usefulness was
gono before mind was impaired. or tai
ents oedimmed. as some sweet guest de-
parts at eventide, when we would have
him stay. with us awhile.
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The Church and the Negro.