The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-28
TO THE MEMORYOF
PRO. QUAKENBUSH
Granite Monument Un-
yelled at Laurinburq.
ADDRESS RY AYc0cK
ADDRESS BY AYC0CK
The Monument is Unveiled by Miss
Mamie BizzeI, and Rev. M. L.
Kes!er, a Close Friend of Prof.
Quakenbush, Speaks Works
Never to be Forgotten.
BY X. l.. GRAY.

Laurinburg. N. c., July 27.-The
granite monument erected by this
prosperous centre of Scotland county
to the memory of Prof. w. G.
Quakcnbush was unveiled here at half
past three O'Clock by Miss Mamie
Bizzel1.
AS the cloth fell away from the
shaft, Ex-Governor C. B. Aycock, who
had just concluded a masterful ad-
dress in the court house, nearby, said
imDreSsiVel--:
10 the glory OF North Carolina: TO
the honor OF the people of this cOm-
niunity and in memory of great and
good man, thiS monument has been
erected"
There was but a ripple of applause
as the monument came into VieW,~ al
though the people were massed dense
ly in front of the court house at the
time. The question was too reverent
to create surface enthusiasm
Throughout the day, the demeanor OF
the people had been of a sort to en-
phasize the thought that in a sense
they were standing again at the grave
of Quakenbush. 1t was glad sort
of hoRor paid to the dead. There
was something of triumph about it,
but there was nothing of the celebra-
ton in connection with the exercises
attending the unveiling.
Rev. MFR Kesier's Address
The day was marked by two gath
erings in the court house. a religious
service in the morning and the adj
dress of the ex-governor in the ar
ternoon. In the morning there was
what was called memorial sermon
by Rev. NJ. l.. Kesler, of Morganton,
a former pastor here, and close
friend of Mr.. Quakenbush. 1t was
not a sermon. 1t was a remarkable
outpouring of the soul of Il man in
language that was startlingly simple
The preacher spoke of the character
of the man with the homely phrase
and the intimate anecdote that almost
made it seem that he still lived. 1t
was talk as of one found speakins
TO another in the chimney corner.
tie so plain, so colloquial that it
had the effect of conSummate art 1t
held the people still and gripped them
in thrall. 1t was the high art of alb
so!ute sincerity.
Mr.. Kesler is a large. plain, angular
man, who speaks without attempt at
oratory, with utter Inconsistencies
but with power that is extraordinary.
He pricked off the character of Prof.
Quakenbush with the nice touch OF
in ell his big truth, Kind heart, hon
est brain. IT was revelation of the
manner in which such addresses
should be made. "A man should be
as a hiding place in the wind, covert
in the desert. the shadow of a great
rock in a weary land" Such was the
text which Mr.. Kesler fitted to Pro-
he. were gifts of God. He told of the
methods by which Prof. Quakenbush's
mind came to conclusions. Like the
swing, swing Of delicate druggists
scales, accurate in the end. OF that
fine. plain sort were his illustrations
it was telling sermon.
Governor Aycock was just the least
trife hoarse, but he spoke in the style
which the people of Laurinburg might
be expected to inspire in him. They
love the Ex-Governor and the story
of how he opened the campaign III
1898 was heard in every quarter.
Judge Neal introduced him as the best
loved man in the State, a man who
was greater in his goodness than in
the importance of his acts, or even
their value.
MIR. Aycocl1's Address.
The ex-governor in opening stated
that he considered the raising of the |
Quakenbush monument the most inn |
pOIldill anu significant event OF a gem |
Grafton Men made money so that |
they might buy monument other men |
StroVe for political success so that |
their high place might demand that
they be remembered. Yet moss grew
on their monuments and they were
forgotten. Here was private citizen
a man who did not display and did |
not fear honesty, who had SO lived for
others, had so won 3 way into the
hearts OF a whole people by simple
kindness. by unspoiled strength and
gracious humour that the monument
had sprung up spontaneously as the
manifestation of the thankfulness of
q community that had been blessed |
in his life. The law Of the higher
Ii, declared Governor Ayeock, was
to do and TO suffer for others. Quak- |
enbush learned the lesson; he was 4
man who always forgot himself and /
remembered others until he had for
gotten himself into Immortality.
He went on to tell feelingly of the |
life and the influence of Quakenbusn. |
lie impressed him, said he. as being |
a man whom one inStinctively knew |
thought finer thoughts and lived a |
higher life without tinge of con- !
tempt for small thoughts or lower |
life One knew when ne met Quaken-
bush that he was loved by him and |
then his life was an incentive tc
others to fall in love with the finer
things. With these qualities as a text |
Governor Aycock proceeded to make