The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19


drift away from it's old-time moorings,
the Standard. once the most pro-
nounced of all the States Rights pa
pers. and a teacher of the doctrine of
peaceable secession, for cause, gradu-
ally went to changing until, when the
war closed, it had lost most of it's old
time friends; and Mr.. Holden, in the
meantime, had become so hostile to
those old-time party leaders, that,
when he found himself in a position to
be revenged, he, unwisely, availed him
self of it. This was the mistake of
his life, and led to the most disastrous
consequences both to the people and
to himself. If, in that hour of the
States sorest trial, he could have risen
above the thoughts and feelings OF
revenge, and used the advantages, then
afforded him, to heal old wounds and
reunite the discordant elements of that
old party of which, in days before,
he had been the trusted leader, what
Moses he might have been, and
how much of trouble would have been
averted. But, he made mistake, a
terrible mistake and he realized it
very keenly afterwards, and, am
sure, he sorely regretted 1t. Hence, l
remember him as a great and good
man whom circumstances led, step by
step, toward condition wherein he,
being tempted, forgot the Pauline in
junction.; BE not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good" All!
how many there are who do the same
thing?
The last years of Governor Holden's
life were spent in quietude, in the
bosom of his family. and, while the
world outside may have been still re-
Numbering and still condemning his
mistake; we, who saw him daily, rec
ognized the fact that, after having
passed through the storm he was near
ing the shore on a calm sea. He
eschewed politics, but was not mac
tive. He was a great friend of the
poor and interested himself in their
behalf. both in temporal and
spiritual way, and they found him Il
friend indeed.
No one thought that Aunt Abby
House, who not only hated but openly
abused and cursed him, would ever
be at peace with bill Holden as she
derisively called him. But. strange
as it may sound in the ears of those
who do not know the power of the
gospel of Christ, Aunt Abby learned
to love him; and when she died she
carried with her to heaven the recol-
lection of the many prayers he had
prayed beside her sick bed, as we'll as
of the material comforts his thought
fulness and kindheartedness had
brought to her desolate little home, in
the eastern suburbs of Raleigh.
Governor Holden wrote a great deal
in his last years, mostly on religious
and historic themes; and. because of
his great knowledge of men and
events, his articles We're of great in
terest and value.
When began this article it was my
purpose to give a historic sketch of
pMethodism in Raleigh, written by
him, on the occasion of the dedication
of the present Edenton Street church,
in 1887; but / find l will not have the
space to give that letter this week. /
may do so later on. But I will give
the Dedicatory Hmyn, sung on that
occasion, which was written by Gov
ernor Holden expressly for that SER
vice. Rev. A. w. Mangum announced
the hymn:
Holy, loving, righteous Father,
Thou didst plant this living vine;
Prune each branch in love and mercy,
Bless it, make it wholly thine
Faith its root and hope its branches.
Nurtured long with anxious care
Now the touch of heaven produces
Fruit abundant, sweet and fair.
Now the corn upon the mountain,
Shakes like Lebanon on high.
Now the life-bestowing fountain
Streams upon us from the sky.
Lord, we thank thee for thy presence.
Lord, We bless thee for thy love;
Make US all that thou would'st have
All thy children fully prove.
Guard this house from sinful error.
Hearts and hands and tongues en-
ploy
Dwell within it, Lord, forever.
Fill it with thy songs of joy.
when the harvest scene is over
When thou CONTEST on thy throne;
-, receive us to thy glory,
Own and crown us as thine own"
1t has only been nineteen wears
since Edenton Street Methodist church
the present building, was dedicated
therefore, many of our people
remember the occasion. the sing
ing OF the above hymn, the SER
mon OF Blshop Duncan, the dedi-
catory services and many other
incidents. But, to refresh the mem
DRY OF such, and at the same time to
| give the young people a bit of history.
| give few extracts from the Rail
eigh Christian Advocate of May Is,
| 1887. 1t says:
Last Sabbath was a grand day for
Methodism in Raleigh The magnifi-
| cent new Edenton Street Church was
dedicated in the presence and to the
| great joy of vast multitude of peo-
! pie. The following former
| pastors We're present: Rev. John e.
/ Edwards. DID; Rev. T. S. Campbell.
/ Rev. A.W. Mangum. DID: Rev. e. A
| Yates, DID,: Rev Robert o.. Burton.
/ DID; Rev. w. S. Black, DID,; and
| Rev. f. l.. Reid. In addition to these
| the following ministers of our confer
! ence were present: Rev. N H. D. Will
son. ID. Presiding Elder of the Raj
eigh District; Revs. J. S. Nelson. j. H.
Page, ID. Culbreth. j. d. Arnold, A. Nc
/ Cullen. B. B. Culbreth. F. NJ Sham
/ burger. M. c. Thomas. B. c. Alfred
| Philip Greening. J. B. Martin. A. r.
Raven. E. Rowland. r. b. John. J. n
/ Gordon and j. T.. Thompson.
THE dedicatory sermon was preach
ed by Bishop w. w. Duncan. DID.
of South Carolina. In the formal ded-
/ ication Of the church, the building was
presented for the trustees, by Judge
/ Wlter Clark. and dedicated by Bishop
/ Duncan. Rev. e. S. Yates. DID,. an
| nounced the Doxology Benediction