Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-11-23

He demonstrated the fact that the
day of the preacher and public
speaker has not passed. The living
voice is as potent tial today as ever in
the worlds history. The printed
page may inform the mind, but the
living message is necessary to kindle
passion and urge men to action. The
preaching function of the priesthood
can never lose its authority. AS in
the o!den times, when Isaish's voice
was heard in Israel, and Paul
preached on Mars Hill, the divinely
called man with message will ever
be the mightiest force in his genera
tion.
"His life of almost unexampled
activity was dominated by one high
and holy purpose--to do good to his
fellow-men and faithfully serve his
generation by the will of God. From
that purpose he was never DETECTED,
and from Gods service his heart
never felt the slightest alienation.
10 that high aim every ambition was
subordinated, and every energy put
in commission.
believing that Providence had
clearly indicated his field of largest
usefulness, to be unconfiued by the
narrow limits of local pastorate he
retired from the regular ltinerant
ministry, and made the nation his
parish. Whatever the Judgment of
Others as TO the wisdom of that course.
he never doubted that God had
ordered it, and His blessing would
approve it. La every State of the
Union his voice was heard by eager
thousands, preaching with the same
fearless fidelity aud Christfy SYM
pathy as to the humble friends and
neighbors on his first Georgia circuit.
FEATURES OF A NOBLE CHARACTER.
"Without attempting any recital
of the facts of brilliant history,
shall merely mention few features
of noble character:
"First of all, because above all and
best of all our honored brother was
remarkable for the strength and
solidity of his moral character. There
was granite in its foundations, and
every living stone was polished after
the similitude of palace. Flaws
there may have been, but no assures
-discolorations, but no suggestion
of disintegration. The storms of life
sometimes strained, but never moved
it. The rains descended, the floods
came and the winds blew, but when
the sky had cleared he stood un-
shaken and majestic as a mighty
mountain. However much men may
have criticized his utterances, or
questioned the wisdom of his policies,
no one ever doubted the integrity
and purity of his character. Had
there been in itany serious weakness,
some curious or critical or envious
eye would have quickly discovered
1t and loudly proclaimed it, but
throughout his brilliant career, every
hour in the fierce public glare, his
mission and methods as reformer
Inviting and encountering stubborn
hostility, he fought and wrought and
finally died, without the faintest
shadow on his beautiful character.
There were notches on HIS trusty
blade, but not a blur on his noble
name.
"He genuinely loved his fellow.
men, and never lost hope for hu-
manity. lie believed in a gospel that
can redeem world, and like his Lord.
ne went out to seek and save the lost.
And no poor prcdigal ever got SO low
or wandered so far as to be beyond
the reach of his hopeful message and
helpful sympathy. and that made
the world love him so. There il
nothing more divinely attractive than
the radiance of hope, and nothing
more cherries and forbidine than
the notes of Encouragement and
despair. Tell ii poor, blasted, blistered
soul that there is hope for him, and
his wailings will turn to pleadings
and his despair into the tones OF
prevailing prayer. 1t was this evei
reiterated gospel for the worst sinner
that helped to attract the thousand.
} to his ministry.
"The bells of st. Michaeps, in
Charleston, S. O., that have chimeJ
the hours of morning and evening
prayer since colonial times, have {
) strange history. They have crossed
the Atlantic ocean five times. Dur
E ing the Civil War they were shipped
to Columbia for safekeepipg. Blu
on certain famous march to the Sc,
8 they were burned and broken int,
e fragments by the hands of vandai
Y Every sacred niece xuas cratharad