Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-06-20
Capt. David Meade.
EprroR COURIER:

frequently meet the unworthy, bad
man at the very Threshold of
the grave, are misleading, out of
place, i'm bad taste, and, in fact,
disgusting. OF such a man the
least said and the sooner forgotten,
the better. In this world no one
is deceived 10y it; in the next, there
is no chance for deception, for
there, we take 1t, everyone stands
upon his own merits, with dust
thrown into the eyes of no one; the
GOOD, clean man taking his chances
for his reward. and the unworthy,
mean mantaking his chances for his
reward. The recOmpenSc of re-
ward for both cannot be the same.
One must go up higher; the other
down lower.
But for the worthy citizen, the
good, true man, the case is entirely
different. ATecord of his virtues
is not only permissible but, emf
nently right and proper, if, for no
other reason, as an example for
those whom he leaves behind.
We are induced, Mr.. Editor, to
this train of thought in the contem-
plation of the recent death of our
friend and neighbor, the late Capt.
David Meade, or, as he was affec-
tionately known by his old and in
innate friends, "Pidgey," who
died last Wednesday morning at
his home, "Benvenue, "near White
Post, where he was born "A years
ago and where he had lived all of
his life, and to which he was so
devotedly attached.
In speaking of the departed we
can hardly trust ourselves, for we
were friends from our boyhood
days, and do not wish To be extrav-
agant in our remarks, but will say
fearlesSly that of all the men who
have died in the County in the past
fifty years, there is not one who
will be more sadly missed or deep
ly mourned than our dear old friend
He had been, time and again, in
the service of his County in various
capacities, and had at all time and
in every position placed, measured
to the full stature of a valuable cit
izen and beloved man.
In his own neighborhood and
community his loss will simply be
irreparable. The kind, sympathetic
friend, always ready with the
best of advice and consolation, and,
when necessary, with more tangi-
bic aid and assistance. As good,
true. cordial, warm-hearted man
as ever lived upon Gods earth.
But it is of his church member
ship that we wish to speak partic-
ularly, for no church ever had
more devoted or jealous member.
1t was, to him, all in all. He sim
ply loved the church with the whole
intensity of his heart Immediately
after the close of the war, through
which he served the entire four
years, he, in conjunction with the
Rev. Joseph Il. Jones, who was
giving us service in the Methodist
Church at White Post, went to
work upon the erection of an
Episcopal Church in the village,
and the consequence was the beauti-
ful Meade Memorial Church in
which we worship every Sabbath.
And, few years ago, from his
private and individual means, he
was instrumental in the erection of
of our Parish Hall at cost of
seven or eight hundred dollars.
And, among the last acts of his
truly remarkable life, he donated
and decided to the church several
acres of beautiful grove land, at
tached to the Benvenue Estate and
adjoining the village, as site for
the erection of a Rectory for the
church. He was at all times the
largest contributor to the Rector S
Fund and for other church appli-
ances, and was, until the failure of
mS health, the Superintendent of
the church Sunday-sc and did
everything in tie power of mortal
man for ITS advancement and pro-
motion. Who has done for it what
dear old "Pidgey' Meade hasl
lie will surely reap his reward.
God bless his memory, and may it
ever be sweet and fragrant.
w. c. X.
a Correspondent of the Alexan-
drla Gazette, writing from The
4 Plains. saws.