The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-26

world'S history. Ihe printed page
may inform the mind, but the living
messenger is necessary to kindle pas
sion and urge men to action. The
preaching function Of the priesthood
can never lose its authority. AS in
the olden times, when Isaiah s voice
was heard in Isreal and Pail preached
on Mars Hill, the divinely called man
with message will ever be the NIGH
tiest force in his generation.
Ellis life of almost unexampled ac-
tivity was dominated by one high and
holy purposc--to do good to his fcl-
low men and faithfully serve his gen-
Grafton by the will Of God. From
that purpose lie was never deflected,
and from God s service his heart new
cr felt the slightest alienation. To
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 unconfined by the
narrow limits of a local pastorate, he
retired from the regular itinerant
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 blessings
would approve it. In every State Of
the union his voice was heard by Gag
or thousands, preaching with the
same fearless fidelity and Christly
sympathy as to the humbli friends an
neighbors on his first Georgia circuit.
Features of Noble Character.
"Without attempting any recital
the facts of brilliant history, shall
merely mention few features of u
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 it's foundations, and
every stone was polished after the
similitude of palace. Flaws there
may have been, but no fissures-dis-
coloratiOns, but no suggestion Of dis
integration. The storms Of life some
times strained. but never moved it,
The rains descended, the floods came
and the winds blew, but when the
sky had cleared he stood unshaken
and majestic as mighty mountain.
However much men may have critic
Used his utterances, or questioned the
wisdom of his policies, no one ever
doubted the integrity and purity OF
his character. Had there been in it
any serious weakness, some curious or
critical or envious eye would have
quickly discovered it and loudly pro-
claimed it, but throughout his brilli-
ant career, every hour in the fierce
public glare, his mission and methods
as reformer inviting and encounter
ing stubborn hostility, he fought and
wrought and finally died, without the
faintest shadow on his beautiful char
nctcr. There were notches on his
trusty blade, but not blur on his
noble name.
"He genuinely loved his fellow
men, and he never lost hope for hut
manity. He believed in a gospel that
can redeem world, and like his
Lord, went out to seek and save the
lost. And no poor prodigal ever got SO
low or wandered so far as to be be-
yond the reach of his hopeful message
and helpful sympathy. And that
made the "orld love him SO. There is
nothing more divinely attractive than
the radiance Of hope, and nothing
more cheerless and forbilding than
the notes of discouragement and des-
pair. Tell poor, blasted, blistered
soul that there is hope for him, and
his wailings will turn to pleadings,
and his despair into tt tones Of pre-
vailing prayer. 1t was this ever re-
iterated gospel for the worst sinner
that helped to attract the thousands
to the ministry.
"The bells of st. Michael 5 church
in Charleston, S. c., that have CHM
ed the hours of morning and evening
prayer since Colonial times, have a
strange history They have crossed
the Atlantic ocean five times. Dnr-
ing the Civil war they wol@ shipped
to Columbia for gsal<e-keepinU Rut