The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-19

DIR. ]. A. CLIFTON Y.
DIES SUDDENLY.
A POPULAR MINISTER CALLED
TO HIS REWARD. ya%
Orator And Lovable Man--Desth
Game Suddenly at the Hour He
Was to Conduct Funeral. J.
The State.

..I.. s"} s-- ,S &1y
The State. ~. h ~ ~
- Marion, june 14.-Dr. Jesse A.
Clifton, the venerated pastor Of the
Methodist church in Marion and one
Of the most prominent and popular
ministers in South Carolina, died sud-
denly at his home this afternoon.
Heart failure is assigned as the cause
of his death. The sad occurrence has
created intense grief in this commun-
ity, where DR.. Clifton had endeared
himself to the citizens irrespective Of
denomination. The distressing intelli-
gence of his death will carry irrepar-
able sorrow to many who honored and
loved him throughout the State. He
was 81 years old, and was apparently
hale and vigorous. e..
He was to have preached the funer-
al of Mrs. J. NJ. Williams, who died
yesterday, at about the same hour
that death overlook him.
Jesse Alexander Clifton was the
son Of Capt. Jesse G. Clifton and
Mary H. Clifton and he was born
Sept. 26, 1s45. After the usual home
training and advantages Of q common
school, he entered the Ebenezer Class
ical school, where he was thoroughly
trained. From here he went to the
University of Virginia, where he re-
ceived the instruction in the higher
branches. Intending to enter the
practice Of law, he took the course in
law at the University Of Virginia, but
the brilliant young mind that had
been thus trained and developed was
to be turned into other channels of
usefulness and service.
He was converted under the preach
ing Of the late Rev. Jacob L. Shuford,
joining the church at Ell Bethel in
. Chester county in 1868. His conver-
sion, which was in July of that year
at home in his room alone at the hour
of midnight, was said to be a most
powerful manifestion Of the divine
presence. In September Of that year
he felt that he was called to preach
the gospel. In December, 1860, Mr..
Clifton was received on trial into the
South Carolina conference at the ses-
sion held at church, he and George
T. Harmon forming the class received.
His appointments have been as fol-
lows: Columbia circuit, 1S70-72; jun
ior preacher on Fairfield circuit, with
Rev. James p. Kilgo, as senior, 1873;
Batesburg circuit, 1916; Saluda cir
cult, 1878; Graham circuit, 1870
80; St. Matthews circuit,
1872; Spring Street, Charleston,
1883; Newberry station, 1SS4-5; Cen
trail church, Spartanburg, 1869;
Buncombe Street, Greenville, 1S00-91;
Bethel, Charleston, lS92-95; Abbeville
station, 1901; Orangeburg, 1901-5;
and Marion, his last charge.
DR.. Clifton was married, Nov. "a,
1868, to Miss Mary e. Hiclllin, daugh
ter Of DR.. w. J. Hicklin of Chester,
Rev. j. L. Shuford performing the
ceremony. The following are their
children: DR.. Jesse A.. Clifton, Jr., of
Orangeburg, Mrs. Mary c. Kelly,
James S. Clifton, John Hicklin Cliff
ton, memebr Of the house of respres-
entatives from Sumter; Misses jose
phine and Kate Maher Clifton.
No man in the South Carolina con-
ference had more warm friends than
DR.. Clifton. AS preacher he pos
sessed unusual powers. With a fine
physique, an intelligent face, with ora
torical talents, he was naturally an
attractive speaker. AS lecturer DR..
Clifton was popular and often i'll de-
mand. His helpful thoughts, clothed
in garment of sparkling wit and
humor, rendered him an entertaining
platform orator.
DR.. Clifton's popularity in the con-
ference was manifested by the posi-
tioms of trust and honor which were
given him. He represented the con-
ference as a delegate in the general
conference held in Memphis in 1894
and also at Baltimore in 1898.
She Got Him,