The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-12-20
in MEMORY OF
REV. GEO. BECKETT
BEAUTIFUL SERVICES AT CHURCH
he SERVED FOR so MANY
YEARS.
Mr.. CAPERS' ELOQUENT TRIBUTE
Likens The Beloved Departed To
Simeon. the Strong and
Spiritual Sage.

many years the beloved rector
Of st. Peters Parish, and departed this
life in New York City Friday. The
music was a beautiful feature. and
Rev. W. B. Capers was at bis best
Mr.. Capers spoke In part as follows:
And behold there was man IN
Jerusalem whose nsme was Simeon,
and the same man was Just and devout
waiting for the consolation OF Israel
and The Holy Ghost vas upon him.
And h vas revealed unto him By he
Holy Ghost that he shonld not see
death before he had seen the Lord's
Christ And he came by the spirit
into tia Temple" Luke 2, 25-2627.l
1t has been' said OF simeon .tAat
no nation Is poor. that can produce
such character as his. In fact, he
was strong. serene and spiritual
sage. And in his life he made the con-
tribution such sases always make 30
nations history. Some men are the
sword and shield Of their peoples
liberties. Such was Henry Of Navarro.
Others are "Archangels OF war" Such
Victor Hugo calls Napoleon. And yet
others are the chariots of Israel and
the horsemen thereof" and II is their
thought and character put into the &C
tivities Of life that crystalize the ma
TONS ideals, concentrates the nations
energies, consolidates the nations hope,
and constrains the nations will In
other words, men of faith, hope and
love. faith in God hope in Christ and
love toward their fellowmen, have al
ways been the immovable champions
of law, liberty and life, and by their
labors and devotions have laid the
of permanent prosperity I
and righteous peace at every
epoch-making period in the progress
of the race. Simeon was such a man
In the lamented death of DR.
Beckett, who was for tWenty-seven
years the rector of this parish and of
The Columbia Institute, we are re-
minded that one more Of Gods saints
.as sought and found the consolation
lf Israel, and has been prepared, like
Simeon, in his old age, to depart in
peace. From what | can learn of DR..
3eckett's character his predominating
yirtues We're those Of Simeon, for he
90, was just and devout and patient,
le too, lived to great age, dying in
lis Goth year, after haying lived life
# faith and hope and love; faith in
Tod, hope in Christ and love toward
lis fellowmen.
Dr. Beckett was pre-eminently a
nan of purpose and character, and 1t
ould be said of him-as he moved in
nd out among his people, as it was
aid of the prophet of old: Il per-
GIVE that a man OF God has passed
his way" He was not "a self-made
nan" but he was something q thou :
better, for he was what the
postles and saints have been through
ut the ages of christian history, he :
'as Christ-made man. He was a 6
hurchman without excuse or apology ;,
nd he glorified in the splendid herr :
,ge Of his church. He loved its state &
: music and was moved by its solemn ).
hants. and he felt that in its services +
. worship In the beauty of :
oliness. He was, however, mol !
bigOt. but was !
road and generous In Ais sympathies q
ward the ministry and members OF :,
4 christian churches and was uni- !.
srsally beloved By them all, Dr. :,
eckett was . measee nam ana made !
, ostentatious display Of '1ibefality" d
bis attitude toward lawful pleas
-esS. smai a. he 6sii&wsai that an nal
,od things OF life we're not meant for =
q deyil and his disciples, he always
'unseled that we should enjoy them
UoCOnCtu me CuAluISu VI GOI. Anu
hen We analyze his character, we
ID that he was a practical man and N
ID the gift of common sense, which
some one has said, is the most
common kind OF sense. In the man
ement of both school and parish his
dgment was sound and his counsel x,
is wise. He was a good business .
an, he made an independent fortune m
t of school. he was very good
siness man, end at all times his m
alings with his patrons was gen ".
1ns and Just. and hundreds of his IN
pills today revere his memory and -,
II his name blessed. n,
ln the last years of his life, Or "a
ckett's faith passed through its fiery ST.
a. as with unbalanced intelligence hi
hurried strength" and unwavering tn
m, he too waited the consolation Of IN
ael," and SO for him faiths final to
uggle became a christians triumph, no