The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-26
PORTRAIT OF DR.. DUNAWAY
Presented TO County Of Lancaster viii Ado.n
Walls Of the Court House Of That Count, -
The Presentation Speech.

address 10y R.v. Dr. ". r. Dunaway. of
Lancaster, "A brother, and was accepted
in behalf of the county by Mr.. ". +.
Hathaway, a. anephew of Dr. DunnWnv.
DR.. W. F.Dunaway ia his address said.
in part:
May it please the court. / present. To
your honor, 10 whom 50 much credit
ls due for the adOrnment of the court
houses Oi this in iicial circuit with the
likene sses aud tablets of distinguished
citizens, and through you to the people
oi Lancaster county, the portrait of Rev.
Dr. Thomas SANFORD Dunsway This l.
To me "A pleasing duty, although some
what embarrassing. II shall speak of
him rs he deserves, NAV incur the
charge of iraternal partiality: aui vet 1
cannot see that his beirv my brother j.
n reason Why ! shoulI underrate his
merits
IL Is meet that his portrait should have
a place within this hall, because in this
county he was born, grew To manhood
ana Tor thirty-seven years resided
Moreover, he was prominent ld use
lui participant Ia it's public affairs. At
the early age OF eighteen Years he WAS
upon the recommendation of the county
court, commissioned county surveyor by
the governor of the stat; and. when
that Office was 10y the constitution of
1870 made FL, e. i've, lac was uuan mously
chosen 10y the p-ope Many of tn. neat
plats he drew and ui the accurate surveys
ne calculated may be found in tie office
oi the clerk. For more than twelve wears
he served the people a. Justice of the
feace aud member of the County court.
hether seated with his fellow Justices
ON the platform, where your Honor holds
50 evenly the scales of justice. or holding
his magistrate = court elSeW here. he dis
charged the duties OF his Office with firm
ness, ability and integrity. He was "A
member OF the building committee that
erected the excellent house in which we
are now assembled. Perhaps he never
rendered the county "a better or more
satisfactory seryice than during the try
ing period ofreconstruction that followed
the war between the States BY the
order OF the Federal Government "A
Freedman : court WAS constituted in
every county, " hose business il was To
settle the cases that arose between the
negroes and their late masters. concern
ing compsnsatiOn for labOrs performed
from the close OF the war 10 the end of
the year. IL was composed of United
states army officer aud two citizens. Sc
lected, one 10y the freedmen and the other
10y the white people. Ia Lancast,r Lieut..
busby was the representative Of the gov
eminent; Mr. Peter Williams. "A Union
man, was chosen by the freedmen. And
when the white peopA came To make
their choice, the thoughts and desires OF
Hli We're anxiOusly fixed on Mr. Duna-
way. Sympathizing with the impOver-
lshed men of his own race. he was yet
Just and merciful to the negroes With
his greater Intelligence and broader
views, he was IN that peculiar tribunal
facile princeps
lt Is worthy Of mention that ,inasmuch
as all three of its members were fair
minded men, the decisions of the court
were always unanimous.
During all those years Of public service
DR.. Dunaway did much business as "A IL
duciary; so that venture the assertion
shat no man has rendered in this county
80 many accounts as guardian, admins
traitor and executor.
When it was laid upon his conscience
that he must spend the remainder of life
AS preacher of the Gospel oi the Son of
God, he left his beautiful home, his large
farm and the people he had loved so well
and served so faithfully and became the
pastor of the Baptist church ia Freder-
.cksburg. ln that capacity be industri
ously labored for the long, unbroken pc
riOd OF 81 years, admired and beloved.
not only by his hJck, but also by the
people of the city.
he watched and wept, and prayed
and felt for all.
During his pastoral care the church
was trebled in numbers. Christian activ-
tiles and moral Influence
His character and ability soon made
him conspicuous In the denomination.
The degree of Doctor OF Divinity was
conferred upon him by Richnond Col
lege. or that institution. as also OF the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
ne has been for many years a trustee.
whose opinions have been highly valued.
For four consecutive sessions he was
unanimously ly-chosen president of the
Baptist General Association of Virginia
that body breaking, in his favor. its Gus
tom OF changing the presiding officer
every two years. His presence in the
chair added dignity to the assembly.
While his knowledge of parliamentary
law, his combined tirmness and courtesy
ana his long and spotless life, made the
Ravei unnecessary, except as "a mere
badge OF office.
1t Is beautiful custom to decorate the
graves Of those we have loved but to-
day we will do honor to the living. We
place upon his brow a chaplet whose
fragrance he can enjoy, and whose
beaLty he can w0Tthily wear before the
eyes of the world. Ills motto unavowed
PEI hays uucorsciously pur-u j. has been
thouSi lhe-Exc sIsiUr. lie a spared no
pains OF mind or body to do his very best
IN every thing that he has undertaken.
lie has done with his might what his
hands found 10 do, whether as farmer.
teacher, builder, surveyor, magistrate,
nduciary, trustee, preacher, author, or
pastor Ii he has coveted the esteem and
applause OF his fellow-men, he has vet
more studiously sought to make himself
worthy OF IT, In both secular and spirit
ual matters his counsel has been sought.
because be has been honest, conservative
and capable. la what men call common
sense have not known his superior
10 him are harmoniously blended the
loyalty OF Hushai the Archite with the
wisdom OF Ahithophel, OF whom IL Is
written that "his counsel was as n a
man had enquired of the Oracle OF Cod ."
He has not lived In vain. He has
made footprints in the sands of time.
In which those who shall come after him
may safely tread. He has fought good
light, be has kept the faith; his course is
almost run. Since he il nearing four score
years OF age, there cannot be far ahead
the restful goal with its crown OF right
eousDess. When by the will of God he
shall have departed from these mortal
scenes, there will be quenched in the mil
liant church of God bright, beneficent
IIraI g. ~ ST. ~ - -