The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-16

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 That msn may rise on stepping stones Of their dead selves to higher things Mistakes ana Disasters.
 "Oh, the mistakes and disasters and caIamities that have come upon man and society and governments because of indifference to the lessons of the past. and to the message 1t would bringl
 But this interest has taken another and an affirmative form. If the lessnns of the past are of vital concern and helpfuIness, 1t is now recognized that the State. among other duties now roc oguized, owes duty not only to axe ploit it's whole past. with its shadows and lights alike. but also to stimulate in every way tho appreciation Of It's utility, and to collect and preserve the current materials for the history of the State, its institutions, and it's public mon.
 ''Fortunate for us and for the people of Alabama that these truths have been fully and intelligently recognized. With
 the beginning of the new century the lawmaking power provided by law an agency. a department of the State gov ernment, cerrellating the other offices and departments. charged with the du- ty of meeting all of the obligations which is due by 1t to its public records and to It's history. whether that history has to do with the past or to history In the making. q M
 "In the organization and the devel- opment of the duties imposed, various groups Of activities have been project ed. These are the arrangement, class ification and cataloguing of the State archives (inanuscript public recordg; !; the collection of a complete reference library of all printed materials bearing upon the history of the State and of the territory embraced in her borders from the time where the eyes of adven- turous Spanish explorers first rested upon her forests and plains; the main- tenance of a gallery and museum for the display of the likenesses of the great ones of our past and of the ma terial objects associated with them: the promotion of interest in books and reading and the establishment of free public and school libraries; the eollso- | tion of statistical materials for the uso Of our lawmakers and the people gen. erally: the encouragement of historical work and research; and the diffusion. by publications. lectures and otherwise, of information concerning the history and the resources of the State.
 ''Since the establishment of this agency. interest in history work and enterprise have largely increased. the collections brought together have q valuation of many thousands of dol lars, the people throughout the whole State have constantly and sympatheti' cally supported 1t. and 1t is more and
 more justifying the wisdom of those who projected 1t.
 "The admirable spirit of cooperation l of which I have spoken. and which alone has made possible the success oi the work of the State in its appeal haS | found a response in the Diocese of Ala bama, and we are gathered together tc | honor in a formal and distinctive way | the character and memory of one whose entire life in Alabama was daily con
 secration to those things which stood | for righ hteousness and godliness. Bish
 op Nicholas Hammer Cobbs was mol | only the first Bishop of the Protestan | Episcopal Church in Alabama. he wal | one of the vital and dominant con structive forces in our life from thu l day his lot was cast in our borders | Pure in thought, humble in manner 1 far-seeing and wise. foremost in gooC words and works. his life was a swee
 and lasting influence for all that is up | lifting and good. He believed in hii
 church. because through it as a recog nized agency appointed by God, ther' |
 delivery of a message tc c dyinl
 world. He was great as man. grea
 as a Churchman. and great as Chris | tian!
 Bishop stephen Elliott, of Georgia l said of him. He moved among meI
 always as the minister of God. as tn, | ambassador of Christ. No man coult over mistake his character or his pur pose. While he was gentle unto al | kx unwearied life of singular devotion tt | his Episcopal labors he passed away 1T this city on January Ii, 1861, daI perhaps the most fateful in our his | tory as State. Surrounded by all O. | his loved ones ho passed to where bo' yond these voices there is peace. Ant l in memory of that life so nobly livet
 we are gathered together today.
 And now, Reverend Sir, in behalf o | the State whose humble representa- | tive am. extend to you, and througi you. to the Diocese of Alabama tht | profound appreciation of the State O. 1 Alabama for this token of your gooC l citizenship and patriotism. This DOT trait of the sainted Bishop Is received | in the full spirit of the gift. It vii he placed in the Capitol of the State
 and permanently preserved. along with tSs likenesses of pioneers and states [ ! great physicians and captains of in
 dustry. and there. with them, 1t will b'
 an inspiration and benediction. st far as We now know. for all time tC come"
 Close of Services.
 The services were then closed by | Rev. E, E. Cobbs, with the singing oi l 8 hymn and the benediction.
 The portrait was greatly admired by I all present, some of whom had person ] ally known the Bishop. Only one ol | his children was present. Mrs. Char iotte Cobbs ElIerbe, of Greensboro. HiI | two other children. Rev. R. H. Cobbs l D. D.. rector of the church in Greens boro. and Mrs. J. A. Ellerbe. of Greens,
 boro. were unable Co attend. Many ol I his grandchildren and great-grand' I children were present.
 Bishop Nichola Hammer Cobbs wa;
 a natlvo of Belford County. Virginia and was born February 5. 1795. HI. | early advantages were meagre and hi. education was acquired in an "old fiolt
 sch ool," At the age of IT he became
 2 teacher and continued in that voca. 1 tion In different parts of Virginia fol | ten or twelve years.
 In 1924 he was ordained a deacor and a year later he was advanced tC
 the priesthood. In 1928 he was elected
 clerical deputy from the diocese of VIr. | ginia to the general convention of the 1 church. a position he continued to fiI | while he remained In his native State
 In 1884 he was chaplain to the Uni versity Of Virginia and was at differ. l ent times pastor of the congregation: at Norfolk and Petersburg. Hobart College conferred on him the degree