The Tupelo journal., 1908-01-24

my knowledge, as l did not know
when | bought my place that he
was to be my nearest neighbor.
But | was delighted to learn it,
knowing his fine qualities. W.
thus lived next door neighbors
for about twenty years. He was
a member of the Baptist church
all these years, and as devoted
a Christian as you ever see in 6
quiet way. He was not promi
nent in making movements fol
the benefit of the church on &C
count of his mate quietness anc
modesty, but he was ever ready
to lend a helping hand in the in.
terest of the church. | consid-
cred him not only a very rell.
gious, but also a very pious man.
Really no one knowing him as
did would have conceived of him
as a man who would lead in
prayer before the public. But
his love was so great that he
overcame to some extent his
modesty, and learned to lead in
prayer to the edifcation of those
who heard him, and the longer
he lived the nearer he seemed to
be in touch with the Divine. We
all remember how constant and
regular he was in the services of
the sanctuary. He verified the
saying of the Psalmist, Il was
glad when they said unto me, let
us go up to the house of the
Lord. !" If the minister failed to
see him in his seat he knew
something was wrong with his
his own health or that of his fam
lily. And when the hand of af
Fiction came in the death of
three grown daughters, and two
of them close together, he bowed
with childlike meekness to the
Divine will. James had such a
kind heart he could not we'll re-
fuse any request which was in
his power to grant, and on this
account he made an appointment
for a strange minister to preach
in the Baptist church one night,
and as a consequence subjected
himself to a good deal of mirth
at the hands of his friends. It
occurred in this way: A strang-
er came along and represented
himself as a minister of the Bap-
tist church and, wished to preach
for the people. Mr.. Williams
consented. It was during the
week, and James told me about
it, and | readily agreed to attend
to help make up a congregation.
The stranger was regular back
woodsman Of the first water, but
withal a man of a good deal of
independence. So when the song
service was over the preacher
entered the pulpit, and as he did
so he said, when l go to do a
days work for myself take off
my coat, and when l work for
for my Master | do the same
thing" and fitting the action to
the word, he threw off his coat
and tossed it aside as if he were
going to maui rails! He was not
any preacher, but / remember
he was speaking of Sauls con-
version at one point in>> mis- dis
cussion, and said, when Alma
MAS spoke to Saul, the scales fell
from his eyes as big as a skillet
lid" After the services were
over and James was introducing
the new minister to some of the
brethren, the stranger gave the
organ a slight touch with his
foot, and said, "As for that crit
ter, | have not heard it's voice
yet, It W Is a hot night in Ju-
ly or August, and but few out,
and SO had no organist on hand.
It will beyears before the quiet
and modest Mr.. Williams Will be
forgotten by the people of Tupe-
10. While memoryscling to me
l shall remember him as he Wen
ded his way to the house Of God,
wearing his glasses and carry
ing his stick with his lefts hand.
He was the kind Of church mem
ber the minister's heart always
delights in. He went to hear
and to get good out of the SER
vice. He wished to be in the
house of the Lord to ''behold the
beauty Of the Lord and to inquire
in His temple With all this he
was always considered feeble
man. Ye stout and able-bodied
men of the church, who so often
are sick on Sundays, and are
rained out on drizzly SUNDAYS.