The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-26

One of the most graceful acts of Gov ernof B B. cofnsr's Administration was the appointment of Rev. F. T. J. Bran don as Chaplain of the prison at Flat Top. Alabama No one requested the Governor to make the appointment. and 1t came as grateful surprise to Rev. Brandon. %
 The writer of this has known Mir. Brandon for many years. and better man never lived. He is consecrated to the cause of the Master. to whom he dedicated his life in young man. hood and followed the banner of the cross with the greatest zeal and en- that he surrendered the pulpit for the battie-field, and no son of the South ever enlisted under the Confederate banner with more loyalty.
 On account of his personai bravery, popularity with his company and as a recognition of the respect and conf dence that they had for him, he was elected first lieutenant of his command. In a battle previous to the incident that I am going to relate. Mf. Bran. don had received wound in the mouth, his tongue being hit by the ball and ever afterwards he talked
 
 ----his captain was shot down. but no sooner had he fallen than Lieuten- ant Brandon placed himself at the head of the company, and the men followed him with the same confidence and de- votfon that they did their fallen com rade. One of the first commands he llsped when he placed himself at the head of the company was; shoot low. boys. and may the Lord have mercy on their poor souls"
 Mir. Brandon had been in the ministry fifty-two years last year, and on ac- count of his long service was placed on the superanuated list, but he Is still active for his years, and his mind is as clear and his zeal for the cause of the Master as great as 1t was. when he buckled on the armor of the cross and went forth into the highways and by ways to save mems souls. half cen- tury ago.
 There is one incident in Mir. Bran don's career that made a very profound tmpfassion on the mind of the writer. It was way back in the early eighties. when he was located in Tuscaloosa as the pastor of the First Methodist Church of that city. A university com mencement was on, and a distinguish ed divine from a distant State had been. invited to preach the commencement sermon. On Friday before the Sunday. on which the sermon was to have been preached. a telegram came announcing that illness in his family prevented the distinguished minister from keep ing his appointment.
 The telegram caused consternation among the University officials for awhile, for It was too near the date of the commencement sermon to get an out of town minister, which was the custom, so they with one accord turned to MT. Brandon and asked himto deliver the sermon. The iiterati Of the state was assembled in Tuscaloosa and the stout- est heart would have shrunk from the task Of delivering a sermon to such an audience on so short notice, and Mir. Brandon, who is as modest as he IS earnest in his chosen calling, told the committee that waited on him that he would go home and see his wife and would let them known in an hour.
 when he told Mrs. Brandon what was wanted of him. she replied calm ly: "of course you can do it," and that settled the matter. Mir. Brandon tele- phoned the committee his acceptance. andsgolns Go his; study he and his wife pra5ed to God for guidance. and when they Arose from their knees they se- leeted the following text: Search ye