The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14

| appShE j ~ Peief
As q soldier of his country DR.. Wilson was
q Lieutenant in one OF the Tennessee regi-
ments that cast It's lot with the South while
be was still young and while he could sti'
boast of the strength OF his young anhoo
he enlisted in the struggle which SHOOK q
continent and was the Wonder OF an aston
ished world. Whether In Virginia., or IN
Tennessee, or elsewhere, he met the enemy
with face TO the front. While 1t might seem
that he was a special object OF hate oy the
Union soldiers, yet 1t also seemed maj the
All Seeing Eye was with him. While ut
Drury's Bluff the armies met, as at other
places, In bloody conflict.
"And once again q fire of hell
Rained on the soldiers quarters
Midst scream OF shot and burst of she'll,
And believing Of the mortars."
Here Lieut.. j. Lowrie Wilson lost q foot.
| he also bore upon his person the evidence OF
four other wounds.
The God OF battles preserved his life that he
might, in the paths OF peace and for the glory
of the Father and the welfare OF his children
fight a better fight.
"Ah! soldier, to your bonored rest
Your truth and valor hearing,
The bravest ere the tenderest,
The loving are the daring"
But it was not only as a soldier Of his coun-
try that DIR. Wilson was distinguished. He
was, II possible, more distinguished as q sol.
der of the Cross.
While DR.. Wilson, like unnumbered others,
| placed his life on the altar of his country, yet
few ever did a better work at home. His In
auence no man can measure. The good
which he has done Is beyond computation.
That will never be known until the seal OF
the great book has been broken.
DR.. Wilson's life aud work are notable
among those who have labored and accom-
plished much. DR.. Wilson was q patriot and
q Christian. HIS loved his country and he
loved bis God. He loved his fellowman and
he loved his LIES labor for their uplifting.
he would take them from the hayward
paths and set their feet In, the kings high
way 10 the scenes OF glory In the celestial
city. He not only taught us to walk In the
paths of Righteousness, but he went along
with us. to inspire as and TO show us the way.
He not only went along with us-he not only
gave the cheering word-but he took by the
band those OF US who were weak and liable to
fall by the wayside. His great heart nerved
the timid to fight more bravely the good
fight, and his strong arm was for us a shield
and buckler against the shafts OF the enemy.
Except the Presbyterian church where the
funeral service was held. all the churches 10
the city were closed, and owing TO the e1.
treme illness OF Mrs. Sarah Henry Hill, no
church bell was sounded on Sunday morn
Ing, and people of the whole city assembled
at the Presbyterian church to pay respect 10
the memory Of their departed friend and
brother. Every seat was occupied. Standing
room was all taken, and many who came q
tlittle late fingered about the door without
coming In, The day was warm, but II Ia pre-
sumed that those who had seats were COM
Portable enough. Those who had standing
seats were tired out long before the expira.
ton OF the hour and a half to which time
tho services were prolonged.
Rev. Mr.. Law read the scriptures and de-
tivered q talk which had not been carefully
digested or Reasonably we'll prepared.
After singing and prayer Rev. Mr.. Gregg
talked for a long time in common place.
Our own judgment is, that the funeral SER
| vices were not up to what might have been
expected OF SO. good q man as DR.. Wilson,
while they were cruelty long.
Even in the prayers there was a dearth OF
thank fumes for the life of the good man
who had 80 long labored amongst US, and
who had 80 lately entered upon that great
sleep which men call death.
We are inclined to think that on OCCASIONS
of this kind it may be reasonably assumed
that the Lord knows q little OF US and for
this reason the speaker need not bore a wait
ing audience with a commonplace recital OF
facts that are known 10 US all.
1t is simply next to objectionable to keep
an audience waiting for an hour and a hall
stead Of eulogizlng or portraying the charac-
ter OF the dead.
When the services had beeh concluded, the
fower-lsden coffin con tanning the tenemen
Of clay which the spirit OF our departed
friend had occupied, was carried to Upper
Long Zane Cemetery, where the burial took
place in the presence Of perhaps the largest
assembly that ever gathered on Gods acre
"Where full the tears OF love the rose appears,
And where the ground Is wet with friend
Spring foreet.me-nots and vlolets heavenly
Spring; elIttering with the cheerful drops
Ike new"
After a prayer the coffin was lowered into
the grave.
]. Lowrle Wilson was born Feby. 2S, 1889, al
Allahabad India. Lived in India until he
was five years OF age he, with four brothers
and their mother came TO Akron, Ohio
Their mother returned TO India where she
and her husband were employed by the
Presbyterian church as missionaries. He
entered the Confederate army at Knoxville,
Tenn.
DR.. Wilson taught school in York County
until he entered the Seminary at Columbia
). c. His first charge was Bethesda, which
he held for 16 years. He came to Abbeville
January. 1886.
DIR. Wilson was a good man at heart, and in
his head be was q wonderfully tactful man,
He saw the good in men, and he was always
ready to approve of all that he thought was
good. While in other churches q preacher
seldom stayed but a few years, yet DIR. VIII
san had the respect, the friendship and the
love OF his people for nearly a quarter Of q
century, and In bis death q large congrega-
ton will bless the turf that wraps his clay
N ,ond ,nbpo-pt n land If love diyinet