The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-01-26
REV. 0. Y. BONNER.
STRICKEN DOWN IN THE MIDST OF
HIS USEFULNESS.
Honest and 0ut-spoken Strong and
Determined-A Power in the
Church.


years the beloved pastor of the A. R. P.
Congregation at Due West, died January
10, 1910, at seven o'clock in the evening
aged 46 years.
He had been sick for only few days
On Friday evening previous to his death
he was in attendance upon a social func.
tion at the home of his kinsman, Mr.. j. c.
Tribble, and nobody on that occasion sus-
pected that he was so soon to be stricken
down.
He was taken suddenly sick Of pneu,
monia on that night and, almost from
the first, he was thought to be a very
sick man.
Later when complications with pleurasy
set In, and almost before his family could
realize his danger, he had yielded the
vital spark, and had laid down his work
In the last hours Of his life, under the in
Huence Of opiates, his mind wandered, and
he talked incoherently of the things which
engaged his thoughts during his normal
condition. He spoke Of the church, it's
work and it's great needs, and he talked to
Mr.. Miller Of the newspaper which he
edited. At no time did he seem to realize
that he was approaching the end
The loving and faithful watchers at his
bedside were wholly unprepared for his
departure. Until within about four hours
from the time when he ceased to live his
family were hopeful Of his recovery.
Mr.. Bonner's death was SO sudden that
the people Of the town were unprepared
for the sad event, and they we're greatly
shocked at the news OF his death, many OF
whom scarcely had known Of his sick
ness, and none had realized the imminent
danger of his condition.
Mr.. Bonner was the son Of the late DR.
J. I. Bonner. Born in Due West, Novem
ber 13, 1868, he had just entered upon his
47th year.
In 1892 Mr.. Bonner was united in mar
riage to Miss Belle a. Neel, daughter Of
DR.. j. D. Neel, Of Troy, S. c., and to them
two children were born. Mrs. Bonner
died in 1901.
On June 80, 1903, Mr.. Bonner WAS married
to Miss Jennie Edwards, daughter Of DR..
E. II. Edwards OF Due West, and for many
years the talented and successful teacher
at the Due West Female College. To them
no children were born.
He received his primary education N
the schools at Due West, and his higher
literary training was in Erskine College,
from which institution he was graduated
in 1883.
He was called to the pastorate OF the
Due West congregation in 1891, serving
continuously until the day Of his death
q period Of more than 1S years.
MR.. BoNNER's WONDERFUL POWER AMI
MORAL STRENGTH.
In the Synod Mr.. Bonner took an active
interest in all that was done. He had nc
concealments and was out-spoken at al
times. His directness of speech and his
strong will power were notable which facts
made him q factor in all that excited his
interest or appealed to his sympathy.
He never pressed his subject by indi'
rection. He struck straight for the object
Of his contention. He relied upon the
justice of his cause, and his own determi'
nation to succeed, never once in his life
resorting to the arts OF the politician nor
did he once doubt the correctness OF his
acts. In whatever he did, honest man
hood and sincerity Of purpose were ap'
parent.
His frankness Of speech, necessarily
brought down upon his head the dis
pleasure of some of the brethren, but the
same frankness and the same honesty OF
speech that displeased some brought to
Mr.. Bonner hosts OF friends and admirers
whom he drew to himself and held as by
hooks of STEEL 1t is only the weakling
without strength of character and decision
of purpose who never meets antagonism
And Mr.. Bonner did not belong to that
class.
By the appointment Of Synod Mr.. Bon
ner held important positions in every
department of the Church. He was
trustee of both the colleges, and was g
member of nearly every essential com
mission of the Church, chief among which
was that of member Of the Board ot
Foreign Missions, where he was perhaps
the ruling spirit. While Mr.. Bonner die
not claim that up to this time the mission
had been a profitable one, yet he was
hopeful Of future results. In his Owr
words, the mission to Mexico was "likt
the planting Of seed corn" which would II
the end bring forth abundant fruit.
DIR. J. I. BONNER RESPONSIBLE FOR TIL
MEXICAN MISSIONS.
In maintaining the Mexican mission Mr.
Bonner had a just pride in the recollection
of the facts, as we understand them to be
His father, the late DR.. j. I. Bonner
might truly be said to be its founder
Some thirty years ago, as we have beer
told, there was sentiment in the SYNOD
favoring the establishment Of mission
in India. To defeat the India mission DR.
Bonner urged the establishment OF the
Mexican mission. which he correctly re-
garded as distinctly better than the India
mission.
AS with prophetic vision DR.. Bonner
seemed to realize that since the morning
stars sang together and the sons of God
shouted" that Redeemer had been born
into the world, the church could
make no greater mistake than in expend