The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-05-16

have been one of the shining
traits of his splendid character.
This is strongly brought out in
two incidents that may be briefly
recalled. In 1880, while a mem
Der of the State Senate, he
championed the bill to submit
the question of prohibition to the
voters of the State, and after
wards. in in the face of certain
and overwhelming defeat, can
vassed the county in it's favor.
When the bill was pending in
the Senate, a day having been
fixed for final consideration, Col.
Rowland being at home on
short visit was asked by friend
what the effect of his advocacy
of the bill would have on his per-
sonal influence at home. His re-
ply was: L have never given
that matter a moments consid-
GRAFTON. If the people Of Robe
son want me to vote against that
bill and will let me know it | will
resign and let them send man
to vote their Wishes;but so sure as
I am able to be in my seat when
that bill is put on it's passage, I
shall vote for it because | think
it is right -
Henry Clay said, 1t is better
| to be riUht than to bePresident. -
and the utterance was embalmed
in history. Alfred Rowland in
his sphere uttered as sublime a
sentiment as did Henry Clay
when he gave expression to the
historic utterance.
Again, while representing his
Presbytery in the General AS
sembly at St. Louis, he was at
tackled by the disease which
eventually terminated his useful
life, and though very sick and
suffering intensely he remained
in attendance upon the sessions
Of the Assembly. Upon being
asked afterwards why he did not
retire to his room and seek med
ical aid, he replied: Il felt that
as the Presbytery had sent me
there to attend to it's business it
was my duty to discharge the
trust committed to me. ""Duty, "
said our illustrious leader Robert
E. Lee, lis the grandest word in
the English language" These
two characteristic incidents show
that duty was the controlling ele-
ment that nodded and marked
the character of Alfred Rowland.
| Nature in the bestowment of
her gifts was generous to him.
With good mental talents, he was
endowed with a fine physique, ar
attractive personality and a gen.
erous disposition, and his pleas
ant smile and affability won for
him warn{friends among all class
es with whom he came in con
, tact. In his domestic life he was
! faithful, true and tender, and iI
, his public life ever honest an(
loyal to duty.
Il The world is better for tn,
lives of such men and their mem
5 DRY is heritage of glory to thei
. family and a blessing to the com
munity in which they lived.
+ His record as a soldier is hes
: known to those of you who wer
8 his comrades in those dark day
r when the most fearful war Q
, modern times swept in it's desc
Q lating passage over our South
IS land, leaving in it's wake broke
O. fortunes, ruined homes, sadder
), ed hearts and all the fearful cor
!, sequences of dreadful civil strif,
4 wounds so deep and terribl
n that the lapse of nearly half
ID century has scarcely served
h eradicate them.
o. Comrades, the task assigned
n me is discharged weakly ar
& imperfectly,1 know; but poor ar
10 inadequate as is the trlDule,
"a has been to me a labor of low
an And l feel that | cannot bette
~ close this imperfect sketch tn;
IS. by a quotation from the beautif
v tribute of John Temple Graves
h, Henry w. Grady:
ch Il have seen the light cor
over the eastern hills in glo
,r- driving the lazy darkness Ii
IN mist before a sea-born gale
Of leaf and tree and every blade
70 grass glittered in myriad damon
w Of the morningrays;and | thong
ch it was grand. | have seen t
FIJI light that leaped at midnig
he athwart the storm-swept SIX
shivering over chaotic clouds n
aw Continued on page seven.
7as
Ic- State of Ohio, City of Toledo, J