The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-10-28

Of his eightiets Brit cay. having
+ be- porn september -6 1880, at
---so-.g. l. ulOl t....... sa.. and
within "a few months of the siXtieth
anni ersa > OF his admission into
/ the Nirg MIA Conferlac. having
Joined il November. 1850. al Rich
mond. Va
by reason of strength DE had
rou.leI orr nearly tour score years
OF l.fe and nearly three score years
or "a thiul minis' erial service. fit
ty-three being spent i'm the effective
ranks But the strength that had
sustained him through So many toll
ing years and on many labOriOus
fields failed rapidly toward the
last. and after only three days con-
finement 20 his bed. he sank peace
fully TO sleep amid his loved ones
IN his quiet home on Gods appoint
ed day of rest.
His life work was an ever fresh
delight to him. and. only a short
while before he laid his body and
his charge down. he expressed a
hearty willingness 10 do 10 all over
again. rejoicing that he had been
permitted 60 give so many years to
the active ministry of the word.
His was a life of JOY i'm service.
and the ralience of his JOY bright
ened the circles of his influence and
gave 20 his evCntide a sweet and sa-
cred light. His last DAYS were
very quet, peaceful and beautiful.
The inli mites of age We're felt.
but his love for his church did not
abate nor his interest IN those>,
about him, especially the young. dim
inish. His sense of the presence
of God never left him He knew
whom he had believed. and was full
ly persuaded that he was abidingly
safe I'm the arms of Jesus. In his
last illness, when he had been UNI
conscious for some hours. his daugh-
ters tried 10 arouse him. praying
that he might once NOR recognize
them and speak to them, present
ly, opening his eyes in response. his
face aglow with heavenly light he
answered. yes" then clasping his
hands upon his breast. II feel that
God is present with us ! am trust
ing I'm him and In his blessed prom
Uses"
"He rests from his labors. and
his works do follow him. Appar-
emily. his life had been prolonged TO
the limit of its enjoyment here, and
then he was taken TO renew its pow
ers and to enrich its joys in our
Fathers house of many mansions.
His earliest home training was not
positively religious. as no member OF
his family was a Christian, but I'M
der the influence of piOus lady he
was brought into the Sunday school
and there learned the story of Jesus
and His love At sixteen years Of
age he gave his heart TO God and
his hand to the Church. and not
long after, God gave him his faith
er, mother, and two sisters i'm the
fellowship of the gospel, all four
joining the church the same day
Ever after the SUNDAY school held
high place i'm his affections and
esteem. and he never failed 10 at
tend il. or his class meeting, or
the young mems prayer meeting UNI
less unavoidably hindered account
ing them most helpful aids in the
formation of Christian character.
His call TO the ministry was dis
tinct and clear. but his youth aud
Inadequate preparation delayed his
response till friends urged his dU-
ty. AT eigh cen he applied for Ii
cense TO exhort and a year and a
half later he was given license to
preach Beginning as a helper on
the FauQu'er and Stafford circuI,
Rev. Joseph Carson. pastor, he con-
tinued actively al work for over
half a century. serving circuits. sta
tons, districts showing himself ap-
proved unto Coz. workman that
needed net 90 be ashamed. rightly
dividing the word OF truth His
preaching was sound and scriptuM
without attempt at display and many
were brought 90 a serving knowledge
of the gospel Of Christ through hrs
fundamentally as many as two hun
dred and fifty in one year ON the
Pungoteague circuit
In administration he was a some
what rigid disciplinarian. and
at times was accounted arbitrary,
but his eye was ever single 10 tho
glory of God. his heart true 10 the
Church of God and bis hand dill
igent I'm the service of God. He
walked worthy OF the vocation
wherewith he was called and no blot
mars his record. no stain blurs his
character.
Servant of God well done
Rest from thy loved employ,
The battle fought the victory won,
Enter thy Masters joy
n Mon SIMPSON.