The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-01-26

entitled to our S0llcltude.
The mission which DR.. Bonner sue
oeeded in establishing in Mexico was then
modest affair But whatever the merits
of that undertaking, his son, Mr.. o. Y.
Bonner, in supporting it, had with him the
sympathy and cooperation Of large part
Of the communion OF the A. r. P. Church.
His faith in it, and his 'untiring work
and energy inspired others with some
thing Of his own confidence in the wisdom
and the expediency Of the expenditure Of
money and labor in Mexico.
HIGHEST TESTIMONIAL TO MR.. BoNNERs
One of the highest compliments that can
be paid to the mental and the moral
qualities of any man is that he be called to
the pastorate Of the congregation in which
he was born and reared-in which he was
educated and trained to walk in the paths
of righteousness. This is especially true OF
Mr., Bonner.
Due West is unquestionably the strongest
congregation in the First Presbytery-if
not of the entire Synod. Strong in num-
bers; strong in the ability and education
Of it's pastors; strong in the unity and
zeal Of it's members; strong in its ability
and willingness to answer every demand
in the work Of the Master. In position
like this Mr.. Bonner served with the con-
stantly increasing affection Of the mem
bers Of his congregation until the day OF
his death.
DUE, WEST SUFFERS.
OF late Due West has been singIlarly
afflicted in the loss OF good men. Among
others:
Prof. Caldwell in Erskine College died
only few weeks ago with paralysis.
Mr.. Bonner has just fallen victim OF
pneumonia
Only a day or two ago Erskine Pressly
yielded up his young life.
President James Boyce is now lying
in,the shadows, paralysed and unconscious
Only few weeks ago Prof. Lee, octo'
genarian, went to the home Of his son-in-
law. The summons came to him on the
third day Of the New Year.
Though these good men have closed
their eyes to all that Is mortal; though
their ears hear not the daughters OF music
nor the testimonials Of our affection, yet
their characters and their good deeds live
in the minds and hearts Of those who
linger on the shores OF Time. We honor
ourselves in honoring the dead, and In
rehearsing theTstories Of their merits we
instill into our own minds and hearts
the best ideals Of the highest life.
Though thy fame, thy glory could
purchase kingdoms thy heart which now
palpitates with the purple stream OF LIE
will soon palpitate no more.
"a few short years ago and thou wer1
not. The busy world then thought as
| little OF thee as thou now thinkest OF gen
erations yet unborn.
I'm little while thy presence will not
be missed, nor will thy absence be known
A MOTHERS sELF-DENIAI.
We have heard most pathetic things ir
reference to the death OF Mr.. Bonner't
first wife, who was Miss Belle Neel. Be-
cause OF kindly and sympathetic nature
she was always attentive to sick neighbors
and especially was she kind to mem
bers Of the communion. 1t 30 happened
that in the home Of one Of hel
neighbors youth lay dying o.
consumption. The danger did not deter
her loving and kindly heart While
Mrs. Bonner risked all she relaxed moth
| ing Of her attention to the sufferer. The
youth died. Mrs. Bonner in the meantime
had contracted the disease and, she In the
course Of little time, went to her grave
Facts in reference to her illness would
touch the most callous. Conscious OF he1
condition with heart full love for the little
children to whom she had given life, she
remained separate from them and denied
herself the ineffable pleasure Of caressing
and fondling those whom she loved above
all else. She feared that close association
might impart to those whom she loV
cd, more than her own life, the fatal
malady with which she knew she
was dying. For this reason she kept
apart from them. Her children are still
living. They are now orphans indeed,
THE FUNERAL-A GREAT MULTITUDE PAYS
HONOR TO THE DEAD.
One Of the most largely attended funer.
ais that was ever held in Due West wac
that Of last Thursday over the remains OF
Rev. o. Y. Bonner. The attendance on
that occasion has been estimated at fifteen
hundred. The evidences OF love and affec-
ton for the deceased pastor were every.
where apparent. Both the colleges and
every place of business in the town were
closed. Business of every kind was sus-
pended, and each individual heart expert
enced something of personal loss in the
death Of the beloved preacher. Every
member of the congregation which he
served felt sorrow for the untimely end
ing of so good and so useful life.
The student body of each institution OF
learning formed in procession and marched
to the house in which their deceased friend
lay in the grasp Of the inexorable enemy.
The pail bearers from the house to the
church were Elders DR.. j. I. Mccain,
Prof. E. L. Reid, Prof. John L. Pressly
Mr.. R. S. Galloway, Mr.. A. Selden Ken
nedy, Mr.. j. II. Brooks.
The funeral cortege moved from the