The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-29
TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE
OF HON. EDWARD G. WILDER

80 VIII eS AhUHs OeANAo, 40 NNA'SN
forth by the recent passing to his
final reward of the subject of this
sketch, we'll known citizen OF So
orum, Polk county. Florida.
Ii is really worth while 70 live
when the memories of ones life and
iluence places them decidedly on
the side OF truth and right, that go
to make this world nObler, brighter
and better; and it is well 10 keep
the memories of such lives green, 10:
they belong 10 the things that are
undying and immortal.
As my mind goes back TO boyhoOd
days, | remember him as one OF the
first beacon lights OF Christian man.
hood that doomed up on the horizon
q my life. His visits to my fathers
home, and the high esteem in which
lie was held there constituted the
* undations of this. but personal con-
tact and acquaintance confirmed ami
Intensified il.
ANY one thai intimately knew him
will remember him As natural
tease, and fond of practical Jokes.
often find myself relating some OF
these and laughing over them still.
" lille an intensely religious man nc
was not one of the long-faced va
riety that regards good laugh an
impiety
4 business man he was sue
cess, being a wise and discreet man
ager of his business affairs, and was
good liver. He never aspired to
more than this; his greatest aspira-
ton was for the treasures over
there" where moth and rust doth NOT
corrupt. etc.
AS citizen he was unassuminG
and yet influential, and his influence
was always on the side of righteous
ness and moral uplift.
But it is peculiarly as a Christian
and Il deacon that wish to speak
Il him. When as young Christian,
along with others who had recently
put on Christ, began to be active in
the prayer meetings and other spir-
i,ual activities of dear old Bethel
church. Brother Wilder was one OF
@ sympathetic and cooperative
spirits among the older members. He
Fcp, this up; and young Christian
y orkers and new ministerial recruits
always found in him warm friend
and helper.
About this time, above referred to,
he had some impressions of the min
istry, but finally decided he was be.
| ing called as Il true preachers help
or, more faithful deacon. This he
was until the day OF his death. II
IL often said that many good
deacon is spoiled by being thrus;
into the ministry, and ! have seen
cases that | thought answered to
this Such was not the case with
Brother Wilder. however. but a mod.
el deacon was crystalizcd out of an
impression to enter the ministry. If
had been going to preach his ia
neral | should have chosen Tim
3:l3 as my text.
Tie was with me as a committee
to report more efficient financial
system to Bethel church soon after
| had become a church member, when
| received my first impressions in re-
sard to tithing as Gods financial
plan and advocated il before the
church, and creating Il storm of OPP
position among the older brethren
against this rcactionary young dream
or, AS they called me; and while
Brother Wilder did not agree with
ME at the time. he was more SYM
pathetic and considcratc than mos,
;; of the others. Some years after he
adopted my views and became an
active. enthusiastic leader i'm enlist
ing the other members in practicing
bible plan of meeting our fnan-
cial obligation to God
He greatly deplorcd the poor way
in which Baptist pastors were, and
too generally are. supported, and was
a pioneer in contending that minis
tiers were largely to blame for this
state of affairs by not faithfully
teaching the people their duty on this
line. He made a remark TO me once
that marked IN epoch i'm my minis
try. lie said that he had been 4
deacon good many years. and there
was one Important passage of Scrip
ture that he had never heard used
as Il text Cor. a:ll He said he
believed il was a lack of moral cnur-
age 10 perform a delicate duty. Ii
put me TO thinking. and | resolved
10 break the silence He heard me
Preach the first sermon he had ever
| heard from the above text nj a iinion