The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-08-07

than was expressed by the public at
the funeral of w NJ. Conner Wednes-
day afternoon.
The First Baptist church, where the
services were held, did not near afford
room for all who were present. Long
before the appoiRted hour, that por-
tion of the church not reserved was
filled, and later every foot even of
standing room, was taken, and men
and women stood in reverent respect
during the two hours service, partici-
pated in the only three pastors Mr..
Conner ever had during his 81 years
of active life-Rey L. E. Hall, Rev
J. n .McMillin and Rev. l. P. Trotter
After the services at the church the
body was followed to the grave by
the longest procession of people ever
seen at funeral in this city. The
interment was with the ceremony OF
the Blue Lodge of Masons, led by three
past grand masters, Capt. Frank Bur
kett, of Okolona; Ed. Martin, of Me-
ridian, and H. c, Yawn, of Lumberton
Mr.. Trotter, who was for the last
twelve years Mr.. Corners pastor, re-
ferred feelingly to the bonds that
bound them in mutual love and friend
ship, and gave a short review of the
life of the deceased. He stated that
w. M. Conner was born October 8,
1855, near Kosciusko. in Alfalfa County,
Mississippi; married Miss Dean Sen
nett, at Macon, Miss, in June, 1882,
who, together with three sons and one
daughter, survive him; moved to Hat
tiesburg in 1885, where he has since
resided was converted and joined the
Baptist church, under Rev. l.. E. Hall
in March, 1886; was elected superin
tendent of the Sunday school the fol
lowing month, and shortly thereafter
deacon and church treasurer, all OF
which positions he filled with fidelity
to the day of his death.
Mr.. Hall spoke at considerable
length and took the life and character
of Mr.. Conner as a subject for a very
earnest sermon to those present, t.
whom he presented in forceful Ian
guage every phase of the mans life
saying that in describing his charac
ter he desired to do so with perfec
fidelity to truth.
Speaking of Mr.. Conner as bust
ness man, Mr.. Hall said, che was on
whose life had touched the lives o
many, and not only did he succeed
himself, but contributed to the success
of many others and was factor il
the building of one of the largest an
most useful institutions in the cit
and the southland. Conservatism wa
his watchword, but his conservatism
did not take the form it does wit
those who never did anything to bull
up their community He did not boar
his wealth, he used it; and in doin
so helped others while helping himsel
He was safe in counsel and prudent i
conduct He was strict in the pc
Torrance of duty and eXacting in hi
demands upon others. He did rigt
and wanted others to do right"
t'As a Mason he was faithful to hi
vows. and his fidelity brought him tn
highest honors of the order, but /
all his christian life he never neglec
ed his church for his lodge. He neve
subscribed to the doctrine that VI;
sonry or any fraternity was as goo
as the Church of Jesus Christ |
his associations with lodge and churc
he recognized the office of each an
never faltered in his duty to either"
Mr.. Hall spoke Of him as a fathe
as a husband and as citizen, in a
of which relations he measured full
up to his ideals, which were exalted
that which is right and not that whic
is expedient was their basis.
1t was as a christian that Mr.. Ha
saw in Mr. Conner the highest mea.
ure of excellence. The speaker sal
one reason for this was that he starte
- It. He studied the Bible and kney
IT, -. 'chings, and always insiste'
49, -, ing its manifest interpreta
tion anssA he applied rigidly an,
~,,,h... ox.s,, omise.
Men ldfffered with him in bis idea
of church diseiysisA ; but the speaker
declared VITA ,sutses> is that the dif
ference was almost IN a'iaoV tn'
difference between right y ma wrong
with the right on Mr.. ConnAers sue
Mr.. Yawn was apt in the p rase'
used in speaking of Mr.. Conner n
Mason. ana member of the grand bod
les of the order, saying it was with