Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-10-28
easetiela Aaper6ser.

Beautiful Tribute to MIR. D. A.
Tompkins. At Funeral in
Charlotte.
Summing up this distinguished
career, DR.. Vines read the virile
and eloquent appreciation sof Mr..
Tompkins by Mr. Richard HI. Ed
monds, editor Of The Manufactur-
.ers' Record, himself said the speak
~er, one of the country's greatest
builders and as distinctly a Chris,
tian man as he Is a builder. Said
Mr.. Edmonds, in telegram to The
Observer;
''It is with profound sorrow that
I have heard of the death of D. A.
sTompkins, whom l knew intimately
for more than quarter of a centu-
ry. In the days when the South
needed great constructive leader
ship to initiate and guide its INDUS
trial life, Tompkins was indeed a
mighty leader. He was one of the
strongest men intellectually that the
south has produced. He was untir-
ing as worker. In those early days
when his activities included the
raising of millions Of capital east
and west for southern enterprises,
the planning and building of many
oil mills. cotton mills and other
enterprises from Carolina to Texas,
~Tompkins lived in sleeping cars,
working day and traxelingby night.
He wrote necessarily about. the
south, he spoke for the south every
where, and in ali sections he was
esteemed a leader of the leaders.
In the invalidism of late years,
though forced to remain quiet
physically, his brain was ever active
in every good work for his coun-
ery's advancement and the better
ment of humanity. Sometime ago
when talking with him, he said he
was simply waiting for the Masters
sail and now the Masters call has
been heard and the south loses one
of the most valued men which God
ever gave to this land. Not until the
passing years permit US to gain a
fair historical perspective will we
be fully able to realize and appre-
.siate the work Of this sterling man,
but, as time rolls on, D. A. Tomp-
kins will loom larger and larger
upon the horizon of the life of the
south"
Mr.. Tonphns' Faith.
perhaps the greatest contribu-
zion which any man leaves is the
record of his faith in God," said
DR.. Vines. 81 suppose that Mr..
sTompkins' faith vas akin to that of
Thomas Jefferson who said, the
sermon on the Mount is the most
sublime code of morals ever given
TO man. II suppose it was akin to the
faith of Daniel Webster, who, when
lying on his death bed, said, My
heart has often assured and re-
assured me that the gospel of Jesus
Christ is divine. The Sermon on the
Mount could not be other than di-
yine.' I suppose his faith was akin
20 that expressed by Abraham Lin
coin who was discovered one day
by a friend in the act of iDtently
atudying the Bible. To his friends
expression of surprise that he should
be so intent upon the Bible, Lin
soln replied, You should know the
Bible, for if you do know the Bible
and accept all it says, either on rea-
son or on faith, you will be hap
pier and a better man"
Mr. Tompkins' Statement.
DR.. Vines then read a letter
written by Mr.. Tompkins to an in
innate friend September 4, 1914, in
which he made his confession of
faith. Said the letter:
II have never been unmindful Of
the Creator nor of His omniscience
or omnipotence. For good reasons
He has withheld from mankind a
full knowledge Of the mysteries Of
His divinity, but for the benefit of
mankind Christ intervened and
atoned for some of these defcien-
eies. Through Him and by faith,
we may or may not, according as
we make an effort. be allowed to
ultimately participate in the perfect
plans of the Creator. I know that |
have not done the best that | might
have done, but with the knowledge
of Christ's atonement, and with
simple faith, my mind and heart
are put at rest on the subject of the