Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-04-21
MEMORIAL.

Gndr1d, a cOIllilfttcS SStts49 eihS VI
James R. Mansfield, Robert II. Cox,
and c. E. Nfcol, YVES appointed to
prepare brief memorial of the life
and labors of Adam Martin, Senior
Deacon of. this Church, and resolu-
tons concerning his !amented death.
In fuifillment of that duty the COM
nittee reports the following:
Memorial.
AdsIrI Martin was born on March
5th, 1929, in Jedburgh, Scotland, THAT
CITY being distant about twenty miles
from Edinburgh, much larger ana
more famous city. He was Of Scotch
PRESBYTERIAN stock, his father being
an elder in the Presbyterian church
of .Jedburgh, but he never joined that
|: church. In his young manhood ne left
his native land, and came to the Unit
ed States. That was in the year 1852,
he then being twenty-three years OF
age. He located in Philadelphia,
where he carried on the business of
merchant tailoring for two years.
he having learned the tailor's trades
in Scotland. After a residence of
two wears in Philadelphia ne
removed to Mullica HILL, Glouchester
county, New Jersey, where ne resided
some four years. During his residence
b. Mullica Hill, he met Miss Ann
Burning, formerly of England, but
then Ewing at Mullica Hill. Miss Bun
ming had Joined the Baptist Church in
England, and removed to America
when about sixteen years of age. MIR.
Martin and Miss Burning were Eriar-
,ied on September 25th, 1865, in
Philadelphia, by Rev. DR.. Levy, Bap-
t:st minister The marriage proved
TO be ideal. From the day of their
marriage to the day when Mr.. Martin
tell on Sleep, love, trlutual sympa-
thy and blessings blessed that
home. Within its sacred precincts
reigned that peace and JOY, which is
foretaste of heaven. What a contrast
IS that sweet and lovely home life,
10 the anx:eties, burdens and suspi-
cjons of modern life, in many homes
where elegance and splendor abound,
but the joy of the Christian life is
absent? If the ideal, Christian life
IF the Martin home could be realized
N every household in this vast land,
the problems which burden am
thre2ten society, woul1 vanish.
When Mr.. Martin was married he
was a member of no church. How
ever, in 1856. he was converted and
united with the Baptist Church al
Mullica Hill, New Jersey. In 1859,
Mr.. Martin moved frctrl New Jersey
TO Virginia. He came with the three
Snowden brothers, all of whom were
| Quakers. and settled near Mount
Vernon in Fairfax county, where he
engaged in farming. He was fond
Of birds, flowers and the pleasures OF
country life. He lived in Fairfax
county at different places, over forty
years. In 1900 he moved to AleXan-
ria. where he reside':, until his
| death.
Mr. Martin came to Virginia in
| 1859, unconscious that the clouds of
| the Civil War would soon darken this
section. During that period Mr.. Mar
| tin miristered to the SICK and dying.
After working in the fields ali cay he
would often at night carry the glad
tidngs of Gospel to some sick or dying
person in his neighborhood. When
| the churches Of the country were
| :los.'j during the war, he carrie on
! Sunday school every Sunday morning
at his home, and conducte3 prayer
meeting there every Sunday night.
In 1868, during the pastorate OF
| DR.. C. c. Biting, Mr.. Martin became
a member of the F;rst BaE'tiSt
Church Of Alexandria, where his mem
bership remained, until he went to his
| Heavenly reward About twenty
years ago he became deacon in this
| church, and at the time of his death
was the senior deacon, IN point OF
! wears in service. In the discharge Of
| MS duties, as deacon he was Most
Kind, consi:erate and courteous. No
| member, however humble, would ever
hesitate to unfold his views and wish
es to him, confident that he would re-
ceive la sympathetic hearing, and that
his wish could be gratified, If proper
and within his power.
He was loyal friend and sup
porter of his pastor His kindly SYM
| pathy and interest," III tie III ehI
! pastors, who served this church dur
| ing his membership was to them an
inspiration anti blessing. In counsel,
as deacon he was wise, in the dis
charge OF. every duty. active in mat
tiers rot involving principle, yield
ing and accommodating, in his views,
but IN matters involving the essentials
Of faith and doctrine, as understood
and taught by the Baptists, he was
Hl!movable.
His life was an inspiration, 5N1d
blessing to this church,-not by rea-
son of wealth,-not by reason of elo-
quence,-not by reason of profound
,earning,-not by reason of any other
quality that alorns human character,
but by the reason Of his simple, child
like faith in his Divine Lord and Mas
Ter Of whom he had caught Il large
and continuing vision.-Isi vision that
made his countenancc to sh:ne,-a
vision that made his walk straight
and unerring in the path of right, a
vision that made the journey, as it
grew to the end, seem glorious and
L