Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-02-12
Tribute to Rev. A. B. Bourquard.

February 5, 1914.
The large audience present on Sun
day afternoon, at two O'Clock, at the
funeral services of Rev. A. B. Bour-
guard, attested the high regard in
which he was held in this community.
Rev. c. C. Elson, the pastor, was IN
charge. The choir sang beautifully,
Heaven For Me, 3" "If on Quiet Sea"
and 'The Home of the Soul. " The
Rev. W. F. Tomlinson, District Super
intendent of the Patteville District,
West Wisconsin Conference, made the
principal address. Rev. w. A. Thomas,
of Buchtel, Ohio, spoke briefly of early
association with his deceased friend in
evangelistic work and seminary life.
The memoir was read by Mr.. Elson,
who followed the same with few re-
marks. The Memoir follows:
Alexander Burford, fourth child of
Edward and Susan Bourquard, was
born in Ripley county, Virginia, June
z, 1877. Until he was about twenty
years old his life was spent in the
South, chiefly in Virginia and Georgia.
He then came to Marietta, spending a
year in Marietta College. The next
year he attended the Moody Institute
in Chicago and the four following years
was a student in Ohio University at
Athens, going from there to Drew
Theological Seminary, where he took
the full course graduating in May, 1908.
All these years in school were years
Of struggle, He began making his own
way in life when only fifteen, and when
he determined to get an education he
had at the same time to support him
self and those dependent on him. The
fact that he thus came TO know the
meaning of self-denial and hardship
helped him in later years 10 close
sympathy with struggling humanity and
enabled him to influence men powerful
ly toward the faith that sustained him.
Brother Bourquard was married to
Miss Margaret Bergen on Dec. %, 1898.
Into this happy home thus established
have come five children, one boy and
four girls. In addition to these mem
bers of his own family, one sister sur
wives, Evangelist Miss D. Villa Caffray.
Religion, with our brother, was not a
thing apart from the main channel Of
his life, but permeated and dominated
it all When about ten years Of age he
attended a service when Sam Jones
preached The baptism of an infant at
that service seemed to touch him deep
ly, and when he went home he said to
his mother Mamma, | gave my heart
to Jesus today, and when l get to be a
man m going to be preacher. " Lat
er, when he was nearly eighteen in
connection with revival conducted by
B. Fay Mills in Winchester, Va, his
religious life was greatly deepened and
he received spirit baptism that made
him AN aggressive Christian worker.
Soon afterpard he served as assistant
secretary Of the Y. M. G. A, in Stan
ton, Va.
II was while he was member of the
Marietta, Ohio, church, during the pas
torate Of Rev. Herbert Scott, that he
was licensed to preach, and from this
church he was recommended to the
Ohio Conference Of the thodst Epis
copal church for che regular ministry.
He was received on trial IN 1902, was
received into fun membership in the
conference and ordained deacon by
Bishop Moore AZ Columbus in 1905, and
was ordained elder in the chapel OF
Drew Seminary by Bishop Goodsell in
1907
While attending Ohio Unworthy,
Brother Bourquurd began his minister
ial work, serving one year at Jersey
VILE, two az Marshfeid ana one at
Reedswlle. During this last year he
also supplied Central Avenue church,
Anthems, and led them in the building
of Sc, 900 edifce. He next supplied
Stockholm, N j., three years while at
tending Drew, returning to Shawnee,
Ohio, in May, 1908. Hoping that the
climate farther north might help him
to improved health, in the fall of 1909
ne transferred to the West Wisconsin
Conference, serving New Lisbon two
years and Mineral Point two years.
Brother Bourquard's ministry was
one of unusual truitfuness. Several
churches and parsonages were either
built or remodeled under his leadership.
Gracious revivals were given him in all
his pastorates and he was much in de-
mand to assist in evangeiistic work.
His attractive personality, quite, cheer
ful. cordial kind, lovable gave him
peculiar power with all classes of peo-
pie. lie was quite and unassuming, yet
rare leader of men. AS a preacher,
interest in his subject never betrayed
him into losing sight Of people The
human interest, the passion for souls,