The log cabin Democrat., 1914-02-05
GOV. D0NAChfY
PAYS A TRIBUTE
TO LATE DR.. bICKERSON
GIVES INSIGHT TO FINE CHAR
ACTER OF HIS DEPARTED
FRIEND.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:

pecaile acquainted with Dr. u ID
Dlckerson in the early part Of 1881
we were then both young men and
unmarried DIR. Dickerson had inst
come to Conway TO build up q practice
IN his chosen profession. ! was work
ing at the carpenters trade.
From our first meeting there grew
up between us a lasting friendship.
we were both poor and were specu-
iators In the future of CONWAY and in
our own abilities to make good in
grasping the opportunities which
might come our way.
One of the incidents which bronuht
US together quite often and bound our
friendship still stronger was that eopr
brldes-to-he were associated together
about as closely as were We. They
were with each other nearly al the
time and by their permission we usu-
ally called together 10 see them In
due time these two young ladies be-
came our wives, the difference in
dates of marriage being only a few
months. Another matter which hound
US together was that during this as
soclation / undertook the task of msI-
terlng the secrets Of Free Masonry
and after having been elected q randi
date, DIR. Dickerson became nv lee
turer- He took great pains ia inpart-
ing to NE the legend of the degrees of
Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft. and
Master Mason To him this sacred
pleasure To me it was profoundly
sublime The sublimity Of is known
by many, but the sincerity coupled
with the depth of intellect and hnowl-
edge of this lecturer made an impress
sion upon my mind which has lasted
and lighted my life for al 1.-THE wears
since.
Again upon one occasion Dr.. Dick
erson was employed as Z civil en-
gineer, for he was good one. to Law
out and plat THE town of Sugar Loaf
Springs, nOw called Heber Springs.
He insisted that | 90 with him to helm
IN the work / was glad to accept the
opportunity, for ] loved 10 be with
him., We spent several weeks In do
ing this work, which the people of
that now prosperous little city can: at
test how well DR.. Diekerson per-
formed.
Long before my own marriage |
had bought a Bttle lot on Z then far
hack street in the town OF Conway.
As soon as married ] moved nv wife
iflto the nearest vacant house 10 this
little lot, for l. intended as soon as |
could to build on it. But we were not
content to build and live there alone.
We wanted DR.. Dickerson and his
wife to come and live near US, and we
got them to buy hot by the side of
ours Upon it they built home. the
same one in which he died a few days
ago. He bowed this home, | believe. as
much the day he died as he did the
day he bought it. Afterwards sold
to him the lot which i owned beside
this, in order that he might have more
room, and bought another nearby.
where l built a home for myself.
After the establishment of our homes
we lived for many years as neighbors,
Cur friendship brought us together
the most of our spare moments, and
from such an association / believe
that | knew Dr. D-cilerson as no other
man knew him.
l listened to the sermon preached
at his funeral, and to my own knowl-
edge every word spoken of his good
deeds was literal truth. Dr. Steel
stated with great force the things he
knew to be true. All that he said
was true; but he had not the knowl-
edge of all the truth, nor could he
have taken the time to tell all the
truth if he had known it. But if it
were reduced to writing what was
said by DR.. Steel would make a bio
graphical history of which the many
friends of DR.. Dickerson would be
proud to read and keep.
DR.. Diekerson had as strong con-
victions as any man ! ever knew, and
he was unyielding in the possession of
them when once convinced that he was
right, but no matter how much oppos-
ed to those of other men, he was too
dignified and too respectful of their
feelings to give the least offense be-
cause of the difference of opinion ex-
listing between them. He loved all Of
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