The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-22
FORTY-ON EARS'OF SERVICE
FOR REV. NATHANIEL HARDING
Washington, N. C, Today Pays Tribute to Her Best Be
loved Citizen, Preacher end Soldier, Rounding 4s
Year as Rector of St. Peters.
j. A. ARTHUR.

esteem by people of all classes-be
they white or lack-whO would be
that man? AT whose feet could be
laid this wreath of honor? round
whose name could be written in in
effaceable letters this coveted honor?
Tomorrow. f~orty-One years ago. u
young man in clerical garb, with all
the vlSor OF young manhood courSlnS
through his veins. with all requisites
for "a useful career reckoning on
ward, Rev. tina Harding stood
for h first time within the historic
walls of st. Peters Episcopal. this
city. to break the bread of life as an
under-shepherd.
hen he was practically unknown.
as it were; tomorrow, forty-ope years
afterwards. ne can be and is crowned
Washington most popular citizen.
Ali honor, love and admire him.
AS his Sainted father in Israel sits
around the fireside of his home with
retrospective thoughts and visions of
past years and too, enjoying the
scenes OF a happy home, a home
where children and grandchildren
know him best and love him most,
there issues forth from every heart
In Washington congratulations for
him and best wishes. If Gods ideal
of beauty were to nestle and cluS-
ter around his feet, he tonight could
sleep beneath a coverlet of roses and
immortelleS. His sunrise was bright
and suspicious; his afternoon is ra-
diant with the glow of a well-Spent
life and may the zenith of his days
for usefulness be as one grand sweet
melody as he is permitted to wit
ness his life's sunset.
Preacher, Soldier. Citizen.
Preacher. soldier. citizen, his life
has been and is today an open boob
"a living epistle known and e by
all men. We all worship shrine Of
the hero, pay homage and reverence
to the brave and daring but to pos
~ a life such as he, in al It's sweet
ness and purity. - Il caSket of jewels
the worth of which cannot be ap-
proximated. His may not contain the
oratorical gifts of a Phillips Brooks
or a Bishop Pierce but to all who
know him it contains far nor love
for his fellowman and neighbor, a
purity of life, a circumspectiveness Of
Walk-in a word-he is a man, in act,
word and deed.
IL one would learn where the
beauty of life is. seek the home of
the poor and lOwly, inquire of the
beggar by the wayside. Hin work
for his Lord carries with it a glad
and joyous heart. down into the val
ley and too. in the drawing room OF
the affiuent. When the beautiful
birds mate in lovely springtime, he
IS Gods ambassador and when al
nature is ripening into yellow gold
he goeth about doing good an his
works do follow him. The Lowly
Nazarene never committed to earth
a purer soul nor one less spOtless.
A Lad OF the Country.
Nathaniel Harding was born a
C~hocowinity, Beaufort count, Marcel
6, 1S47, and when a mere boy playeJ
and romped beneath the oaks ar
plucked hOneySuckleS, heard the bird
MARBLE their morning and evening
melodies. Here it was that he sat a
the feet of that immaculate spirit
Rev. N. Collin Hughes, receiving hi
training which proved sc useful t
him in after years. Most all Of hi
comrades and playmates of those gol
den days have long since gathered tn
mantle or their couch about them an
sought citizenship into that "Undis
covered Country" They however, a
not forgotten. Their memOr is eve
fresh and green.
A Wide Usefulness.
Since the rectorship of Mr.. Hardin
In Washington what marvelOu
changes have been wrought. He he
seen his church., then weak and small
become strong and vigorous; he ha
ministered to those entering the nal
row vale that divides two eternities
he has committed their loved ones
Sod chamber; he too, has linked tt
gether the %blushing maiden and ga
liant youth-taken the little ines
his arms and blessed them. He he
been the first to wish joy for tt
newly welded and the last to drop
tear Of sympathy over the ashes
their hopes. Truly he is an unde
shepherd. No granite stOn, M
never mark the spot where he slee]
but memory will always keep his Ii
fresh and green in the archive OF
hearts.
High Public Motives.
All are blessed for his large nati
powers SchOoled in the wide expe
fence Of public affairs, for his gent
humor. enriching all whom he touch
ty virtue of which he sheds the j
duence of a wise and beneficent o
sci and character, for after all
Christian is the highest style of mar
Piety toward God is said to be t
surest incentive to the full dischar
OF all duties toward man. the true