The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-01-23

needs, special and general. Oh the ChuTch,
and so his word> bad special weight. For
more than twenty years he has conducted
| family worship in his home. This good
service was not an easy one to so modest
| and timid nature as was his. His interest
and sympsthies and his life were positively
on the side of the church and of its work
for the world.
In 1880 Major Cunningham began to
serve as County Court Clerk, filling an un.
expired term being elected by the County
Court After two years period he was
elected County Court Clerk, by popular
vote. From term to term he was reelected
until he had served as clerk for the exc
Naordinary period of twenty-five years 1t
Il ioubtful whether there was better
clerk in the State thanwashe
On May 90. 1900, the Board of Directors
of Maryville College elected him treasurer
and business manager Of the college. and
this Office he has held with conspicuous
ability and fidelity for nearly fourteen years.
He had long been deeply interested in the
College. He himself had been a student.
Four Of his children had taken their entire
preparatory and college courses at the
College. and had graduated from it: Edwin.
in the class Of 1880; Miss Nina, in 1891;
Campbell. in 1894; Clay. in 1900; while
Ben F. completed the course in the prepare.
torv department. The Major himself
served as director Of the institution from
1885 to his death. period Of twentV'nine
years. Ever since Prof. CrawFord's death
in 1891. or for twenty-three years, he has
been recorder Of the Board of Directors.
During his term Of Office the property of
the College has much more than doubled,
and he has had the brunt Of the heavy work
and borne the weiehv burdens involved in
so large financial responsibility And
that work he has dore with tireless industry
| pains taking accuracy. and absolute INTEGRITY
| And so far as we could see. in the discharg
of these duties he has been as clear.h headed
ard wise during the past year as ever;
'hie e, e was rot dim nor his natural force
abated"
He hullt fourteen If the hest wears of his
wor. into the Collepe and his work will
abide
Az citizen or 'te towr If Narvvi1e and
/ nf the County cf Rlcurt he has had q WORTHY
s1a r ontrihrtirc to TIE progress hat
has leen made here Stree the war. And as
a frierd ir reed he has. by timely hep,
aesi eted nany man 10 overcome difficulties
hat were staggering him No mar among
MS has been more appealed TO for re'p in
emergencies, and few. ifapy. have resrord-
ed to more such appeals. His kindly heart
has prompted manv kindly deed, hut he
did not let his left hand know what his
right hand did. He was singularly
re'icert and silent and modest man when
it came TO speaking Of what he himself had
done Tn fourteen wears daily dealing with
him cannot recall even one instance on
his part of what is so frequent with most OF
us.-the recounting Of ones own achieve
| ments.
And this is the man that has gone out
from US to discover in other worlds the
further riches Of his Lord and Master. Oh
how sorely will he be missed BY his widow
/ and his SONS snd the other kinfolk! And
how sorely by all of us, his friends! Should
we permit ourselves to dwell uron the
tender associations that are connected with
our memories of him, and with the empty
chair and The vacant place he has left be.
hind him. we should be unnerved bv grief.
Let us rather rejoice that Major Ben has
had his wish. He did not wish to rust out
or to be laid aside or incapaciated for work
He wanted to work TO the end. He has
his wish. He has stepped out Of lifetime
Of useful work, through only six days o.
suffering-which he bore manfully and
which love greatly mitigated-into an
eternal life that belongs to him through the
gift OF God. When a few years ago his 'on
Edwin arrived at ST. pore he cabled his
father single code word. Upon receiving
the messaa the Major came INTO my office
aud laying the cablegram before me sad:
IL have good news" | read the Single
word.that the cabegram contained: 1t was
the ord, ''Abase," "Why Major that
word "Abase' has an ugly Iook 20 il. |
What good news can there be in NJ "then
he showed me the code book, and ! read
the happy message that was all the lime
the meaning behind that repelling word
"Abase,' and the message from across the
seas was this: 81 have arrived safe and
well after a fair voyage" On Thursday
night. as l watched the Major die, | recall
ed that cablegram and its significance.
How applicable to what was then taking
place in that hospital ward! The disease,
the pain, the approaching death had all
combined to spell the uncanny word !
"Abase," but soon the Angel Of the Lori
came and rescued the struggling soul of our
d ear friend from disease and pain and dis
solution. And then there seemed to come
to me this interpreted message from beyond
the sea of death, from the fair and happy
land where our possessions are, "Abase. ]
have arrived safe and well after fair