The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
MEMORIAL ID DR.
 EVANS DELIVERED Eloquent Sermon Yesterday by the Rev. Barnwell M USIC IMPRE ESS1VE Hymns and Special Music Loved by Former Rector Are Rendered.
 Sermon Eloquent Tribute to
 Man and Pastor
MUSIC IMPRESSIVE E

A more eloquent, touthihS anu HS felt tribute seldom has been given 10 the memory of mortal man than that Of the Rev. Middleton S. Barnwell at the memorial services held yesterday morn ing at the Church of the Advent for the church's former rector, Dr. w F. Evans. who died recently at his home at Roswell, Va. Beautiful music was rendered by the Advent choir.
 No funeral dirges were included among its numbers but only the hymns and chants, special music, that were the favorites of the beloved rector. A con gregation that filled the spacious edifce listened with the closest attention to the eloquent preacher as he spoke on the life and ministry of the man they had loved so well, and many heart thron was felt when his favorite musical se- leetions were so splendidly rendered by the choir
 Attending the service were many of Dr. Evans friends of other denomina- lions, and some who professed no par tieular creed. All reverently joined the congregation of the Advent in the me
  loved. A large delegation of the mem bers of Birmingham lodge No. 70, Be nevolent Protective order of Elks at tended in body to do honor to the memory of their former chaplain.
 In speaking of Dr. Evans, among oth- CT things, MT. Barnwell said; "I never knew Dr. Evans in life. l never saw l, n hi $ hand, but so vivid is the picture that has been drawn for me by his many friends during the past two years, that l can see him on the street and in the chancel and hear him as he spoke from this pulpit
 MT. Barnwell took his text from Daniel 4. IA: He labored till the goins down of the sum- and said:
 A Man Whom All Loved
 We have come together this morning tt revere the memory of a man whom w' loved The eyes that are closed in deatf cannot see us The ear that death hati stopped cannot hear our spoken words The tired heart that hath ceased itsbeat ing cannot thrill to the appreciation tha' | this day we bring. We have come t' plant the unfading flower of a gratefu memory in the soil beneath which th' mortal body of pr. Evans rests. l pray God there is not one here today wh' | failed in love toward him while yet h' lived. The tongue that can best sing hi praises dead spoke words of comfort an' encourage cement to him while he labore' in our midst The heart that wears tn sombro mourning with a better grace i | the heart to which he never called fo sympathy in vain. The hand that plant the fairest flower on the grave wher ttoday he sleeps IS the hand whose strengt was always his to call upon.
 A service of loving mercy Is all tha we can render to him now, but let II never think that this can take the pac of sympathy in life, When the silve cord that binds heart to heart is loosed when the golden bowl with the treasure of human friendship within Is broken, tn heart that feels the sting of death tn least is the heart that in life was faith full and true And so if there be an, here or elsewhere who failed this man il l life, and who sheds a belated tear ol | the spot where he sleeps, let that man or woman, learn the lesson that life i short. and our hold upon our friends am neighbors uncertain at best and tha l today, while it is yet day the word O i love must be spoken, for the night cometl when we sleep, and cannot awake to hear until God awakes us.
 l It would have been more fitting for man to make this address this morning who knew pr. Evans in life. 1 never did He left Birmingham some weeks before 1 came. l never saw him, nor heard hi
 voice nor clasped his hand It was m! misfortune. My knowledge of the mai | of whom l speak is indirect, and yet, if { | man may be known through his works; a man may be shown through the testi mony of his friends and through the hope i fui, bettered lives that he left behind him :. then I know this man. There is scarce | ly home in the parish into which l hav' gone where his name has not been spoken 1 There is scarcely a man or woman bu who has told me something of his charac | ter and work So vivid Is the picture tha
 has been drawn for me that l can set him on the streets. and the chancel, an' hear him a he spoke from this pulpit. A a strong preacher of the word: as sym pathetic friend; as a laborer in the vine yard of His Heavenly Father, know ant | understand him, and of him in these ca
 pacities do I wish to speak
 Preacher of Gods Word
 As strong preacher of the word 0 God, If Dr. Evans could have chosen hi
 epitaph l believe 1t would have beei this, and scarcely have l known of [ | man who deserved 1t more than he. H.
 
 calling He saw the crying need toda' of men who would not only speak of Got and for God, but who would speak II such compelling tones that the world mus | stoo and hear. He knew we all knov the great work that Gods preachers an' , prophets have ever done. The prophet of Israel were the first great preachers and had Israel hearkened unto them ma tionaI disaster would never lave come Jchn the Baptist was great preacher and his words of timely warning prepar the way for the entrance of the Chris into mems hearts and minds and lives Peter the Hermit was a preacher, and hi l flaming words set fire to the heart o i medieval Europe. and the great cru sades were born of his speech. Savona rola was d preacher. and had his word been heard the reformation need neve | have come Luther, Wesley and Whitfield
 were preachers. and led men by tens 0 l thousands into the truth as they saw it There has never been a great world move 1 ment without it's spokesman and prophet and Dr. Evans desired world move ment back to God, and he was prophe l of that movement in this, it's early sta though its fulfllment he did not live t I see No less that Isaiah; no less tha 1 John and Peter the Hermit and thes i others did Dr. Evans plead for God q Ia vital power in mans daily life. II sought with words of wondrous beaut to renew the incarnation to bring Go Co. h .x...t. int