The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-12-25
A Tribute to BoIes

4 brief notice Of the death OF
Rev. ". II. Bolrs. which occurred
at his home in Alma. Ill.,, Tuesday,
dec. eth. Nss made IN last weeks
MENAcE. Only a telegram an
uouuccd the death and few details
could be given. IL develops that
death was caused from dropsy and
kidney trouble aud attributed 10
the great strain which he has under
gone during the last few years in
his strenuous campaign against
Rum and Romanism.
THE MENACE staff was PERSONAL
" and intimately acquainted with
this great and good man, and while
there are many things We would
like to say about him. his friend
and comrade. John II. Duncan, Of
Marion. H.. has done IL 50 much
better than we could that we quote
few excerpts from his tribute
printed in a recent issue Of local
Marion paper:
W. II. Boles vas patriot. lie loved
his country. The lesson Of tho sixties
sank deep into his soul When a lad Of
only twelve he saw his fathers body
brought home from the battlefield Of Bel
mont, where, under the gallant Logan and
surrounded by his comrades Of the old
5lst Illinois regiment he had she'd his
life's blood. Ne was one Of the early
martyrs 20 the union cause in the western
field, and from that date his son, tao
younger Roles had been a champion Of
the union and a defender Of the tlag. His
last great fght was mad In defense Of
the American flag, the American homC
and American institutions and against
Romanism. lie believed that the priest.
hood Of the Catholic church teaches snU
practices things that are not only men
ace 10 the morals OF the nation, but in
reality are treason against tho govern
ment. The fight he made along this lin'
in many Of the large cities Of the country
will not soon be forgotten by those who
attended his meetings. In this campaign
he again was called upon 20 face tn
mob. lie was assaulted a number Of
times and dragged from the platform.
His life was threatened again and again
and he was in constant danger Of assas
sinatiOn. But the iron nerve Of W. II
Boles never showed 10 better advantage
He deiied the mob. The spirit Of martyr
dom was again in evidence. lie had mad,
up his mind 90 die IL need be in defense
Of a cause he deemed TO be right
In his carly life W. II. Boles felt the
pinch Of poverty. His struggle for an
education that he might be better pre-
pared 10 enter the ministry, caused him
DAYS and years Of bitter self-denial. His
own experience made his soul burn in
sympathy with the poor and the unfor
tunate. It was his great ambition that
at some time in some manner be could
aid materially in the education Of pooi
bows. Above all he had n strong anG
abiding faith in his Maker. He loved his
church with passionate zeal. lie be
lieved the Bible was the inspired word
OF God and had no patience or sympathy
with the higher criticism of the day. ii,
was thoroughly devoted TO his family
Their comfort always called for his best
efforts and he never spared himself. II,
was a man Of pure thoughts and acts
and an Optimist Of high degree. For moTt
than forty years | have known him in
timately, and 1 can never forget his
ringing laugh and cheerful manner, eveL
under the most trying circumstances.
w. II. Boles was my friend and
brother, which fact explains this brief
tribute to his memory.