The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1915-02-10
OBITUARY


Lyle Smith, from an attack Of pleu-
ratio grippe, and was surrounded
by every attention and comfort,
which loving hearts and hands could
give.
He was born in this county, July
s, 1884, one mile from Mt. Sterling,
at what is now known as the Roger
Gatewood place, but at that time
the residence of his father, Robert
Thompson Smith, and for long
time afterward, the residence OF
Major HALEY Smith, his brother.
For many years Bob" Smith was
one of the unique personalities OF
this city, and according to his means
was a greater philanthropist than
either Carnegie or Rockefeller, for
his philanthropies we're always at
first hand, the manner of the giving,
being as great a source Of joy as
the gift.
He was certainly one of the bless
ed ones, whom Christ had in mind
when He said, 81 was naked and we
clothed me; was sick and we visit
ed me; l was in prison and We came
unto me-" and like Abou ben Adam
he could have demanded that the
Angel should write him down as one
who loved his fellow men.
His creed was "To visit the faith
erless and widows in their affliction,"
and if he was short on doctrine he
was long on doing, for he believed
in practice, rather than a precept,
and his gospel was ever gospel OF
works-nor could contagion or in
lection in its most appalling form
deter him from his ministry.
In the cottage meetings in revival
times, his homely talks were always
to the point, and his prayers of q
character to compel the Angels &c
"sit up and take notice"
With all his oddities and eccen--
tricities, he was ever welcome
guest whenever want and distress
lurked in the shadows, for, though
his life was no holiday affair, he al
ways carried a little extra sunshine
around with him, enough in fact to
tighten up other folks bit.
He was not rich as men ordinar-
lily count wealth but he was ever
ready to share what he had with
others and with it went love, con-
tentment and joy in Christ, for who
so-ever shares with men shares al
so with God.
Though he lived and died a bach
elor, he was truly Father in the
broad Catholic sense, as he gave
literally of his time and money in
helping needy young men, contrib
uting largely to the education of not
few Of them, and when we con-
template how very much he did with
the little at his commando makes
some of the so-called generous ones
Of today seem niggardly indeed. l
knew him we'll and loved him, his
quaint sayings and queer conceits
have been a source of perennial
pleasure. Meeting him one day af-
ter he had been absent from the city
two years or more and passing him
absent -mindedly with but q casual
greeting-astOunded, he stopped me,
saying, "for the Lords sake, pre-
tend that you are glad to see me,
whether you have missed me from
the town or not, and try and remem-
Der that the fellow who has been
away, has been thinking of you and
the old town, through all the long,
dull, weary months, and returns des-
perately hungry for a prodigaps re-
ception." | have never forgotten
his injunction and my prayer now is,
that he shall receive such a joyous
and spontaneous welcome to his.
eternal Home, that he shall never re-
call single careless or Indifferent
greeting that met him here.
'Rejoice if in the Book Of Life thy
name is spelled;
IL in thy thought a dream is held