The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1917-03-24
Charles E. Stump in His
Travels Through the
South Visited Tuskegee
Institute and Had a
Pleasant Interview with
Doctor Robert R. Motion

Jacksonville, Fla.-Strange, yet it j
true, You can never know a man o
how much the people think of him unit
he is dead. That is true in this coun
try, and is not applied to any particu
lar race or people. Those who will sa,
away with him, and will say all man
ner of things about you, will some day
collect around your open grave ant
praise God for your life.
=, This came to me March 18th as
stood over the grave of the late Rev
Matthew W. Gilbert, D. D., pastor of
the First Baptist church, Nashville
Tenn, and heard the man say "Dust
to dust, ashes to ashes," and heard
the dirt fall on the box in which was
encased the casket holding the lifeless
body of that great man. And he was
great man. 1t will be hard to fill his
place. He was great because of his
ability, because of his work, and be-
cause for what he stood in this world
while here, and his name will ever live
in the hearts of the people.
DR.. Gilbert died in Nashville, Tenn,
on March Sth, and was buried here in
Jacksonville, because it is here where
several children are buried and it is
here, where he erected a monument %
years ago in the shape of the Florida
Baptist college, one of the best insti-
tutions in the south for the training
of our children. 1t is a great thing to
leave something in the world, that will
keep alive your name, and the man who
establishes an institution of learning
has done something worth while. This
name will live by the side of the late
Booker T. Washington.
In addition to this, he has left behind
two sons, William Gilbert and Ralph,
and that of course means that the
family name will not die, and then
there is daughter, Miss Ruth Gilbert,
who is a first class stenographer, and
while she may marry, she declares that
she will hold to the name Gilbert. She
was devoted to her father, and loved
him like she loved her own life. The
widow is a woman of much learning
and ability coupled with common sense.
Ministers came from far and near,
to be present at the funeral. Rev.
John E. Ford, formerly of Chicago,
preached the sermon, or delivered the
funeral grafton, and then consigned the
body to mother earth, where it must
until the resurrection morning.
That will be glorious day. He has
lived well his life, and it is an exam
pie for others. 1 will not be able to
enter into details about the funeral this
week, but will let you know that I was
present.
My last letter to you was from the
land of Vardaman, but have jumped
out of Mississippi and 1 am now in the
land of flowers and sunshine, and I
have been doing some riding before 1
got here. For from Aberdeen, Miss,
L went to Montgomery, and saw a
heavy rain storm, and left in the rain
for Demopolis, Ala, a place 1 have
never been before since have been in
the world, but it was a place worth
going and there were things there
worth seeing. Ny people in Demopolis
are doing things, and some of them are
Just helping to put the town on the
nap. For instance Prof. U. S. Jones, |
principal of the public school, as a
worker and educator stands second to
none. Right by his side is to be found
MS wife, who is some educated woman
herself, and is considered one of the
finest musicians in this race. She has |
lot been on the stage, for she got right |
Town to real hard work when she had |
completed her education, and is today |
he director of the music in the public |
schools.
Prof. and Mrs. U. S. Jones, live just |
ike two little children and they are
cal happy. I was indeed delighted to
ook into their faces, ard to see them,
What they were doing for the young |
people. He said that he was glad to
zee me, and of course I was glad to
zee him, and that is some gladness be-
ieve me. The weather got real cold
here, and I did not get out much on
sunday. I got out, but the people did
lot get out, because they stayed close
o the fire, those who had any and the
,eople who did not have fire went visit
ng. 1t caught many unprepared, be-
ause it had been so hot, and the cold
lid not come until Saturday night, and
{ was impossible then to get coal and
vood, and if you did not have it you
.ad to shake or 60 to see your friends.
he churches were without coal, and
While some could borrow, others did
lot. The A. N. E church, had taken