Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-04-04

had filled every Office in the subordi-
nate lodge, and had also been honored
by the State Grand Lodge, having been
elected State Grand Master in 1874. A
few years ago he was presented with a
very beautiful jewel as a Past Grand
Master. AT the time of his death he
was the senior Grand Master of the
State. He was devoted to the order
and was recognized as one of its most
influential members.
Mr.. Rentch will be greatly missed in
this community, where he has been a
familiar figure to several generations
streets daily for so many years. he
was a man of kind heart and gentle
disposition, and was charitable IN
thought and action. His life was an
exemplary one and his influence was
ever eXerted for good. Interested al
ways in public affairs, he did what he
could for the right sort of progressive
ness and for civic, social and moral
betterment. AS a magistrate he was
just, yet inclined to mercy; as a church
man. he was devoted and consistent; as
a citizen he was upright in all his ways,
the supporter of every movement for
the welfare of the people. Many friends
will hold him in affectionate remem-
brance and cherish the memory Of his
kindly deeds and good works.
The funeral service was held last
Sunday afternoon, being conducted by
his pastor, Rev. S. L. Fllckinger, in the
Reformed Church. The church was
filled with large congregation from
the town and country who had gathered
to pay their last tribute of respect to
the venerable man. The body was laid
to rest in the family lot in the Reform
ed Cemetery, of which Mr.. Rentch had
been manager for many years. The
pallbearerS were fellow-memberS of the
consistory: F. X. McQuilkin, c. J.
Miller, H. L. Lyme, James P. Staley,
Joseph L. Cookus and Lewis J. Nc
Donald.
Although the Civil War has been
ended for So years, Mr. Rentch was
above the age for service in that great
conflict, and so was a non-combatant.
But his sympathies for the Southern
cause got him into trouble many times,
and he was arrested by the Union
forces on a number of occasions, while
the stock of goods in his store was often
looted. The most serious episode that
befell him during the war was when he
was arrested and taken TO Fort Nc
Henry at Baltimore. Mr.. Rentch had
caused a handsome suit of Confederate
grey cloth, manufactured at the wooden
mill here, to be made up, and he pre-
scented it to General Jeb Stuart, the
dashing Confederate cavalryman. Cen
sent it to him by Andrew Lapole, a
noted spy from this section who had
given the Union forces a great deal of
trouble. Before he delivered the letter
Lapole went to the Maryland side of the
river, opposite Shepherdstown, where
he shot and killed Edward Entler, the
ferryman. He was arrested for this
offense and the letter from General
Stuart to Mr.. Rentch was found on his
person. The army authorities jumped
to the conclusion that Mr.. Rentch was
mixed up with LapOle in his spying
operations and they took him in charge
also. They forced him to 90 to Balti-
more, making him walk the entire dis
lance, and when he arrived in that city
he was thoroughly exhausted. He was
confined in Fort McHenry, where La
pole was also imprisoned. Just before
Lapoie was hung for the killing of
Entler he saw Mr.. Rentch, and called
out to him: "You had better try to get
out of here pretty soon, or they will
hang you too" Mr.. Rentch was natur-
ally a good deal alarmed, and as there
was but scant justice used by the mill
tary authorities, he invoked powerful
friends in the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, to which he belonged, who
interested themselves in his case and
eventually succeeded in having him set
free. 1t was acknowledged, however,
that he had very close call for his life,
for in those times suspicion was often
made to serve the purpose of evidence.
Retaining his strength and vitality
of mind and body to such an unusual
degree, Mr.. Rentch had cherished the
hope that he might live to round out the
full century, and he often spoke of his
desire to live to be hundred years old.
After the present great world war be-
came such widespread calamity, he
desSed that he might live to see it
ended and peace come again upon the
earth. These wishes were denied him,
but he did not complain. Recently
when he realized that his time here was
growing short he fixed his thoughts
upon heavenly things, and that he was
ready and willing 10 answer his Masters
summons was shown by one of his last
utterances, when, little while before
he died, he called out clearly and feel
ingly, Come, Lord Jesus; come quick
lvl"