Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-02-05
Rev. A. L. Gunter Pays Tribute
to Senator Nicholson.

Kew. "A. l.. 1unCer rays lFiDutS
to Senator Nicholson.
My love for my departed brother
and friend, Hon. B. E. Nicholson,
constrains me to add word to the
many beautiful and truthful tributes
that have been written. 1 feel that
volumes could be written and yet
there would be no need for extrava-
CANT language.
Others who have known him long
er and more intimately in business
and professional way may write of
him as lawyer, statesman, business
man and citizen. I am sure that ne
so conducted himself in all these
spheres as to gain and hold the ut
most confidence of every one that
knew him. do not believe a living
soul can say aught against his good
name or bring the slightest reproa1h
against his spotless character. He so
loved the truth and the right as to
add generosity to justice in all his
dealings. He would suffer wrong at
any time rather than be unjust or un-
kind.
In these recent strenuous days he
gave Of his valuable time without
stint or limit in leading the various
campaigns for war purposes, but the
thing that appealed to me most in
connection with this is that he never
turned deaf ear to any one who
came seeking help or information in
regard to the war and it's demands.
He patiently and gladly assisted
many anxious parents and friends .of
soldiers, white and black, in giving
advice. writing letters, securing in
formation and in rendering any as
sistance possible; these things he u
suf;ly die to the aeglect of his own
financial anG business interests.
i For more than three years it has
been my joy and privilege to be as
sociated with Brother Nicholson in
the work of the Church and King
dom. It is here that you may learn
the secret of this truly good and
great n. ans life. First and foremost,
he was a Christian. 1t is my convic-
ton that This earth can seldom boast
of truer follower of the Lord. He
found the strength and beauty of his
life and character in his faithful
practice of the religion he professed;
and with him it was more of a prac-
tice than a profession. Every day,
every hour, he tried to live so as to
please God. No wonder he could say,
81 am ready to die, l do not fear
death"
In his going the Methodist Church
locally and connectionally, has lost
;one of her most consecrated and
faithful officials. At the time of his
death, Brother Nicholson was Chair
man of the Board of Stewards, Chair
man of the Board of Trustees, Sun
day School Superintndent and Treas
urer of the Church. This means that
upon him fell the weight of respon-
sibility in all church affairs. More
over, it meant that he had wonder
full opportunity to serve his fellow
men and his God. How we'll did he
measure up to both! Brother Nichol-
son was busy man too, far too busy
for his own good, and yet he was new
er busy enough to neglect any inter-
est Of the church or fail to be in his
place on Sunday, unless sickness or
religious duties called him away.
When he found that he could not be
at church on Sunday, he would notify
me ahead of time and tell me the rea-
son of his absence. How few there
are who reach his measure of faith
fulness! Only pastor knows how to
appreciate such man. He was man
who attended to the least details in
his official duties, and therefore a
pastor could feel sure that every in
terest committed to him would be
carefully and punctually attended
to.
One characteristic of his life was
his Christian optimism. The way new
er grew so dark but that he could
sec. the light, nor did the burdens and
Obligations of his family life ever
cause him to grow morbid. He was
always ready to go forward with any