Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-01-29


dead. I met him for the first time on
~ a few months ago. At that brief
meeting there was something of his
inner life that so expressed itself IN
Christian courtesy, that / was drawn
TO him. l have been with him scarcely
more than an hour since l came to
Edgefeld. but I thank my God upon
every remembrance of him. And l
know full well that no words of mine
san add peace to his ashes or sweet
ness to his sleep or beauty to his life
rs he lived that life in the home, in
the community, in the church, in the
State. was with him little but shall
love him long. I talked with him only
= short while, but his every word was
= blessing. For this reason, for this
memory which have of him, for the
friendship which he offered me, may
l be allowed to speak word or so
concerning him whose lips will speak
no more among US?
What l shall write is not eulogy,
but an appreciation and expression
Of gratitude that I had the privilege
of meeting him. My words are not an
attempt at sermon making; his life
has already preached the sermon.
And because he is silent he exhorts
rs with persuasiveness that words
would not strengthen.
How his pastor will miss him, only
: pastor can know. How this town
will miss him, only town that has
lost a man like unto him can know.
How his church will miss him, only
church who has seen the shield Of the
mighty placed aside can know. His
family will miss him as the world
would miss the sun if it failed to
shine.
From my own brief association
with him and from the testimony OF
n1anv, have learned how he was low
ed. 1t has been said that we are pre-
pared for the death of the old. We
can, in a measure, be prepared for
the death of the very young, who are
thereby spared the sorrows and vlcls-
situdes of after life, but it IS hard to
reconcile ourselves to the death OF
those who are taken away in the
very flower of usefulness. But ne
left all that mortal can hope to leave
to posterity and to his family life
well-rounded in its usefulness, beau
tiful in it's simplicity and devotion to
duty; a life that has left no stain up.
on his memory and that is benedic-
tion and consolation to his family and
friends.
Death came suddenly, but it did
not find him unprepared, for all his
life had been a preparation, living
here as to deserve higher and bet
ter life. From what myself knew of
him and from what l learned of him
from the multitudes of enconiums
of others as they spoke to me OF him,
we know that he was among US as
one who served. His spirit was spir-
it of service. He was not a one-sided
man, nor man with but one idea or
virtue. He so blended graces and
good qualities, so combined the
traits and characteristics which dis
tinguish men as to be worthy An
tony's compliment to Brutus:
His life was gentle, and the ele-
ments
So mixed in him, that Nature
might stand up
And say to all the world: This
was man."
His chief virtue was in his moral
influence and Christian manhood.
His life each day l knew him, and du-
ring the days that others had known
him, was an exhibition of truthful
ness. No one doubted him. He was a
forceful exemplar of right living. His
words and acts brought no reflection
on Christianity. We need more like
him who will be faithful in season
and out of season to his church and
it's every activity.
What beautiful monument he
has left! A structure of his own hand.
The heritage of pure and upright
life. The marble shaft erected over
his grave by family and friends may
crumble to earth and be forgotten,
but the influence of his good deeds
will continue like the waves of the
mighty ocean, rolling on till they
break upon the farther shore. His
influence will tend to strengthen and
encourage long after the body has
Ha lyc n