The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-02-21
REV. ELLIS TRIBUTE TO CAPT.
HUTCHCRAFT.
Continued from Page 81

in so many hard fought battles, and
who were following him just as
faithfully when he fell He fell, as
we have said, within twenty feet of
the foe, forging his way forward and
leading his men to victory, and the
world-hated Hun Kissed for joy
when he saw our gallant leader bite
the dust. But boast not, oh, thou
demon of the pit, if our hero is dead
the principles he advocated live.
ELISHA may be buried, but we keep
his grave open and we shall let down |
the cause for which he fought and |
bled and died until touching his
bones, and those of other heroes like
him, it shall spring up with tenfold
power and go forth for the conquest
) of the world.
This most splendid young man
; has been taken from us and taken
without warning when our hope was
f1rmest and his prospect of useful
ness and prosperity were to human
, eyes unclouded. And we sorrow
.. that such a life should be brought to
such an untimely end. But ought we
to think it short?
In the best sense his life was long.
To be the center Of so many inf1u-
enCcS LUZ W dWdkcu IuIOuSu 81
large a circle sentiments of affection
Q and esteem; to hear such strong tes-
timony to the reality of religion; to
:, exalt the standard Of youthful char
acter; to adorn a profession to which
. the administration Of public justice
and the care of our civil institutions;
: are peculiarly confined; to uphold
: and strengthen youthful associations,
L to live in the hearts of friends and to
die on the battlefields of France
u fighting for the liberty of the world,
} to pass out amidst such general,
deep, unaffected lamentation, surely
l. these are not evidences Of brief ex
istence.
But the pathos of it all is, that as
we write his epitaph it must be done
% in thoughts that breathe and words
;, that burn" that "as Christ died to
q make men happy" so he died to
l. make men free and the personal
touch we must give to it Is this, "he
70 died for me-"
y. 1t is grand thing to serve ones
# country. There is not an English
~ man whose heart does not thrill at
NJ the name Of Havelock, brave for
Christ and brave for the English
= cult point to take the officers would
say, Bring out the saints of old
II Havelock" think II Paul had gone
into military service he would have
eclipsed the heroism of the Caesars
and the Alexanders and the Napole.
II ons of the world by his bravery and
enthusiasm. There is a time to be
II at peace and there is time where q
II Christian has to fight. 1 do MOI
II know of grave or Drawer thing thar
II for a young man, when 1t is demand
II ed Of him, to turn to his country, 81
II forth to camp and field and carnage
u and martyrdom.
ed Such was the spirit of our gallan
ID lyoung hero, Capt. Reuben Hutch
,et craft, Jr. Ever ready to answer hi
nd country's call. Never swerving from
m the path Of duty. And at last giving
dv his life in service for others.
tie The loving son, the gentle brother
h the loyal friend, the Christian states
no man, the gallant soldier Is dead
to Dead? Oh, no. not dead. He lives
hit and it seems to me as II coul,
lily almost see him standing this after
or noon on the battlements of glory
y waving in triumph. calling down t
an noon, and we wave back to him, hal
ransomed spirit, hallelujah!
o, bereft souls, be comforted! 7
= have had such a son and such
brother and such friend is homo
enough for one family.
I am confident that when you pas
over the river he will be waiting to
you. Waiting at the foot of tn
throne, waiting under the tree OF life
waiting on the banks Of the rive
and the grief and sorrow Of to-da
will be swallowed up in the Joy @
that reunion and heavenly reception
Until then, oh blessed spirit Of Cap
Hutchcraft, farewell! We can affor
to wait for such a grand reunion.
In the present imperfect conditio
of human nature truth almost cor
tinually forbids US to give expressio
to feelings Of admiration and low
and forces us to dispense our praiH
with a great deal OF restraint an
measured liberality. What a comfor
to meet a character like this who's
merit spares us the pain OF maxim
deductions from its virtues.
He leaves us higher consolatio
than any dying statement which b
might have made in the memory {
his blameleSS and Well-Spent lie.
One day we shall lift NOR
ument to mark his last resting plac
in our silent city Of the dead-pel
haps a plain white shaft. Deep Gu
in its marble side will be his nam'
dear to you above the names Of me
the name of a brave and gallan
soldier who died for noble Gauss
And not for all the glories of TIL
world would you exchange the heri
age he has left you in his soldier
death. To the foot Of that shaft tn
children and grandchildren by thu
name shall go to reverence him WI
ennobled their name with his hero
blood. And speaking from tt
shadow Of that memory which 20
honor as you do nothing else 9
earth, let me say. that the cause
which he suffered and for which
gave his life was the cause OF &c