The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-06-26
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE
TO LIEUT.. DAVID.

yelling of the memorial tablet to
Lieut.. David on the Citadel Green al
Charleston last Thursday:
1t is a high honor to b he"e to day
and. if in any thinG ! may add 10 ,he
occasion, shall b. delighted beyond
measure.
We are here to memorializa the
name and speak the praise Of one o.
whom we are al justly proud. | have
no fear that Cur words shall carry be-
yond the mark. For as in ancient sac
rifice it WIS required that only the
best be brought 10 the altar, so we
can truly claim that upon the altar
I of our country's honor, in John David,
who we gave oflour best.
B am here to speak a few words
that those of you who knew Lieut..
John II. David might possibly become
better acquainted with him. For nine
years l was his pastor and friend.
Men do not gather grapes OF
throns or figs of thistles." In think
ing on the distinction and honor and
glory attained by this young man
there is no element OF surprise TO
those of us who knew from whence he
sprung. For he was indeed worthy
son of noble parents. In honor of the
living and the dead, let it be said this
man and this woman, standing to-
gether in holy union, have passed
through the fire, and in integrity and
! honor, in patience and fortitude, in
courage and valor they stand forth
pure gold.
There died not long since in st.
Louis a man on whose tomb was plac-
ed this inscription. '"The friendlist
man in all st. LOUIS If l were asked
to name the friendliest man l have
ever known, I should not hesitate to
think of John. He had passion for
friendships and a genius for making
friends.
Mr.. W. A. Blizzard of Dillon took
John and myself on 4 trip through the
County to Asheville. In every town
and city, and we stopped at them all,
John had friends he must see. Far
mp in NORTH Carolina after dark We
lost the way. John volunteered to go
to q nearby farm house for directions.
He stayed longer than our impatieDce
said was necessary. He came back
with the desired information and al
so a fairly full report Of the family
history and to tell of the fine girl he
met.
John was thoroughly dem0cratic.
To every one, old and young, high
and low, white and colored he was the
ivery embodiment OF friendliness and
good cheer. AS a natural result, few
men of his years ever had so many
friends and acquaintance.
John David was gentleman. Not
the slightest suggestion Of word Of
reproach against his good name ever
entered my ears.
John David was a Christian. De-
spite youthful immaturity and mex
IperienCe, he gave US good reason to-
know that he loved the Lord. And
We had high hopes that when the
time came he would be prepared to
take the place Of his honored father,
a pillar in the church and a tower Of
strength in every good case.
When tie war clOuus gathered on
I our Mexican border, knowing johns
spirit and temper, wondered that he
was not. tEe.. among the first 10 VOL
unteer. With mingled feelings OF sur
prise and admiration, we learned, and
that not until after his death, that
al this tine the brave boy was eE-
ic:ti-g every influence =. lis comma.
TO rcaoyc the obstacle OF physical
defect, that gave him III honor
able exemption and almost absolute
!ly debared him from military ser
vice.
Oar hero went il>o thi- war real
.zlES che great issues AT s.,Ae. H.
did rot have to go. DU. nc HeaIG
= the clear call OF du.y all ne craycd
tic honor OF gOu1.
am persuaded that lie, a. id
lEIay OF his friends, felt in his SOU
ltnaC he went never to return. SO
cerJain was / that l should never
again look upon his handsome lace,
that ! could. not bear taHe formal
leave Of him, not wishing my person
al sorrow make harder his going. But
had he known it all, we are assured
that this would not have changed his
going Il single moment. His was q
willing, joyous sacrifice.
These are great days when our
boys are coming marching home vic
torious. Among all the thousands can
you think CT one who would have a
bigger, gladder, happier time than
John David? We arouse ourselves as
from a dream and question, rs. il
really true that he is not among
them?" Ii is all 100 true. How we
miss him!
But we are not here today for the
purpose OF expressing to the devoted
father and mother and family our
sorrow and sympathy, sincere and
deep though it be; but rather do we
bring our felicitation and congratula-
ton upon the honor which is theirs of
having had such a son and Of giving
to cause so holy. And we join them
lin the steadfast hope OF the blessed
lreunion in that bright land, where