Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-09-17
A Tribute to L. H. Bledsoe.

A Tribute to L. H. Bledsoe.
1t has been said that the living
should deal tenderly with the dead
Be that as it may, I come with un
covered head to lay a bouquet Of
flowers on the ne7v made grave Of
my friend, Law lce Howard Bled
soc, who died Is home, Septem
Der 9, 1919. "a, they be kept there
by the mifaty power Of gravitation
may they De sprayed with the gentle
dews of heaven, may the sun paint
their tiny petals with all the beauty
of nature,may the happy vision that
so charmed the sweet singer of Is
rael rest as benediction upon the
memory of L. H. Bledsoe forever.
In early life he united with the
Methodist church and lived a con-
sistent Christian. In life he was pa
tient, kind, generous, sincere, wear
ing the ornaments of meek and
gentle spirit. Like the beautiful
clouds at sunset, he will reflect rays
from Christ, fair and full Of peace,
and could say with Paul, 81 have
fought good fight, 1 have kept the
faith" For several years Mr.. Bled-
soc had been in very poor health, so
much so that he had not been able
to attend his church.
/ have known him a half century.
We have been warm friends that
long. The power of forming firm
friendship continues in true hearted
people to age and feebleness. Our
friendship began in boyhood and it
lasted until that faithful heart ceas-
ed to beat. His devotion to his family
was beautiful and his love for his
friends sincere.
He will be missed in the home.
Words are too common to express
that. 1t is like tearing off an arm on
which the family loved to lean. But
these things go into the most secret
place of the soul, to dwell, there
while life and being continue. But
we can shed tears with those who
are loaded down with grief. There
lis sadness in tears. They are mes
sages of overwhelming grief OF uns
speakable love. There. is pleasure
in tears, an awful pleasure.
Mr.. Bledsoe was a man of strong
convictions, based upon the high
standards of truth, honesty and vir-
tue, he had an abiding faith in
Christ and sweet hope. He was rich
in the currency of heaven, and dy-
ing, behind the sweet fragrance
of a re, Christian character. His
tranquil life was an inspiration to
those who knew him best. AS the
gentle stream gives verdure and
beauty to meadow and forest
through which it flows, so his life,
unselfish, tender in its sympathies,
often sparkling with humor that had
no sting of malice in it, was bene-
diction to all who came within its
influence and was always ready to
throw the mantle Of charity over the
faults of others. He could say with
Plato,
"Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;
The mercy to others show,
That mercy show to me-"
His children bear the impress of
his character in the integrity of their
manhood and womanhood.
AS death kissed down his eyelids,
his warfare ended, his armor was
laid aside, the victory was won and
his memory blessed. For a man to
live we'll, die we'll and leave the
wealth of an untarnished character
to the loved ones who linger behind.
is a grand consummation-this can
be said of my friend.
Bright summer sun, shine gently
here,
Soft Southern winds, blow lightly
here,
Green sod above, lie light, lie light,
Goodnight, my friend, goodnight,
goodnight"
j. Russell Wright.
president, Mrs. j. A. Lott; recording
NJ. n1.-