Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1922-11-17
A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE A. ST.
CLAIR.

| On the occasion of n memorial SER
| vice held one year after his death by
the Mems Bible Glass, Methodist
; church, Tazowcll, Va, October %
1922.
Tho following address was doliv-
cred by C. r Brown, Jr..
We could not very we'll have Il
moro inspiring subject that that OF
this morning because II few men have
lived life more worthy of praise
and of emulation by us than did our
late teacher, Mr.. Alex. st. Clair.
When | was asked to make short
talk in connection with our service of
this morning l consented with some
hcsitancy, feeling there were SO many
others of tho class better fitted than
by ienson of their moro mature
years and experience and n closer ns-
sociation with Mr.. st. Clair. How
ever, had of him in lilo and now
haze OF his memory deep and abid-
lug adm ration and deem it an oppor-
tunity should not let pass to pay
some tribute, though small it NAV he.
to his life and example.
His virtues were numerous--so
numerous in fact that when YOU Mt
tempt to single out several of the
NEST striking and develop thsm into
some KIND of connected form you
ind yourself confronted with mn nj.
most impossible task. will merely
mention one or two Of his charac-
tcristics which impressed mo and
which, upon first reflection, have &C.
Cured to me and if tho little / hnvo
TO say seems to you "at random"
Trust you will appreciate and pardon
MIR. st. Clair was the teacher of
our class from the time of It's or
ganlzation until his death and can
personally testify to tho fact that he
never camo before 1t without n thor.
ough preparation md understanding
of the lesson. His wns II clenr md
logical mind and had the faculty of
driving home to each of us tho aim
pie truths of the lesson with fore.
and directness that caused them TO
stick md to- bcur. fuit, He never at
tempted to thcorize or branch out I'M,
to what we might call tho "now
thought" but taught tho lesson ma
only one COULD having the old time,
religion III his hoart
When his summons cnnio il found him
IN the preparation of his next Sun
day school lesson. Can the imnginn-
tion picture more beautiful circum-
stances in which to die?
Another clement of Mr.. st. Clair's
success with his clnss was his prompt
ness. He was always on timc. IL was
as much n business with him, that of
being Mt Sunday school, ns of pro-
viding for his family. lie wns seldom
absent, but if during the week ho
anticipated his absence tho following
Sunday, he never failed to make tho
necessary arrangement for q teacher
in his stead. Truly it my bo said ho
had the interest of his class Mt heart,
Men of Mr.. st. Clair's tyne nro
essential to the well being and regu-
lation OF every. community. BY his
quiet, unassuming manner and dig
nifty of bearing he welded stabiliz-
ing influence over every movement
with which he was connected Men Of.
his character difruse and those with
whom they come in daily contact olJ-
sorb, certain to be desired qualities.
unconscious that they both be OF sucli
n happening. lt
In going up and down tho beauti-,
full Bluestone Valley. Mt tho headi OF
which for so many years Mr.. Sc.
Clair made his home and with which
locality we who knew him are 40
wont to associate him, ono is consc-
ious of n feeling OF lonlincss, a sense
of something gone that ought to DO
therc. 1t is an intangible something,
n feeling not capable of expression,
but that it is real Is proven by the
fact that the grass seems less green
thnn fOrmprlv. FIN 0oyaro oornnli,fr