Newspaper Page Text
close the funeral procession was ar
ranged in very careful order. The
three sons of the deceased walked in
front of the coffin, dressed in white
with sackcloth caps. In a heathen
funeral they carry short bamboo
sticks wrapped in white paper, but as
these have some idolatrous meaning ?
just what nobody seemed able to tell
me ? they substituted wreaths, or
rather hoops wrapped with white pa
per, with some arbor vitae leaves and
paper flowers bound to them. Ac
cording to Chinese custom the hus
band does not follow his wife*3 body
to the grave, so the old gentleman,
who is past eighty years old remained
at the home. The coffin was borne
on the shoulders of twelve men, hired
for the purpose. Just behind it fol
lowed wheelbarrows carrying the
women of the family, also dressed in
white and sackcloth. Last came the
friends and acquaintances. These in
heathen funerals carry a stick of in
cense each, which- are lighted and
placed at the grave. The Christians
substituted a branch of a shrub with
flowers, which were afterwards laid
on the coffin. We left the house with
a great firing of fire-crackers and blast
of trumpets ? wholly out of keeping
with our ideas of such occasions but
not with theirs. The authorities of
the chief temple of the village sent
word that if the coffin was carried
past the temple door, everybody in
the procession would have to make
obeisance to the idol for not having
conformed to the local custom in the
funeral ceremonies. Some of the
younger Christians were for going
eliead without bowing just to show
they lived in a republic and a free
country ? view which could not but
appeal to my American sense of right
? but the wiser heads prevailed, and
decided to go the back street and
avoid any unnecessary controversy.
On the way out to the grave I asked
the preacher in charge if he thought
it would offend the family if I quietly
snapped a picture of the procession to
send to the friends at home, who
would like to see it. He replied, "No,
take as many as you want." Then
leaving me he walkd forward to speak
with the three sons who were in front
of the coffin. Presently returning, he
sid, "Mr. Chu is much pleased with
the idea of having the picture taken
and has ordered the pall bearers to
remain standing on arrival at the
grave so you can come to the front
and get a good picture of him and hig(
brothers standing in front of the cof
fin." At the grave we had a simple
prayer and returned.
There was much that seemed incon
gruous to the Occidental, but as a sin
care effort to give native custom a de
cided Christian tone it was as inter
esting as it was encouraging.
The busiest time of our year's work
is just on us. Mr. Little is examining
I enquirers this week, and I begin a
I round in the country next week which
I will last until Christmas. The rice
M|U^est is just in, and crops are good.
j|c are not interrupted by further
Hical unrest, we ought to have a
, Hwork ahead. We are planning a
? careful and detailed study of the
? this winter, to find out more ac
?ely just how many and what
?of people occupy each section. I
?just received notice of a grant of
?o illustrated Scripture portions
^?a free tract distribution society.
j ^fctend to try to put one of these
, ^Bh home as we make the canvass
H field.
tWamageg
eil-Hitchings: Married, at
News, Va., by Rev. Dr. Well
ecember 26, 1816, John Henry
Gaskell and Misa Martha P. Hitchlngs.
Gravely-Haynee : At Bluefleld, W.
Va., at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.
H. Hancock, sister of the bride, Satur
day, December 16, 1916, by Rev. S.
W. Moore, Mr. Page K. Gravely, of
Rocky Mount, N. C., and Miss Eliza
beth Haynes, of Pen Hook, Va.
Harr-Abel: At the residence of the
officiating minister, Rev. D. O. Byers,
Jonesboro, Tenn., December 3, 1916,
Mr. Frank Clifton Harr, of Bristol,
Tenn., and Miss Lula Branch Abel, of
Johnson City, Tenn.
Holloway-Mench : Married, at New
port News, Va., by Rev. Dr. Wellford,
December 6, 1916, Arthur S. Hollo
way and Miss Sarah M. Mench.
Hughes-Dill: At the manse of the
Second Presbyterian church, Green
ville, S. C., December 16, 1916, by
Rev. E. P. Davis, Mr. Carroll J.
Hughes and Miss Minnie Dill, both of
Greenville.
Massey-Taylor: At Jonesboro,
Tenn., July 15, 1916, by Rev. D. O.
Byers, Mr. C. F. Massey and Miss
Zenia Taylor.
McCluro- Byers: At the home of
the bride's father, Rev. D. O. Byers,
the officiating minister, November 30,
1916, Mr. Frank Ewing McClure, of
Birmingham, Ala., and Miss Linda
Owen Byers.
McGinnis-Harmon: At the man30
of the Presbyterian church, Sardis,
Miss., December 17, 1916, by Rev. J.
Marion Stafford, Mr. Charles McGiu
nis and Miss Fannie Dell Harmon.
Pinero-Palmer: Married, at Newport
News, Va., by Rev. Dr. Wellford, De
cember 18, 1916, Manuel Pinero and
Ellen Palmer.
Stuart-Harr: At the residence of
the officiating minister, Rev. D. O. By
ers, Jonesboro, Tenn., October 4, 1916,
Mr. Hunter P. Stuart, of Kingsport,
Tenn., and Miss Sallie Catherine Harr,
of Bristol, Tenn.
Thomas-Thomas: At the First Pres
byterian church, Jonesboro, Tenn., De
cember 11, 1916, by the pastor. Rev.
D. O. Byers, Mr. Carl Best Thoma3,
of Douglas, Ariz., and Miss Mary Sue
Thomas, of Jonesboro, Tenn.
Waddell-Babb : At the residence of
the officiating minister, Rev. D. O. By
ers, Jonesboro, Tenn., October 18,
1916, Mr. Clyde F. Waddell and Mis3
Daisy V. Babb, both of Washington
county, Tenn. ?
Williams-Smith: At the residence
of Mr. Paul White, Jonesboro, Tenn.,
' October 24, 1916, my Rev. D. O. By
ers, Mr. Ira Williams, of Florida, and
Miss Beulah Smith, of Jonesboro.
Wootton-Pedigo: At Bluefleld, W.
Va, at the home of the bride'3 pa
rents, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Pedigo,
Tuesday evening, November 28, 1916,
by Rev. S. W. Moore, Mr. Johnson T.
Wootton, of Farlnville, Va., and Miss
Ethel Pedigo, of Bluefleld, W. Va.
29ej(tf)?i
Mr. G. B. Barr, a deacon in New
man Presbyterian church, died at his
home, in Newman, Ga., December
19th. He was ill only a few hours.
He Is survived by three brothers, Mr.
I. J. Barr, of New Orleans, Mr. W. W.
Barr, of Selma, Ala., Rev. D. L. Barr,
pastor Second Presbyterian church.
Meridian, Miss., Mrs. S. H. Dial, An
niston, Ala., his widow, two sons and
two daughters reside in Newman.
The church and community have
sustained a great loss in the death of
this faithful man.
J. E. Hfennah, Pastor.
Mrs. Margaret C. Rankin died De
cember 8th, at the home of her bfoth
er-in-law, William Janney Hull, in
Baltimore. She was burled by the side
of her first husband, William A.
Prince, in Cheraw, S. C.
>1118. A. R. CARRINGTON.
Resolutions passed by the Busy Bee
Home Missionary Society of Westmin
ster church on the death of Mrs. A.
Randolph Carrington, which occurred
on November 7, 1916:
Forasmuch as it has pleased our
Father in heaven, to whose divine will
we bow in humble submission, to take
unto Himself our beloved friend and
co-worker, Mrs. Ella Gordon Carring
ton, and forasmuch as we feel keenly
the loss we have sustained; therefore
be it
Resolved. 1. That we have lost in
her one of our most Interested mem
bers, one who by her thoughtfulness,
especially of those whom others were
prone to forget, by her unselfish de
votion to giving happiness to all with
whom she came in contact in however
small a way, and by her large gener
osity of heart was ever an inspiration
and encouragement to those of us that
knew her best. Richly endowed with
a voice that pleased she gave freely
of her time and talent to the praise of
God, a true friend ever ready to give
of herself and her means.
2. That we extend to her bereaved
husband and children our sincere sym
pathy, and commend them to the keep
ing of Him whose love and care can
never fail.
3. That a copy of these resolutions
be spread upon the records of this so
ciety, a copy sent to the family, and
published in the "Presbyterian of the
South."
Mrs. J. R. Kyle,
Mrs. A. B. Carrington,
Miss Frances M. Allen.
December 12, 1916.
MRS. HATTIE 11YKD ROBERTSON.
In the early morning of December
15, 1916, Hattie Byrd Robertson, be
loved wife of William R. Robertson,
died at her home, in Culpeper, Va.
She had been in falling health for
some years, but the end of her earthly
life came suddenly, and after an ill
ness of only a few days she passed
quietly away.
Mrs. Robertson was the daughter
of Alverta Stuart, of King George
county, and of Horace Byrd Hall, of
Fredericksburg, and her sweet and
gentle nature reflected all of Virgin
ia's truest culture and highest ideal
of womanhood. She was a loving and
dutiful daughter, a kind and motherly
sister, and a gentle and devoted wife.
She was an earnest and devoted mem
ber of the Episcopal church, and the
Bishops and visiting clergy found al
ways a warm welcome in her home.
In 1880 she married William R.
Robertson, of Culpeper county, and
moved from Fredericksburg to Cul
peper, where she spent all of
her married life. The only child
of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, a
daughter, died in early infancy. Not
embittered by this great loss Mrs.
Robertson took always an especial and
loving interest in other children, and
her home was a place to which they
loved to go and stay. Never a strong
woman physically she had a strong,
sweet spirit that attracted all who
knew her.
Though for the last nine years of her
life she was denied the power of sight,
she never rebelled nor considered this
an affliction. Nor was she ever a
helpless woman. Her house was
smoothly and efficiently run under her
personal supervision. She was an old
time housekeeper and a home maker,
in the highest sense of the word. None
found her gloomy or depressing, but
heard rather her sweet voice and mer
ry laugh. Hers was a happy nature.
Nothing was too small or too great
to enlist her ready and sympathoic
interest, and under the Influence of
her gracious personality all things lit
tie and mean and pessimistic seemed
to fade away into nothingness. Though
in physical darkness, yet was she al
ways in the light. With her spiritual
eyes she seemed to see things that
others could not find. Always she
could see tenderness and brightness
and humor and interest, and a thou
sand little things that seemed hidden
away from our grosser sight. Always
she could see in every nature some
thing lovable and good and true.
Lovely in person as well a3 in char
acter, she reigned supreme in her own
home, and it was a center from which
radiated love and cheerfulness and
courage and peace.
Surely all who knew her shall "rise
up and call her blessed." She has
left a precious memory to her hus
band and to her surviving sisters and
to her friends. That same sweet, gen
tle influence is living now, as truly as
she is living now, and is affecting in
an ever-widening circle all who knew
and loved her.
Written by One Who Loved Her.
GORDON RANDOLPH HOUSTON.
AN APPRECIATION.
It is only a decade since a simple,
modest youth came hither to enroll
himself as a student of theology. He
was trained in one of the oldest col
leges in Virginia, and as his name in
dicates, had in his veins some of the
best blood in the South. He at once
won our interest and affection.
The frail body was ruled by a spir
ited, heroic soul. Physically limited,
he had a triumphant will that kept
him in the life of his fellows and held
him at tasks or sports that stronger
men often fail to enter.
The keen, intellectual face shone
with the inner light. Refined and
spiritual, it often bore a faraway look
as though it saw worlds not open to
mortal sight.
An alert mind, quick to grapple
with the problems of thought, Hous
ton was essentially a mystic, feeling
the life of God in all that touched
him, the beauty of the earth, the joy
of .life, and endeavor, the discipline
of sin and suffering.
He had a genius for friendship,
while kindly and sympathetic to all,
without the slightest touch of scorn
or contempt, he bound a few chosen
souls to him with the "cords of a
man."
He had a true ambition; he wished
to do the work that counted the most.
He felt the call of the world. The
great empires of the East, awaking to
new sense of power and opportunity,
fascinated him. But while he had
visions he was no visionary. He would
do pioneer missionary work, but he
would do it wisely, conserving his
strength and making his life go as far
as possible. So he gave himself to
twv" of the hardest fields of the North
west, struggling, pioneer churches,
where he came Into closet touch with
life, and where the very air and the
mountains were food for body and
spirit. It was a short life, but a beau
tiful and victorious one.
It costs BOinething to save a wo* Id!
How precious the gift of life from a
single generation of students, men
who touched hands in seminary days.
Thurston in China, Leek and John
ston in Korea, Stone in Arabia, Horace
Day in lower New York, Houston In
Oregon. Such is our young hero roll.
An ever larger area is God's country.
"Wherever these young soldiers lie it
ib the homeland.
"If I should die, think only thia of
me:
That there's some corner of a foreign
field
That is forever England."
Arthur S. Hoyt.
Auburn Theological Seminary,
December 4, 1916.