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HUM9EIL EIFTY
Tlvo Landmarks of Methodism Gone
DR. J. W. Hum, OF ATLANTA, REV. D. J. WYRICK, OF COLLEGE PARK
Both Pass To Their Reto ard—" They Had Fought the Good Fight, They Had Kept the Faith
Henceforth There Is Laid Up a Croton of Righteousness.”
OW strangely beautiful are God’s ways.
How befitting that those two stalwart
men of God, who had fought so long,
so cheerfully, and so faithfully as
brethren in the same great cause,
as they held aloft the banner of their
loved and honored Lord, should be
called to their reward on the same
day.
H
There is a sacred sweetness about the thought,
that softens our grief and makes us feel as though
we trod on holy gflround, while we sustain this double
loss, one that will be lamented by hosts of friends
not only throughout the state, but the entire South,
for both were widely known and much loved. It
would be hard to find more useful or more beautiful
lives of service to God and man than these two earn
est, consecrated men lived.
Each in his own separate work, filling his individ
ual place in the great plan of God. They carried
with them the joy of having seen much accomplished
during their long eventful lives in His name; for
whom they had fought the good fight, had kept the
faith, had finished their course, and stood ready to
be called to that crown of righteousness which is
promised to the faithful.
Brother Myrick, as he was lovingly called by
those who knew him best, —truly one of God’s no
blemen, brave and true, always, yet gentle with it
all as a woman, was born in Upson county in 1826.
Joined the conference in 1849 at the age of twenty
three years.
His first charge was on the Newnan circuit, and
the next appointment in Liberty county, where he
found the faithful wife who gladly shared his joys
and sorrows up to within four years of his death.
His last appointment was at Fairburn, Georgia,
where he sustained injuries by a fall from which he
never fully recoverd.
He was superannuated in 1901, having given fifty
two of the best years of his life to the ministry.
During these years he had the joy of contributing
his part to a wonderful growth of his denomination,
which at the time he joined the conference only num
bered, including all races, 60,00(0 He lived to see the
white M. E. Church, South, number in Ga., 185,000.
Dr. J. W. Heidt was a man of unusually broad cul-
We are extremely sorry at the last moment
to have failed to get Brother Myrick’s picture
for this page.
ATLANTA, GA., JANUARY 28, 1909.
ture and experience; one of the widest known min
isters of the state, as well as an eminent educator,
having successively presided over institutions both
in Georgia and Texas.
“Dr. Heidt was born July 12, 1841. He received
his earlier collegiate education at Emory College,
graduating in 1859, in the class with Bishop Atticus
G. Haygood and Dr. Isaac S. Hopkins. In 1861 he
entered the University of Georgia at Athens.
“At the outbreak of the Civil War his class or
ganized itself into a company of militia, offering its
| I
I V \
DR. JOHN W. HEIDT.
service to the Confederacy, but wiser heads dissuaded
the young students from pursuing such a course
the company was disbanded. However, Dr. Heidt
served as a member of the Chatham Artillery until
Governor Joseph E. Brown appointed him solicitor
general of the Eastern district.
“His term as solicitor-general having expired, he
joined the Georgia Methodist Conference. When
the conference was reorganized so as to form two
divisions —North and South —Dr. Heidt allied him
self with the former. In the North Georgia Confer
ence he has held many important pastorates.
“For five years, from 1880 to 1885, he was presi
dent of the LaGrange Female College. He was re-
gent of the Southwestern University, of George
town, Texas, from 1885 to 1890. He then returned
to Atlanta as pastor of Trinity Methodist church.
With the exception of three years, which he spent
as pastor of the First Methodist church at Athens,
Dr. Heidt has resided in Atlanta ever since.’’
“Death found him on the firing line, and he was
never doing better work than he was called upon to
render in the presiding eldership of the Augusta dis
trict.’’
His call to “come off duty’’ came with startling
suddenness, as the second blow in a day’s happen
ings, ere we had recovered from the first, and strick
en by this double loss entailed upon the spiritual and
religious state there is cause for profound
grief, for tluwßis no way of measuring the influ
ence of two such lives. Only eternity can reveal
their fruitage.
But with the Christian’s heritage of hope, we
should unselfishly thank God that these two valiant
soldiers have gained trie victor’s crown.
Is This All?
Uy Hora tins Uonar.
Sometimes I catch sweet glimpses of his face; >
But that is all.
Sometimes he looks on me and seems to smile,
But that is all.
Sometimes he speaks a passing word of peace,
But that all.
Sometimes 1 think I bear
Upon . -eOf
: • u
Oh, come and see! Oh, look, and look again!
All shall be right;
Oh, taste his love, and see that it is good,
Thou child of night.
Oh, trust him, trust him, in his grace and power
Then all is bright!
TWO DOLL Ans A YE An.
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