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Respectfully Inscribed
By John L. Childress
He stands in the altar,
the grave old man,
With an eye still
bright, tho' his cheek is wan,
And his long white
locks are backward rolled
From his noble brow
of classic mould:
And his form, tho'
bent by the weight of years,
Somewhat of its primad
beauty bears.
He opens the page of
the sacred word,
Not a whisper low
nor loud is heard;
Even Folly assumes
a serious look
As he heedeth the
wword of the holy book
And the thoughtless
and gay grow reverent there,
As he opens his lips
in fervent prayer.
He stands as the grand
old prophet stood
Proclaiming the truth
of the living God;
Pouring reproof on
the ears of men
Whose hearts are at
ease in their folly and sin;
With a challenge of
guilt still unforgiven,
To the soul unfit
nor meet for heaven,
Who can but honor that
good old man,
As he neareth his
three-score years and ten?
Who hath made it the
work of his life to bless
Our world in its woe
and wickedness;
Still guiding the
few, who were wont to stray
In the paths of sin,
to the narrow way.
With a kindly heart
to the lapsing years,
He hath shared our
joys, also our tears;
He hath bound the
wreath on the brow of the bridge,
He hath stood by the
couch when our loved ones died,
And pointing the soul
to a glorious heaven,
As the ties which
bound it to earth were riv'n.
I think we will weep
another day,
When our kind old
pastor has passed away;
When the last of his
ebbing sands are run;
When his labor is
over and his work is done.
Who will guide and
guard the fold;
When his poise is
still and his heart is cold?
We'll miss him then
- ever look and tone
So familiar once,
forever gone.
Will thrill the heart
with inward pain,
And we'll long to
listen to him again,
When a stranger's
form and a stranger's face,
Shall fill our honored
pastor's place.
Mr. Spurlin, was of patriarchal appearance, tall and straight, and in his preaching had a stentorian voice of great power. He often preached out of doors, in tents, and his powerful voice could be heard for a long distance.
Rev. J. U. Spurlin
and Henry C. Gant Answer Death Summons
Two of Christian county's
most useful and beloved citizens died Saturday night. Henry C. Gant, president
of the Bank of Hopkinsville, passed away suddenly at his residence in Hopkinsville
and the Rev. J. U. Spurlin's long life ended at his home in the Sinking
Fork neighborhood. Both men were octogenarians.
The Rev. James U. Spurlin was 85 years old, a native of Christian county and his ministry covered a period of sixty-five years. He was probably the oldest Baptist preacher in Kentucky, and had been pastor of many churches in this region. For forty years he preached without interruption, at the Sinking Fork church. Last Sunday a week ago he was taken ill of the heart affection while in his pulpit and was removed to his home and died Saturday night. He had baptized more than 5,000 converts, married 1,100 couples and has preached over 7,000 sermons. He survied two wives and leaves four sons and a daughter. His work in the ministry will be carried on by a son and a grandson. The Rev. Mr. Spurlin's funeral took place last Monday at Brick church, near Sinking Fork.
He was the grandfather
of Quint Spurlin, of this county.