Honor for Our Fallen Hero… Beautiful and Impressive Services in the Primitive Baptist Church Sunday for Corporal Farmer
The memorial services for Corporal J.B. Farmer in the Primitive Baptist church yesterday afternoon were singularly impressive and touching.
The community met together to honor their dead in the church of the family and listened to eloquent and just tributes paid to a most worthy young man who led a lift of industry and was devoted to every trust reposed in him. Reference to his devotion to his parents, to his brother and sisters, and regard for his friends, and the splendid disposition of the young man who was ever kind and generous were dwelt upon for every one liked “J. B.” as he was affectionately called and familiarly known.
The church was crowded despite the inclemency of the weather and copious tears were shed for all felt they were bereaved. Col. Bruton in his address dwelt upon the fact that this war was bringing together our people as nothing else could for we were learning that in sorrow the heart seeks sympathy and finds it with others that mourn. Our country needed every ounce of our energy and our resource and we needed the support of each other for it was a common grief, a common cause.
This sentiment found a hearty response in the words of Elder J.F. Farmer, who conducted the services and introduced the speakers. He referred to the great and good men, fathers of the country who had passed away. Men of different churches who had contributed so much to the building of Wilson and laid here a foundation for future greatness upon which their children had builded.
He said that J. B. was named for General Joshua Barnes, who had done more probably for this county and this community than any other. He gave what he could and now his namesake, Corporal J.B. Farmer, had made the supreme sacrifice.
The services were opened with the hymn “America,” Mr. H.D. Brown leading the singing. Then followed a fervent prayer from Elder S.B. Denny, who asked God to be with ths stricken family in this sad hour. Then Elder J.B. Farmer read the 23d Psalm which has been described the most beautiful of all the productions of literature. This Psalm described the feelings of David who had been in the deep sorrow of affliction and felt the Lord had forsaken and was being lifted up to see the gracious hand of God in all things.
The remarks of Elder Farmer at this point and at the close of the service were especially appropriate and comforting to the bereaved family and friends.
Following the scripture reading the hymn “Abide With Me” was touchingly sung.
Then came the remarks of Col. Bruton who opened by reading the tablet in honor of his memory on the first page of the Times the day the announcement of his death was received.
He said that would go down in history and become a permanent record of Wilson County.
Col. Bruton was evidently deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion and all that it implied. He said he could not find expression commensurate with the hour. We are here to do honor to one of our boys. He was a plain unassuming country lad with a knack of making people love him and what more can you say of any boy. He had a great many friends who loved him. He was equipped for business with a good education and improved his opportunities. When his country called, he enlisted for service on the Mexican border.
He was devoted to his family and when he heard of his father’s illness, he wanted to come home.
About that time America entered the European war and he was called to a larger sphere of usefulness, the defense of his country.
He has done something no king has done, no President has done, no Congressman or Governor has done. He has made the supreme sacrifice. He stands head and shoulders ablove all. He has given his life for you and for me. For all mankind.
The names of his parents and his family are made immortal because the name of corporal J.B. Farmer is inscribed eternally upon the scroll of undying fame and Wilson County takes her place in the front rank of those who have saved the nation and civilization as the names of our fallen heroes are added one by one to the list.
Col. Bruton said that we have fallen upon strange times, so utterly strange that our minds are unable to grasp their full significance. We have lived years and years since we entered this war. We know not what will be the outcome or the next step. But do we grow weary? Do we ask if it could be settled some other way? No. We realize it could not. Here he gave an illustration of the cruelty and perfidy of the Hun and of the old man who said that he had sent all his boys and if that could preserve eternal peace and make the world safe for righteousness and civilization he would give them all.
There is this comfort. There is no doubt about our position. It is right. It is truth, and truth shall make you free.
A frenzied, unscrupulous Emperor has his people under hypnotic influence and is committing every crime known to man to carry out his will.
The preacher spoke of the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep. The hireling flees at danger but the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. He has given his life for his people.
There is one thing he said which stands out in the midst of all this. This suffering and deprivation and the demands made upon us bringing us close together, and especially without reference to our church afflictions. We must, he said, cultivate the tie of sympathy and entwine the tendrils of the world’s heart before we shall ever have a lasting peace for it is on account of misunderstanding, of selfishness, a lack of mutual intercourse that makes possible such wars as now afflict the world.
He paid a high tribute to motherhood and stated that he had a new vision of what it meant as he read of the stories that were coming to him from the battlefield. The last word on the lips of the soldier is “mother.”
Rev. Mr. Stanbury spoke of the beautiful life of the young man and read testimonials from the High School class of which J.B. was a member. Also from the Finch Baraca class of which he was a member and the Council of Defense.
The meeting was closed by remarks from Elder Farmer after an invitation to any one who desired to say a word, and the hymn “Asleep in Jesus” and benediction by Rev. Mr. Bethea.
The ushers were Messrs. W.M. Farmer, J.F. Roberts, Herbert Woodard, Will Brown, and E.L. Cobb.
The young man leaves besides a father and mother, two brothers in the service, Lt. I.H. Farmer and Sergeant L.J. Farmer, and four sisters, Mrs. C.C. Harris, Miss Julia E. Farmer, Miss Annie Nelson Farmer and Miss Lydia Farmer.
* * *
Letter from the Wilson County Council of Defense, Wilson, N.C., dated Aug. 13, 1918, to Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Farmer, Park Ave., Wilson, N.C.Dear Friends:
The Council of Defense has learned with profound sorrow of the death of your son, J.B., and we extend to you our heartfelt sympathy in this your hour of desolation. We can but point you to him who in his holy word has promised that He would not forsake those hwo put their trust in Him and that He would temper the wind to the shorn lamb. Your son died a glorious death. He died that all mankind might be free, and while we weep with you in the loss of your son we can but be proud of the fact that this brave, noble young man who gave his life for liberty and democracy was from Wilson county and belonged to one of the oldest and best families. Again extending to you our heartfelt sympathy, we are,
Sincerely Yours, James Dempsy Bullock, For Council of Defense Wilson Co.
From the High School
* * *
Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Farmer from J.B.'s high school class
His death naturally brings great grief to us, but knowing him and his character, we are fully conscious that he would have us accept what he has done for us and for the world with a feeling of great pride. The fact that in the world’s great trial J.B. willingly made his supreme sacrifice and died gloriously that civilization might live is a tribute to him and his character, and in your grief we point to his glory.
He will live forever in the memory of his Class, kept alive by our love for him and price in his great achievement.
Very sincerely yours,
Katherine McNair
Connie Bishop
Nell Overman
* * *
Letter from his Finch Baraca Class, as printed in the newspaper.
Whereas, the Finch Baraca Class, cognizant of the importance of the conflict in which America is now engaged, and believing in the principles for which we stand with heart and soul, and
Whereas, the Finch Baraca Class has on its honor roll the names of 63 young men, and we are proud of this representation, and
Whereas, our class has been called upon to give a third of its number to die for our country’s cause, be it resolved:
First, That in the death of Corporal Farmer Jr. the Finch Baraca Class has lost a real friend and a consistent and faithful member.
Second, That because of his bright, happy disposition and clean Christian patriotic life we can point to him as an example worthy of emulation.
Third, That we extend to the bereaved family our deepest sympathy, and pray God’s blessings of comfort and hope.
Fourth, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family of the deceased, one to the Herald and one spread on the minutes of our class.
G.F. Harris
Claude Watson
N.L. Finch
No comments:
Post a Comment