Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1919

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 67William C. Coleman was lovely and pleasant in his life.Reared in a devoted Covenanter home he followed his fatherand three brothers into the ministry. He was quiet and unassumingin his ways. He never pushed himself forward. Butthe power that lay beneath the surface manifested itselfwhenever he was giVen a place to fill or a work to do. Heconfided but little in others. Only those who knew himclosely realized his full worth. They found him the best andtruest of friends.He had a wide acquaintance with books. They were everhis delight, and his mind was stored with their treasures. Hecould bring forth these treasures as he would, for he was aclose student and read deeply as well as widely. Yet he wasnot talkative. With more to say of interest and of value thanmost men have, he spoke far less. When he did speak menlistened. In his preaching as in his writing and conversationthere was a freshness and originality in both the materialand the way in which he presented it that gripped attention,In every part of his life his loyalty stood out clearly, loyaltyto family, to friends, to country, to church, and to God.He fell in battle, a private in the ranks; he had sought nohigher place. Loyalty to country bade him rally to her colors;loyalty to his church and to his Lord forbade him to seekany position that would require an oath to the Constitutionwhich he had covenanted with God not to take. (As a matterof fact, whether due to an oversight or not, he took no oathof any sort). As a man and as a leader of the hosts of Godhe was faithful. He wrote that he had never regretted hisstep in entering the service. He might be criticized muchfor leaving his family, and his congregation, but he was satisfiedthat he had acted rightly. His letters told of his faith inChrist and of his readiness for whatever might be in storefor him. A comrade said that he had seen many men as theywaited to go over the top, but he had never found a man morecalm and confident. He died as he had lived, a brave soldierof his country and of the cross of Christ.To his wife and little daughter, his father and mother,his brothers and sister, this Synod expresses its pride in sucha noble son of the Church and soldier of the faith, and extendsits heartfelt sympathy.Respectfully submitted,J. B. Willson,J. B. Tweed.J. FRENCH CARITHERSWhereas God in his good providence has seen fit to removefrom the fellowship and work of the church our belovedfriend and brother, Mr. J. French Carithers, we, his fellowworkers in the advancement of Christ's kingdom do thusgive expression to our sorrow for his death and appreciationof his worth as a faithful laborer in the service of Christ.ithers Born grew in to the manhood year 1890 in a at home Morning where Sun, the Iowa, love of Mr. Christ Car­