HON. ROBERT McREYNOLDS
Page 215

On the death of our old friend, Judge McReynolds, in 1872, we wrote the following obituary, which was published at that time, and we can pay no more appropriate tribute to departed worth, than to insert a copy of the same here: OBITUARY Beautiful is the grey morning as the sun arises from his misty bed, "rejoicing as a strong man to run a race," and sheds his illuminating beams over the earth, dispelling the darkness and gloom. Beautiful in his meridian splendor, when from his zenith height he pours his health-giving light over more than half this immense globe. Beautiful, as he descends below the horizon, gilding the earth, clouds and sky with many shades of crimson and gold. Beautiful is the majestic river, as it pours its ceaseless tide in the unabating fullness towards the great ocean. Beautiful are the evergreen-clad hills, the mountain slope, the deep chasm, in which pours the vexed, turbulent stream, to find a more placid bed. Beautiful the peaceful valley in the stillness and quiet of Sabbath rest, broken only by the bleat of flocks, the low of herds, or the Sabbath bell. Beautiful the infant reposing on its mother's breast or in its cradled slumber of blest unconsciousness, symbolized by the rising sun. Beautiful the life of that man or woman, arrived at maturity, filling the place allotted by the Creator, shedding benignant blessings on all that may come within the circle of their influence for good, like the sun in the zenith. More beautiful still is the departure of the good man, gradually and peacefully as the setting sun, not to another hemisphere, but to another world. From his declining sky he looks back on a life spent in the interests of God and humanity, casting haloes of coloring, gorgeous to the beholder, on the objects of his attention in his course through life. Nature has bestowed on him a diploma for fidelity to her laws, by extending the years of his pilgrimage-aye, beyond the three score years and ten allotted to her less faithful subjects. She has bestowed on him many badges of honor and insignia of her partiality to faithful servants, in the blessings of home, family and friends, that rise up to call him blessed, in that health which enables its possessor to enjoy the comforts of this world, even to old age. Beautiful that head of hoary hairs, the crown of honor to the aged as they ripen for the tomb and immortality. Beautiful the peaceful and triumphant crossing of the dark river, beautiful beyond comprehension the arrival on the other shore. Thus lived, thus died, Hon. Robert McReynolds, in this city, on Thursday, Nov. 14, 1872. "He crossed Time's river. Now no more He heeds the baubles on its breast, Or feels the storms that sweep its shore." Judge McReynolds was one of the pioneers of Mason county, having removed here in 1838. During his long residence here he was frequently called to serve the county in various official positions, and for some time in the office of County Judge. In every position, public or private, conscientious integrity marked his course. He was born in Union county, Penn., April 13, 1791, consequently, at the time of his death, was eighty-one years seven months and one day old. For more than a year the hand of Time bore heavily upon him, but happily and cheerfully he could say with Job, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." The deceased was an old-time Christian. He united with the M. E. Church in 1831, consequently was not only a pioneer in this country, but a pioneer in Methodism in the west, and for long years the intimate friend of the venerable Peter Cartwright, who so recently preceded him to the Spirit Land. About six years ago these two aged veterans together called on the writer. What a history and experience was comprised in their long lives of usefulness! In the demise of our friend, we are again admonished that we are mortal, and have no abiding city here. If there be those who think that the contractedness and debility of the human faculties in our present state, seem ill to accord with the expectations of religion, I would ask them whether any one who saw an infant would ever expect it to comprehend the abstruse sciences of the schools. What may be our powers, endowed, as we will be, with a sensorium, adapted as it undoubtedly will be, as our present senses are, to the perception of the subjects and properties of things with which our concern may be. But in everything which respects this solemn subject with which we all have to do, we have a wise and good Being upon whom to rely (as did our departed friend) for the choice and appointment of means adequate to the execution of any plan which His goodness or His justice may have formed for the moral and accountable part of His creation. That office rests with Him, be it ours to hope and prepare under a firm and settled persuasion that living or dying we are His; that life is passed in his constant presence, that death resigns us to His merciful disposal.

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