A Public mention, merely, of these two young men has been made. The case, however, deserves something more. These brothers were sons of a widowed mother, who still lives; their father died when Hamilton, the elder, was about eighteen, and B. F. Smith, as he was usually called, was about eight years old. Their mother writes, "that they were industrious boys, working to make a living, and learning all they could from books," but, of course, under great discouragements. After taking the usual college course at Cumberland University they graduated in 1872. It is worthy of remark that although there was a disparity of years in their ages, they seemed to have but one mind and one heart. They customarily, and, I suppose, always, studied together in preparing their lessons, and sat side by side in the recitation room. It was a beautiful sight to witness their devotion to one another. In 1873 they completed the Theological course, and graduated in June of that year. B. F. Smith spent something more than a year in the pastorate in Oxford, Mississippi, and two succeeding winters at Yale College, and in the spring of 1876 took charge of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. But excessive application to what seemed to him needful studies, in connection, perhaps, with the severity of two successive northern winters in succession, had brought on the beginning of consumption. He struggled through the summer and autumn and on to midwinter in his work, and resigned his charge. I soon received the intelligence myself from a member of the congregation that "he had left them and gone home to his mother's go die." He lingered a few months and died, the mother writes, "in the full triumph of a living faith." His brother, Hamilton, had labored considerably in the ministry, and promised well, but was soon called to follow his younger brother. He, too, died in faith, rejoicing that he was to be so soon relieved from the sufferings through which, as a furnace, he was called to pass. These great and beloved young men promised a high order of usefulness. They had the patience and energy to prepare themselves for it, and it was before them if they had lived. But God sees not as man sees often. It has been so in this case; the young are struck down, and the old are left to struggle with the burdens of life. The good widowed and bereaved mother says, after giving the facts thus mentioned, "I cannot write more at present. I am like Rachel weeping for my children, and cannot be comforted, because they are not." "They cannot come to me, but I can go to them." Who does not sympathize with that mother? But still, there is another aspect of the picture: How few mothers have the privilege of being preceded to heaven by two promising young preachers? Such a view of the subject should certainly contribute a great deal towards neutralizing the force of the blow, which would otherwise fall so heavily. God reigns; and clouds and darkness are often round about him, but still we are to know that justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
   LEBANON, TENN.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 28, 1880, page 2]