Rev. James Lytle 1818-1904

LYTLE

Posted By: Tom S. Brown (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 19:47:47

THE SHENANDOAH WORLD. December 16, l904.

"Tribute to Rev. Lytle." - Last week's Hamburg Reporter contained the following tribute to the memory of Rev. James Lytle, written by a life-long friend.

"Last week the earthly remains of one of nature's noblemen was followed to its last resting place by many sorrowing relatives and friends. Rev. James Lytle was born in North Carolina of humble parentage and his early life surrounded by influences which he succeeded in overcoming on his arriving at early manhood, accepting that good and perfected way that always has and always will lead young men to purer thoughts and noble aspirations and high ambitions. When he was convinced that the way he had accepted was the right way he walked in it; and spared no means in his power, was willing to undergo many severe tests of unselfishness and made many personal sacrifices in order that he might win some to that "way". Few men now living in this country know, neither can they realize what a quarter of century of pioneer life in the early settlements of two new states mean; especially is this so when the pioneer man is full of energy and the holy spirit. This and much more can be said of Rev. James Lytle. When he came to Fremont county there was no sign of habitation between Manti Grove and Mill Creek and between Mill Creek and College Springs was very little if any different in that respect, a distance of nearly forty miles. Yet five days labor on the farm, one day going on horseback to his College Springs appointment, three or more services on Sunday and Monday to return, five more days at home then from two to four services the next Sunday in his home neighborhood and church, year in and year out, regardless of weather or unfavorable conditions and some of the ways this man of God spent a large portion of his busy life and that, too, when the compensation was that of the consciousness of doing good to his fellowmen. That consciousness was with him all the days of his life. That nerved him to storms and ride through the snow drifts of winter, the drenching rains and scorching heat of the summer sun. It banished all fear of malaria and was to him the panacea for all discomforts, discouragements and ails that beset early pioneer life and that brought to him long life and happiness in declining years and in death. Peace that passseth understanding. Forcibly do the scriptures apply to the life of James Lytle, which says: "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace." A good man has exchanged this life for the life beyond. This world has been made better and so will the next be made better by the good life of James Lytle."