[Source: "Death at College." Centre College Magazine. 2 (1860): 474-476]

DEATH AT COLLEGE - Seldom, if ever, have we witnessed a sadder - a more mournful event - than the funeral of our fellow-student and friend, A. [Abram] Rule, of Lexington, Ky., who died in this place, on the 15th of May. For two years he had been a member of this Institution, and this length of time but served to raise him in the esteem of his associates, as a devout christian, a diligent student, and a faithful friend.

He was zealous in the performance of every christian duty, respectful to his Professors, polite and courteous to his acquaintances, generous toward his friends.

He lived a pious life, and when the great God called him from among us, to mingle in the celestial hosts, he was calm, patient, submissive.

Oh! reader, it was awfully sublime to see with what resignedness and composure he went to the judgement bar - in the terrible presence of his Lord!

He died on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning College was adjourned, and the Junior Class, of which he was a member, immediately held a meeting, the proceedings of which can be seen below. At 4 o'clock p.m. the bell of the First Presbyterian Church rang, and the students of the College assembled there.

It was unanimously resolved that we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. It was then determined that we march by classes to the residence of Dr. Forman, Mr. Rule's boarding-house, and from there accompany the corpse to the suburbs of the town, his friends intending to convey his remains to Lexington to be interred. Six pall-bearers were appointed from his class, and also two from each class, to attend the remains to their final abode. Having arrived at Dr. Forman's, Dr. Green, our worthy President, made a few remarks, characteristic of his warm, generous nature, on the death of our young friend.

Never have we listened to more touching appeals delivered in a more impressive manner.

The exercises being over, we again formed a procession, the form of which was as follows; --

When we arrived at the suburbs of the town the front line separated, and the Junior Class, the pall-bearers, and the Faculty marched through uncovered, and then separated, the hearse and carriages proceeding through the lines. We then bade our departed friend a last adieu, and returned.

The whole of the exercises were imposing, and not evanescent is the impression it made upon us. The proceedings of the Junior Class and the Chamberlain Society, of which he was a member, can be found below.

May this occasion, and the noble example of the deceased, never be forgotten!

CENTRE COLLEGE, MAY 16, 1860

At a meeting of the members of the Junior Class on the death of A. Rule, N.F. Dickinson [i.e. Nelson F. Dickson] was called to the Chair, and E.R. [Edward R.] Wing chosen Sec'y. [Secretary]

On motion a committee of three was appointed to draft a series of resolutions expressive of our respect for our departed brother, and sympathy with his beloved friends and relations. The following were adopted:--

WHEREAS, It has seemed good to Almighty God in the mysterious dispensation of his providence, to remove from us by death, our esteemed friend and brother, Abram Rule, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we testify to our appreciation of his moral and social worth, and our acknowledgement of the respect in which he was held.

RESOLVED, That as a testimonial of our regard, we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

RESOLVED, That we forward a copy of these resolutions to the afflicted family, and to the Centre College Magazine, Danville Tribune, Lexington Observer and Reporter, and Presbyterian Herald, for publication.

T.H. Clay [Thomas H.], Jr., E.R. [Edward R.] Wing, D.B. [Daniel B.] Waggener, Committee

Resolutions of the Chamberlain Society on the death of A.V. Rule, Lexington, Ky.

WHEREAS, It has pleased our Heavenly Father in the mysterious visitation of his providence, to take suddenly from our midst our esteemed friend and brother, A.V. Rule, we adopt the following resolutions:--

RESOLVED, That we do most deeply sympathise with his bereaved family and relations in the loss of one promising to be so useful, and endeared to those who knew him by his many Christian virtues.

RESOLVED, that as a mark of our esteem, we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

RESOLVED, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the afflicted family, and the C.C. [Centre College] Magazine, Lexington Observer and Reporter, Pres. [Presbyterian] Herald, and Ky. [Kentucky] Tribune, for publication.

John L. Harrison, John L. Irwine, J. Garniss Hunter, Committee