lJn mmory of 
<r~arl~s <.t:olumbus (!at~r 
 
 / 
... \ 
CHARLES COLUMBUS CATER 
1857-1919 
 
 3 
LIFE SKETCH. Charles Columbus Cater was born February 8th, 1857. in Twiggs county, near Macon, Ga. For seventeen years he worked on the farm at his home place, after which he came to Atlanta, spending a short time in the preparatory school at Atlanta University. From 1881 to 1886 he was a mail carrier in the Atlanta post office. While serving as a mail carrier in 1884 he married his first wife, Mary Olivia Tate, by whom he had eight children. Five of these survive him. . In 1886 he opened a retail grocery store in Atlanta, remaining in that business for twenty-seven years. He married his second wife, Clara Holmes Maxwell, widow of Rev. Leigh B. Maxwell in 1908. She and three of her children survive him. In 1912 the board of directors of the Atlanta State Savings Bank elected him cashier, a position he held continuously with the exception of a few weeks, until his death. For twenty years Mr. Cater was treasurer of the First Congregational church. After resigning this position he became deacon of the church. He was chairman of the Building Committee when the present structure was erected. For years prior to his death, he served as treasurer of the Carrie Steele Orphanage, and also was a president of several fraternal organizations. 
andFaofrtethr ea:psahsot rttwiollnyeesasrsoMf or.neCawteeerkw, ahsenoptaisnsegdooadwhaeyaltohn, 
December 1. 
 
 4 
 
FOREWORD. 
 
When The Atlanta Constitution carried in its morning columns the notice of the death of Mr. Cater, it was the first tidings to many that he had even been ill. A distinct shock was given to the city as a whole. Only recently he was seen on the streets, busily engaged, as was his wont, in 
his. many duties of love. 
 
On the day of his funeral all stores, white as well as col- . ore.d, on the street in which he had done .business. so long, closed at the noon hour in his honor. There were tears in many eyes as his body was borne along the crowded thoroughfare where for so many years he had been a familiar 
figure. 
 
Promptly at high noon his body was laid .i:n -state in the First Congregational Church. He himself  had been the chairman of the Building Committee when this stately building was erected, and in a sense he built his own monu- 
ment. 
 
Here at the hour of the funeral service there gathered 
 
a hm:;t of friends that wonld have been a tribnte to any man. 
 
As they entered the building they found his bier a-rd the al- 
 
tar covered with banks of flowers. Indeed, there wPre :->o 
 
manv floral .tributes ordered that the florist was unable to 
 
fill .all the orders. 
 
 
 
.Close bv the bier sat his beloved family. It .wa:-> the remark <:>f all that the family itself was a tribute to the father. Every member of this family w.as making gqod in some 
important avenue of life. 
 
Interspersed with songs he  loved, many strong trib- 
utes werP D~id to the ma,n. Not one of them did any of the hearers thit1k undeserving. The most deserved of all waR that of his wide and loyal friendship.  Every one present counted him a friend. 
 
At the close of the service the long line of the funeral procession began its way to Oakland. It was pronounc-ed 
the longest seen in Atlanta for years. On a beautiful spot beneath the trees his body rests, after many busy years. But he himself is still with us. 
 
 5 ORDER OF EXERCISES. 
 
Wednesday, J)ecember' .1, 1919. 
 
Body to lie in state at noon. 
 
. .. . 
 
Music on the Organ from 12 to 1i.d>Y Miss Muriel B'roctor. 
 
Processional at 1 p. m . 
 
:.,_ :4::'.: ~- \ 
 
;' . ,. ' 1 
 
Opening hymn-"Jesus Lover_of My .Soul." . ~; 
 
Scriptures-Psalm 23. By-R~v~- R~ R. Singleton. 
 
Song by Carrie Steele Orphanage Children. 
 
Prayer by Rev. G. T. Thomas> . : :.:" .. ~-... 
 
Choir-"Sweet Hour of Prayer.". .  
 
Sketch of Life, read by Rev. M. Thdtnp~-bn; ::-~. 
 
Sermon-by Rev. H. H. Proctor~'.; - l\,  ~  ' '.=-  
 
<. Solo-By Secretary W. J. Trent.  i;.  .::.~ >- ~ = . 
 
Remarks 
 
.. 
 
-~b:  ..    
 
Rev. E. R. Carte~, Friendship,13aptist_Church. 
 
Rev. M. W. Adams, Atlanta 'U-niversity. ~ i 
 
Secretary W. ;J. Trent, Y. M. C. A. . .. :li1~:- ;! 
 
Rev. P. J. Bryant, Wheat Street Baptist Church. 
 
Resolutions-Dr. H: R. Butler.  
 
Exercises by the Masonic fratef~ni~y.  ' - 
 
Song-"! Would Not Live Alwa~;H..- 
 
Recessional. 
 
 
 
_ ~~~  
 
.' 
 
~~   
 
 6 
 
-'1 
 
REV. H. H. PROCTOR 
 
For twenty-five years the pastor of Mr. 
 
Cater, who a short time before his 
 
death expreF-sed publicly the 
 
desire that Dr. Proctor should 
 
preach hi'3 funeral 
 
,. 
 
,, 
 
 7 
THE SERMON. 
Rev. H. .H. Proctor. 
"Jesus knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end." John 13:1. 
Charles Columbus Ca~er has entered upon his permanent 
spiritual relations, and ih accordance with his publicly expressed 
wish not many nights ago on this pqlpit, I have the privilege and the honor of interpreting his life to his friends on this, his coronation day in this community. 
It is my custom to associate persons with texts. and I know of no passage in the whole Scripture that is more significant of the life of our good fl'iend than these words concerning the Master-"having loved his own that were in this world, he loved them unto the end." , 
These are the opening wprds of a new. era in the earthly ]ife of Christ. He had appealed 1n vain to the nation, and, finally, he called unto himself "his  own,'' and made unto them ths most precious revelation ever made to man. It was then that he stooped and w~shed his disciples' feet, thus acting out the great parable of democracy. In this passage we h ave exquisitely expressed the spirit, method and objective of the g1eatest life ever lived on this earth. Its spirit was love. its method was service, its objective humanHy. 
Mr. Cater was not a scholar, but he had achieved that which no co1legP. on earth can give-the culture that comes from contact with the crowd. He was in the crowd, but not of it! He was not an orator, but in his noblest utterances he spoke with an unction no mere orator can imitate-the unction of the spirit. Like a rounded pebble in the stream of life he moved as one sent from God. Like his Master, he was actuated by the spirit of love, was ever active, and he served his fellowmen. 
His was a remarkably well-rounded life. It . touched so maPv angles. 
He was a successful business man. He served the com munity as a letter carrier, grocer and banker. 
He belonged to a number of fraternal organizations. Among these were the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. 
He was practically interested in the Y. M. C. A. For a numbPr of years he was the chairman of the executive committee of that organization. 
 
 8 
 
He was interested in the Carrie Steele orphanage. For a number of years he was the treasurer of that organization, and these little ones here today rise up to call him blessed. 
 
He established a beautiful home in this city. !twas a center of the best social influence, and his children have all without exception done well. 
 
For 38 years he was a member of this church. For over a score of years he served- as treasurer, and during that time, though he handled thousands .of dollars. not a single penny ever went astray. During the erection of this building in which his body lies today, .he was chairman of the Building Committee, and was tireless in his fidelity and loyalty during these days of construction. His finest work for this church. however, was that of deacon. In -this office he was faithful in all things, and at all times a comfort to his pa~tor. When he spoke in our gatherings he was al- 
 
ways heard with interest and attention, because with authority. God was speaking through him. 
 
he 
 
spoke 
 
These were the outflowerings of his life. The secret springs were in God. How beautifully this came out in 
 
his latter days. He impressed me as a ship making for the 
 
harbor: it finally 
 
Manouvering for a strikes the channel 
 
while in front of tbe harbor, and makes straight into port. 
 
I have watched his life for years, and it has been a great  
 
joy in these latter days to know how he was making the 
 
harbor. Finally he struck the channel, and under the guid- 
 
ance of his pilot, whom he saw face to face, made straight 
 
for the landing. "I am anchored deep," he axclaimed, the 
 
last morning he was on earth. The ship was in the harbor. 
 
The morning the death of Theodore Rooseevlt was an- 
 
nounced people could hardly believe it. He had been such 
 
an active man that it was hard to dissociate him from life. 
 
Mr. Cater was of the Roosevelt type. People could hardly 
 
believe :that he was dead when they read the tidings in the 
 
press. He was so active even to the end that he does not 
 
yet seem to be dead. Really, he is not dead. His is a double 
 
immortality. 
 
_ 
 
Being a Christian he was not born to die, and today he 
 
walks with his Master, clad in white. He is neither dead. 
 
asleep or even away; he is alive, awake and around. Living 
 
in 
 
the He 
 
Spiritual lives in 
 
sphere, he is his influence. 
 
closer to us than He lives in the 
 
ebvaenrkboenforAeu. - 
 
burn avenue, and in all its success in the years to come he 
 
will be a .nart .-of it. He lives in the fraternal organizations 
 
of which he was a part, and will ever be present in their de- 
 
 9 
 
liberations. He lives in theY. M. C. A., and as long as that 
 
building stands he will live there, and longer. H1e lives in 
 
the orphanage, and as long as this house of mercy stands he 
 
will live there, and longer.. He lives in his children, and his 
 
children's children to the last generation upon the earth. 
 
He lives in this church, ~nd every day that its spire is point- 
 
ed to the sky he will preach the gospel here in the heart of 
 
Atlanta. He lives in the lives of those he has made better. 
 
In the sunlight of this sure two-fold immortality, I bid 
 
his loved ones look up and dry their tears. 
 
I can scarcely speak of the close and tender relation we 
 
had as friend and friend. In all these years of my ministry 
 
here his fidelity has been unbroken. Sometime ago, we 
 
stole away in a dark corner in this building and had a heart 
 
to heart talk together. I cannot reveal the confidences of 
 
that hour. Among other things, he said: "I love this church 
 
and all it stands for. I shall be a member of it as long as I 
 
live. I want to be buried from this church. I want you to 
 
bury me." This same wish, as many of you know, was ex- 
 
pressed here on this altar a few nights ago. 
 
- 
 
I have not preached much about heaven since I have 
 
been in Atla:nta, save the heaven we are to make on earth. 
 
But two Sundays ago I was moved to say this in my ser- 
 
mon: "Heaven is a cr.eation.of the voice of God. The music 
 
of heaven is as the voice of many waters. The order of 
 
heaven is the voice out of the throne. The comfort of heav- 
 
en i~ the voice of the Lamb.!!-. -- .. -- - 
 
That was the last sermon he heard. Already he has 
 
heard thff .choir of many voices; already he has heard the 
 
voice of God; and even now is walking with the Lamb to the 
 
fountains of the waters of -life. and has realized the blessed 
 
P.XpPrienc.e of having every tear wiped from his eye by the 
 
hand of God. 
 
I have seen the sun :r:ise on the ocean, and as the great 
 
hall of fire rises above the waste of waters, I have said: 
 
"Beautiful." I have seen the sun set on Mt. Lookout. and 
 
as the sun 'cast his billowy glories over the seven states, I 
 
have exclaimed: "Beautiful.'J., 'I have seen a rose bursting 
 
inta fullness, and as I have looked uoon that which was 
 
more glorious. than Solomon. I have said "Beautiful." But 
 
the most beautiful thing in this world is a Christian's death. 
 
Precious in thP sight of the LOrd is the death of his saints. 
 
I knelt beside my friend h'ere as he was passing through 
 
thP gates. At first he . was restless. but as we sang Ray 
 
. Palmer's great hymn. "My Faith Looks Unto Thee," he b,e- 
 
came as quiet as a child. Then we prayed together, and at 
 
 10 the close of the prayer he gave a fervent "Amen." The sun was setting the.n, and soon all was peace with him. He was in the harbor. He had met his pilot face to face, and he stood all aglow in the eternal sunrise of God. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! 
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
THE MAN WHO BUILT HIS OWN MONUMENT. Charles Columbus Cater entered upon his permanent spiritual relations Monday afternoon, December 1st, in the glow of the setting sun. The news ran like an electric shock throughtout the city. His life had touched every helpful phrase of community life, culminating in the home and the church. A great concourse gathered Wednesday at noon on his coronation day, as his body lay in state in the church 
-building in which he had Jed as a builder. Many beautiful 
floral tributes were piled high on the altar in his memory. In fact, there were so many the florist could not fill all the orders, and they are to be filled later and the church will share in their beauty Sabbath by Sabbath. In this hour of their trial the large family of which he was the head has our deepest sense of fellowship. A great man has gone up to God. And yet he is with us still !-From the .Weekly Calendar of the Church. 
 
 11 
FLORAL TRIBUTES. 
Officers and members of First Congregational Ch.1rch. Missionary Society of First Congregational Church. Deaconess Board of First Congregational Church. Atlanta State Savings Bank. Officers and Directors Fulton National Bank. Rising Sun lodge. Matrons and Past Matrons The Eastern Star. Committee Manager Y. M. C. A. Carrie Steele Orphan Home. Grand Chapter 0. E. Star of Georgia. Stardard Life Insurance Company. Associated Charities, Staff and Volunteers. Twentieth Century Club. The Monday Club. Ladies' Auxiliary of Postal Employees. The Chautauqua Circle. Mr. and Mrs. J. 0. Ross. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Shaw. Mr. H. E. Perry. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Pace and Mrs. Bibb. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Williams and family. Dr. and Mrs. Barber. Mr. and Mrs. Truman Gibson. The Atla.,ta Medical Association. Kimball HousP- Bell Boys and Porters. Mr. and Mrs. L. Harris and Miss Griffin. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wimberly. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Betts. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cox. Mr. Sol Johnson. Miss Alice Miller. Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Madisort. Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Cooper. Dr. and MrR. J. R. Porter. Mr H. W. Pitts. Dr." and Mrs. M. Amos. Mrs. Carrie JohnRon. Mr. ::~.nd Mr~. William Shaw. Mr. G. R. Yates. Mr. T. T::tylor. Mr. C. H . Haynes. Dr. and MrR. T. H. Slater. Mrs. John Tate. 
 
 12 
 
Mr. and Mrs. James' Tate'. 
 
 '\ ; ~ I 
 
Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Tate. 
 
.,_ .. 
 
Rev. and Mrs. Singleton~ 
 
Mrs. Lula Daniel. 
 
Miss Johnson and mother. 
 
Mr. and lY,[rs. Goosby. 
 
Mr. and :rv.rrs. Walton. 
 
Mr. R. Black. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. .Richardson. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Downs. 
 
Mrs. C. A. Williams and sister. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. John Bell. 
 
Mrs. Eva Neal. 
 
Mrs. Wm. Westmoreland. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. lVlcHenry. 
 
Mr. McNair and daughters. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Reeves. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Turner. 
 
Atlanta University Boys: 
 
'. 
 
Mr. H. L. Thompson. 
 
Mr. Holder. 
 
Mr. C. Elder. 
 
Mr. A. Elder 
 
Mr. Stinson. 
 
' ..... 
 
Mr . A. Edwards. 
 
Mr. Cornell. 
 
Mr. Harper. 
 
Mr. Cade. 
 
Business Men. 
 
Firesid8 Mutual Insurance Company. 
 
~  
 
Gu ~ranty Mutual Insurance Company. 
 
Atlanta M tual Insnrance Company. 
 
8tandard Loan and Realty Company. 
 
Union Publishing- Company. 
 
. ,. 
 
Rohi11sort Hamilton Printing Company_.. 
 
Auditorium Theatre. 
 
Shellman Bakery. 
 
And many others whose orders could not be filled.  
 
.. 
 
GRATITUDE. 
 
The family wishes to express to the many friends its 
 
deep appreciation for their many expressions of sympathy 
 
during its recent bereavement. 
 
'