Obituary

Cassius Boone Hughes

Cassius B. Hughes, one of the pioneers in our educational work, passed away on Aug. 2, 1921, at the age of sixty-two years. Elder Hughes was well known in this denomination, and for forty-six years had been identified with this cause.

He was born in Missouri, July 2, 1859, and at the age of sixteen, through the labors of Elder Levi Long at Hamilton, Mo., was converted to the third angel's message.  Soon afterward he went to Battle Creek College, and for two years by hard labor paid his way through school.  On account of financial reverses he was obliged to suspend his education, but later he with his people went to Battle Creek to complete it.  He remained there till he graduated.

About the year 1885 he entered the ministry, beginning his public work in the State of Kansas.  When Walla Walla College was opened, he was called to act as Bible teacher and preceptor.  In 1893 he was ordained to the gospel ministry, and in the same year he was married to Miss Ella Evans, one of the members of the faculty at Walla Walla.

When the school at Keene, Texas was started, Elder Hughes was invited by the General Conference to act as its pioneer principal.  Under the blessing of the Lord, the school prospered during his administration, and it soon became known as the Keene Academy.  After about four years' work at Keene, Professor Hughes was invited by the General Conference to go to the Cooranbong school in Australia.  There he labored faithfully for nearly six years.  On his return to this country, he was invited to connect with the colored school at Huntsville, Ala., and he spent five months at that place.  Then an urgent call was sent from
the Keene Academy that Professor Hughes return.  This request was granted, and for three and a half years he labored faithfully at that post of duty.

At this time the General Conference invited Brother Hughes to go to the British West Indies and start a school in Jamaica.  He remained three years in that tropical climate, and a good beginning was made in the educational work in that field.  On his return to the States, he was called to Keene for a third time, and this time he spent six years there, making thirteen years of labor as principal of that institution.

After spending a year and a half at Pacific Union College as preceptor, he was asked to head the new school in Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada.  There he lived nearly two years, when he was invited to return to Jamaica.  He spent two years with his family in the British West Indies, but on account of the health of his wife, he was obliged to return to the United States.  After three months of rest and recuperation, he assisted in the intermediate school at Loma Linda; but on account of hard and strenuous labor which had been wearing on him for many years in different lands with peculiar climes, he was obliged to give up is work about a week before school closed last spring.  For ten weeks before he died, everything was done for him that human skill could do, but he quietly fell asleep like a tired warrior.

Brother Hughes was a faithful servant of God, a man who loved the cause dearly, and a hard, untiring worker.  He never spared himself, but ever sought to lead the young people to the true ideal in education -- Jesus Christ. 

At the time of his death, his companion, daughter, and brother were by his bedside.  His last words were expressions of interest in the welfare of his dear ones.  He knew he was dying, but fell asleep quietly. 

Funeral services were conducted by the writer, assisted by Elders McReynolds and Emmerson of Loma Linda.  We laid him to rest in the beautiful cemetery in Redlands, Calif.  He leaves to mourn their loss his wife, a daughter, one son, an aged mother ninety years old, two sisters and three brothers.  He rests in
hope, waiting for the Life-Giver. 

F.C. Gilbert

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald

1921