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Bernard, Adolph Arthur

2/12/1929

ADOLPH ARTHUR BERNARD July 28, 1883-Feb. 12, 1929
Rev. Adolph Arthur Bernard, who died at New Iberia, La., Feb. 12, 1929, was born just outside the city of Lafayette, La., July 28, 1873. His father, A. M. Bernard, a native of Rhatel, France, came to this country as a young man, and married Miss Magdaline Henrietta Clipping, ~ native of New Orleans, La. His parents were nominal Roman Catholics and Brother Bernard grew to young manhood in a home where religion as such was not emphasized, but where the sterling virtues of truth and honesty were strictly adhered to. When Brother Bernard was still a child his father became the manufacturer of cane wagons, and in that shop the boy grew up and became so proficient as a mechanic that his father often said that he was the only man In the factory who could take the place of any man at the bench. At the age of seventeen Brother Bernard was providentially brought under the influence of Dr. F. S. Parker, who was then the pastor at New Iberia, and, In a revival in which he was apparently the only convert, he united wtth the Methodist Church. He met with considerable opposition at first, especially when his father learned that it was his desire to enter the Methodist ministry, but Brother Bernard lived to see the entire family brought under the sway of Methodism. In spite of the handicap of having largely to work his way through school, he graduated with honors from old Centenary College. Previous to his graduation, he had been licensed to preach, 1897, and he was admitted into the Louisiana Conference in 1902 and ordained deacon at the same session. In 1899 he married Miss Mae Crews, who died about one year later. After this Brother Bernard attended Vanderbilt University, where he graduated from the Theological Department. His second wife was Miss Ettie Holland, whom he married in the year 1908. She, with James Arthur, a son, survive him. During his ministry he served the following charges: One year each at Lake Arthur, Cotton Valley, St. Martinville, Mellville, Covington, four years at Eunice, one year each at Ponchatoula, Coushatta, Longville and Carson, four years at Gueydan, another term at Covington, one year at Grand Cane, two years at Rayne. He had been appointed to Merryville When his health failed and he had to give up the work. It is hardly enough to say of Brother Bernard simply that he was a good man and a good preacher, and, while there was probably nothing about his life or character that would be classed as outstanding or unusual, there were exemplified in his life so many of what might be termed the commonplace virtues that one is reminded of the passage in I Corinthians, 13: “CharIty envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth In the truth.” Brother Bernard was a good student, and his sermons were well thought out. He was a faithful pastor who uncomplainingly filled many of the hardest places in the Louisiana Conference. He was a good husband and father, and he possessed many of the elements of a real saint. I am sure he has gone to his reward. Martin Hebert
Source: Annual of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Pages 112-113, 1929

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