p. 19 | Another Pioneer Fallen by S. H. Lane

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1905

Another Pioneer Fallen

By S. H. Lane

ELDER CHAS. O. TAYLOR, of Norfolk, N. Y., departed this life on the evening of Aug. 9, 1905, having suffered from a complication of diseases incident to old age. He was born Nov. 15, 1817, and was therefore 87 years, 8 months, and 24 days old at the time of decease.

The union was blessed with three beautiful children, all claimed by death in childhood. They lie side by side with the mother.

In the month of June, 1883, he united in marriage with Miss Jennie Haskell, of Norfolk, N. Y., where he spent most of his declining years. He possessed a mild disposition, was firm in his opinions, and always stood manfully and faithfully by what he considered truth. He was a diligent student and great reader, so much so that he kept abreast of the times, and being a sociable man by nature, he was in conversation instructive and entertaining, to the delight of those who listened to him. He wove the truth into his conversation, thus convincing as many as by his public efforts.

As early as 1840 Elder Taylor listened to the preaching concerning the soon coming of Christ, proclaimed by Elders Adrian and Hutchins. He accepted the views, and from then until his death he never swerved in his faith in that glorious appearing. He fully believed the Lord would come in the autumn of 1844, at the expiration of the twenty-three hundred days of Daniel, eighth chapter. He, with thousands, was sorely disappointed, but did not cast away his confidence; he again and again reviewed the evidence of that coming, and every time he did so he became stronger in the position, and loved to sing—

“The Lord is coming! let this be The herald note of jubilee; And when we meet, and when we part, The salutation from the heart.”

Soon after the disappointment he fully embraced the truths of the third angel’s message. He became very firm in his convictions, and did all he could to disseminate the new-found truth. He began to publicly preach the message in 1854.

In preaching he labored most of the time in northern New York, raising up several churches. About 1880 he began preaching in the Southern States, laboring in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. He gave the first discourse ever delivered by our people in New Orleans. Several embraced our views through his labors in the South.

While attending the State conference in Rome, N. Y., in January, 1902, he suffered a slight attack of paralysis, but rallied from it, and labored more or less in the field in preaching the message. In August, 1903, while visiting some churches, he sustained a second and more severe shock, and his life was despaired of; but on account of a strong constitution, through the blessing of the Lord he still proclaimed the message. During the fall and winter of 1903-04 he spent the time at the hospitable home of Brother and Sister S. T. Crosbie, who did everything they could for the comfort of Brother and Sister Taylor. A few met there each Sabbath, and after the Sabbath-school Brother Taylor would preach a short sermon, sitting in his chair.

During the last year of his life he suffered intensely at times, but was blessed with a clear mind, and was sustained with the Christian’s hope until the last. Funeral services were held at his late home, Friday, August 11, conducted by Elder S. B. Whitney, who the next day accompanied the remains to Adams Center, Jefferson Co., where Elder Taylor once lived, and where his first wife and children are buried.

The writer held a service in the church house of our people at Adams Center, where words of comfort were spoken from Ps. 116:15, to a large congregation. Brother Taylor leaves his wife and a wide circle of friends to mourn their loss. As we laid him by the side of his first wife and children, we did so with the encouraging thought that he and all the ransomed host shall live again to rejoice when death itself shall die, and to continue that rejoicing throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

S. H. LANE.