Fell With the Armor On
By Otho C. Godsmark
ELDER S. OSBORN, one of the oldest ministers among us, fell at his post, July 19, 1903, while attending the eastern Kentucky camp-meeting. He was born in Greenup County, Ky., May 30, 1825. At the age of twenty-six years he moved with his wife to the Territory of Iowa, where they accepted the truths of the third angel's message. In 1871 they returned to their native State, and were the first to preach this message in Kentucky and Tennessee. Under their untiring, unselfish efforts a conference was established and churches organized. In 1877, owing to failing health, he was compelled to leave the active duties of field effort, and settled with his family on a farm at Salt River, Ky. Although retired from active labor, yet his heart's warmest affections were wrapped up in the progress of this message. For the past eighteen months he had again been granted credentials by the conference, and was most happy in being permitted to visit the churches and enter the new fields. At the age of seventy-eight years, he had no thought of relaxing his energies, but was working and planning for the future of this cause. When it was decided to hold a camp-meeting in eastern Kentucky, his heart leaped for joy, and he came to the meeting full of thanksgiving that he could see the work begin to advance, and something definite being done. Sunday forenoon, although feeling somewhat indisposed, he attended the services, and took an active part in the matter of raising means to meet the camp expenses, and also to pay for our large meeting tent. At the close of the service he went to his tent, lay down for a little rest, and while talking with Brother S. M. Jacobs about the work, his head dropped back, and he was gone without a struggle or a moment's warning. He fell at his post, with his armor on. Paralysis of the heart was the immediate cause of his death, but we felt that the Lord had honored his aged servant by laying him away amid the happiest scenes of his later life. We personally accompanied his remains to his home in Salt River, where we laid him to rest by the side of his wife, whom we buried less than one year ago. The cause in our conference has lost an ardent friend, for we feel that a father in Israel has been laid away to rest. Four of his five living children were present at the services, which were held July 22, before a large and sympathetic congregation.