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The Death of Elder S. H. Lane

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 6, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 36.

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The Death of Elder S. H. Lane

A BRIEF announcement was made last week of the sudden death of Elder S. H. Lane, the president of the New York Conference. It seems that several weeks ago he had an ill turn, and decided to go to Battle Creek. There he appeared to improve, and soon returned to his field of labor. The following quotation from a letter written by Brother T. E. Bowen, the secretary of the New York Tract Society, will give some particulars concerning the last few days of Elder Lane’s life:—
“His death came as a great surprise to us all. He was apparently improving, that is, he kept saying he felt better, although he looked bad when here at the office both times. He came directly from Battle Creek to Constableville, a little place about twelve miles from the Rome, and then the next week came down to the office. The last time he was here at the office, he seemed to me better than the first time in some ways. His wife did not accompany him this way, but went to Canton, where they had friends and relatives. She was there caring for a sick cousin. Within a few miles of Canton lived Brother and Sister Crosbie, relatives, and on Elder Lane’s going north, Sister Lane joined him, and went out to their place. It seems he reached there on Tuesday, and stayed until Thursday after dinner. Sister Crosbie’s son took him to the station at Canton.
“A letter from Brother Snide, who met him at the other end of the journey at Brushton, states that he was sick when he met him. On reaching Bangor he went to bed. In the evening he rallied sufficiently to perform a marriage ceremony, but was not able to finish writing out the certificate. From this time he did not get up, neither did he eat anything after leaving Brother Crosbie’s on Thursday morning. They sent for Sister Lane, and she reached Bangor Sabbath afternoon. That night they did all that they could for him, and in the morning he seemed some better. A physician had been called before Sister Lane came, and Sunday morning he came again. He gave them no hope, and said he might live two days, but he died in about two hours.
“Sister Crosbie wrote that his mind was preserved to the last. Sunday morning he told his wife he felt deathly sick, and he did not know but that he was going to die. He then prayed, and as nearly as can be quoted, he said, ‘O Lord, thou knowest I have tried to be faithful. I have made many mistakes, but do thou forgive.’ A few minutes afterward he passed away.”
The body was taken to Battle Creek, where funeral service was held in the Tabernacle. The following report of the exercises is taken from the Morning Enquirer of that city:—
“A large and sympathetic gathering of mourning relatives, friends, and neighbors assembled at the Tabernacle yesterday afternoon in attendance upon the solemn and impressive funeral service for the late Elder Sands H. Lane, conducted by Elder A. T. Jones, who previously conducted prayer services at the home of Mrs. J. W. Bacheller and family, 324 West Main Street, Mrs. Bacheller being a sister of the deceased.
“Owing to the fact of the illness of Elder J. M. Rees, of Kokomo, Ind., who was obliged to seek treatment at the Sanitarium, the duty devolved upon Elder Jones, who, following a fervent prayer, based his remarks upon the scripture lesson found in Isa. 57: 1, 2, also reading the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, descriptive of the home of the saved—a theme upon which the departed ever delighted to speak. Then followed a highly eulogistic sketch of the life-work of the deceased from the pen of Elder Rees, who was brought into the Seventh-day Adventist ministry through the efforts of Elder Lane.
“Three beautiful and appropriate vocal numbers were tenderly rendered by a West End quartette consisting of Mrs. S. I. Abbey, Miss Lelah Hart, Messrs. O. C. Edwards and Howard H. Burden, the numbers bringing tears to the eyes of many in the congregation. “During the service Elder Jones read a well-penned biographical sketch of the life and work of the departed friend and minister. He was followed by Elders Nicola, Bourdeau, Tenney, McCoy, and Burnham, each of whom paid high tribute to the memory and worth of their departed brother and efficient co-worker, referring to his genial and kind-hearted manners, which won for him legions of friends in every field of labor in which his lot was cast. The bier was covered with the most beautiful flowers and evergreens, emblematical of the love and esteem in which the deceased was and ever will be held.”
“As was eminently befitting the occasion, the pall-bearers were fellow ministers and colaborers of the deceased, Elders McCoy, Tenney, Bourdeau, Nicola, Heckman, and Smith. The funeral party, preceded by Elder Jones, the bearers, and the casket, filed out of the Tabernacle at the close of the service, the quartette feelingly rendering another appropriate vocal number. The long cortege then took its way to Oak Hill Cemetery, where the remains were laid at rest in the Bacheller family plat, to await the coming of the Life-giver, in whose vineyard the deceased had long and efficiently labored, there to sleep in confidence awaiting the call of the Master and his approving words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’”
The following biographical sketch, prepared by Elder J. M. Rees, was read at the funeral service:—
“Sands H. Lane was born in the township of Bedford, near Battle Creek, in 1844, and this community has been home to him all the sixty-two years of his life. When he was a lad of about ten years, his parents embraced the faith held by Seventh-day Adventists, and since that time he has lived in that faith. In his youth he was employed in the printing-office of the Review and Herald. His brother, E. B. Lane, who was about two years older than Sands, entered the ministry, and after a few years’ experience induced his brother to engage in the gospel work with him, their first work being done in Indiana in 1868. The fruits of his labors soon gave proof of his call to the work, and since then his life has been given to the proclamation of present truth and to organizing and directing the work in various fields. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Parmelia Hilliard, of Madrid, N. Y.
“For some years his work was in Indiana, and he became the president of the Indiana Conference, in which capacity he labored for several years with marked success. He spent some time in England, and presided over the New York and Southern Illinois Conferences, and again returned to New York, in which State his labors came to an end.
“Soon after returning to his field of labor he was called upon to perform a somewhat tedious journey by wagon. The trip aggravated the disordered condition of his liver, and brought on serious suffering, caused by the poisons which quickly filled his system, and from which he could not rally.
“He died in Bangor, eastern New York, August 19. His sufferings were borne with fortitude, and he met the end in full faith and courage in his Redeemer. The blow came with sudden and terrible force to his wife, who was accompanying him on his travels, and ministered to him in his last sufferings. But she is sustained by the blessed hope soon to be realized, and by the prayers and sympathies of thousands of friends, who are afflicted with her.”
Elder Lane was for several years a member of the board of trustees of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, holding this position up to the time of its dissolution in 1903, and was president of the Board in 1899-1900. He was also president of the board of trustees of the General Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists during the years 1901-03. At the same time he was a member of various other boards and committees in connection with the general work.