Obituary Notices | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 29, 1873

Obituary Notices.

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.

Died, in Centerport, N. Y., March 30, 1873, of paralysis, complicated with heart disease, Bro. Wm. Harris, aged seventy-two years. Failing to get a minister, either Adventist or of another denomination, to preach a funeral discourse, we read from his Bible, a few comforting passages of Scripture, from Job. 14; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4; &c. There were deep pencil lines drawn around these scriptures, thus showing the consolation such Scriptures afforded him. We followed him to his resting place in the Weedsport Cemetery, with his lonely and feeble widow, firmly believing that he will shortly be brought forth to a glorious immortality, by that dear Saviour in whom he trusted to the last, even while the death-sweat was gathering upon his forehead.

We have many times listened with delight to the rich experience of Bro. Harris in scattering the light of the Advent faith under the first message, even up to the day in which he expected to meet a coming Saviour, by giving away tracts, pamphlets, &c.; then his bitter disappointment, as the midnight hour passed and his Saviour did not come; with his subsequent joy and gladness, as he beheld the light of the third message, which harmonized the past, and threw such a flood of light on the present and the future. His whole soul seemed to be filled with a sacred joy, which the world could not give nor take away. We thought, Surely, such an one must be prepared to receive the gift of immortal life, and have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of God.

E. S. LANE.

Died, at North Creek, March 8, 1873, our dear father, Thomas Coburn, in the 83d year of his age. He had been an Adventist since about 1844, and had kept the Sabbath some twenty-five years, and was ever a firm and earnest friend of the cause of present truth. The closing months of his life, before his mental powers failed, gave evidence of deep consecration and spirituality, and the last testimony he bore in social meeting was especially satisfactory. He sleeps in Jesus. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

Services were held by Eld. Smith, Baptist; after which he was taken to Bucks Bridge, where services were repeated by Bro. C. O. Taylor.

S. B. & C. M. C. WHITNEY.

Died, in Wright, Ottawa Co., Mich., March 18, 1873, of heart disease, Susannah, wife of Matthew Maycroft, aged sixty-two years. Sister Maycroft embraced religion in Upwell, England, and was there a Wesleyan Methodist. Soon after coming to this country, some fifteen years ago, she listened to present truth, embraced it, and was faithful till the day of her death.

Funeral discourse from 1 Thess. 4:18.

J. BYINGTON.

Died, at Waterloo, Wis., March 21, 1873, our sister, Susan Elwell, aged twenty-eight years, two months, and four days. Her death was sudden, and unexpected by all. She leaves a husband and four children to mourn their loss. She was among the first to embrace the third angel’s message, as presented by Bro. Sanborn. She was a good Christian wife and mother. Discourse by the writer from Rev. 14:12.

D. DOWNER.