Another Pioneer Fallen by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1902

Another Pioneer Fallen.

By John Norton Loughborough

LUNT.—Noah Norton Lunt was born in Calais, Me., May 3, 1821, and died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1902, in Oakland, Cal., at the age of 80 years, 8 months, and 5 days. He was first married to Rebekah E. Chamberlain, who lived but a short time after their marriage. He afterward married Sarah H. Chamberlain, the sister of his first wife, by whom he had six children, four girls and two boys. Of these only two remain,—the oldest daughter, the wife of C. H. Jones, of Oakland; and the youngest son, a resident of Los Angeles,—both of whom were present at the funeral. His second wife died in Battle Creek, Mich., in the summer of 1867. In 1869 he was married to Frances Howland, who survives him.

Brother Lunt received the Advent message under the preaching of William Miller, in Portland, Me., about the year 1840. Brother Lunt and J. N. Andrews,—author of “History of the Sabbath,”—when the latter was a mere boy, traveled together, distributing literature, and talking the Advent message, from 1840–44. The indignation was so great against them that they were arrested and put in prison for preaching the message.

Brother Lunt was probably almost the only survivor of the sixty in Portland, Me., who, in January, 1845, first heard Sister White relate her vision. He was also one of those present at the time of her third vision, when she held the great eighteen-and-one-quarter-pound Bible open on her extended left arm for over half an hour, turning from place to place with her finger, pointing to texts of Scripture that she repeated, with her eyes looking upward and away from the book.

In the year 1846 Brother Lunt accepted the Sabbath truth, from the teachings of Elder Joseph Bates, about the same time that Elder James White and Sister E. G. White accepted the message from the same teacher. In the spring of 1864, when the writer organized the Seventh-day Adventist church in Portland, Me., Brother Lunt was elected and ordained as elder. He served in that capacity until about the year 1866, when he moved to Battle Creek, Mich. In that church he served as elder until about the year 1886, when he came to Oakland, Cal. Here he rendered efficient service as elder until about one year ago, when, on account of feebleness of health, he was relieved of that responsibility.

His life record has closed, but it has been one of earnest devotion, and unassuming, quiet faithfulness in serving the Master. The last Sabbath of his life was communion day with the Oakland church. The Lord impressed the mind of the pastor of the church—Elder Corliss—at the close of the service, to take the emblems to Brother Lunt. It was a happy communion season in that house. From that time a calm peace settled upon Brother Lunt. The last audible words he was heard to utter were, “Father, help.” The peaceful look upon his countenance, even in death, yet spoke, and reminded the writer of the hymn concerning the dying Christian:—

“How sweet the hour of closing day, When all is peaceful and serene, And the broad sun’s retiring ray Sheds mellow luster o’er the scene.

“Such is the Christian’s parting hour, So peacefully he sinks to rest, When faith, endued from Heaven with power, Sustains and cheers his languid breast.

“Mark but that radiance of his eye, That smile upon his wasted cheek; They tell us of his hope on high In language that no tongue can speak.”

A large concourse of our people was present at the funeral service, which was conducted by Brother Corliss and the writer, in the Oakland church, the afternoon of Sabbath, January 11. On that beautiful sunny afternoon, we laid our brother away to rest in the Mountain View Cemetery, feeling that indeed it will be but a “little while” until Brother Lunt, his three daughters, and other relatives among whom he is sleeping, will hear the call to “AWAKE!” May the good Lord, and we ourselves by our earnest labors, “hasten” the day.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.