Obituary | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 25, 1883

Obituary.

BOWNSBERGER.—On the morning of Oct. 9, 1883, in Healdsburg, Cal., Bessie B., infant daughter of Prof. S. and Florida V. Brownsberger, died of marasmus, aged seven months and eight days. From the time she was six weeks old there was a gradual wasting away, which the care of friends and the skill of physicians were powerless to prevent. From that time the body did not increase in weight, although the mind developed as rapidly as is usual in children who enjoy good health. A large company of students and sympathizing friends assembled in the parlors of the College Boarding Hall, where the writer spoke the words with which Christians are commanded to comfort one another (1 Thess. 4: 13-18). E. J. W.

NOSLER.—Katie Myrtle, daughter of H. E. and M. E. Nosler, died in Healdsburg, Cal., Oct. 9, 1883, of cholera infantum and pneumonia, aged one year, nine months, and one day. Brother and sister Nosler, who have but recently embraced the Third Angel's Message, through the missionary efforts of members of the Healdsburg Church, are sustained by the "blessed hope" that Christ will soon return to bring again the little ones from "the land of the enemy." E. J. W.

PIERCE.—Died at Madison, Dakota, of typho-malarial fever, our dear brother, Eld. Stephen Pierce, aged seventy-nine years. Bro. Pierce was born in Cavendish, Vt., and resided in that State many years. He afterwards lived at Stewartsville, Minn., and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His last days were spent at Madison, Dakota, with the family of Bro. A. D. Smith. He was President of the S. D. A. Conference in Vermont and Minnesota five years each, and at one time occupied the position of corresponding editor of the Review and Herald. Many, in hearing of the death of Bro. Pierce, will feel that they have sustained a personal loss. He was a man of deep and genuine piety, possessing at the same time much of the precious grace of humility. The Bible was his study and delight, and he was an able expositor of its truths, seeming to have a clear understanding of many of its parts "which are hard to be understood."

Bro. Pierce was ever a friend of the poor and suffering; and while he made few claims for himself, he was thoughtful of the comfort and convenience of others. His last sickness was borne with much patience, and he earnestly desired to have death come that he might be at rest. God has spoken by his Spirit that Bro. Pierce was a man of fine conscience, and the fear of the Lord has been before him. Yet at times he doubted, and feared he was not accepted of God. We have good reason to believe he will come forth at the first resurrection and share in the triumph of God's people. Not long will the prairie sod cover his precious form; for the voice of God will call him from his dusty bed, and he will reap the reward of a faithful, godly life. He certainly is of the class spoken of in Rev. 14: 13: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." A. D. OLSEN.