At Rest by Mrs. C. E. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 2, 1902

At Rest

By Mrs. C. E. Hutchins

After an illness of only thirteen days, my dear companion, Elder Frank J. Hutchins, quietly passed away. He had been working hard, and was apparently as well as usual until July 22, when he was attacked with dysentery. At the first it did not seem to be so severe, but notwithstanding all our efforts to check the disease, he continually grew worse. All the help and counsel that could be obtained in this place were secured, but it was of no avail; evidently it was God’s will to take him, and on August 4, at 10:30 A. M., he passed away.

His short sickness was attended with intense suffering, but he bore it all patiently, without a murmur. He said that he would like to live, but that if the Lord saw fit to lay him away for a little while, he was willing that it should be so.

He was born near San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 27, 1869, and at the day of his death was 33 years, 5 months, and 7 days old.

At the age of seventeen years he heard the truths of the third angel’s message preached by Elder Healey. He, with nearly all the members of his family, accepted the truth, and almost immediately he began preparation to fit himself to carry the message, so dear to his heart, to others.

Two summers he labored as tent master in California, after which he went to Michigan, where he labored two seasons.

On Oct. 1, 1890, we were united in marriage. Nov. 10, 1891, he was ordained to the ministry, and a few days later we took our departure for the Bay Islands, Honduras, Central America. We were both young, and it was with a little fear and trembling that we bade farewell to native land, and launched out upon the mighty deep in search of a country of whose people we knew but little; but the Lord was with us all the way, and it was truly joy to our hearts to see many souls turn to God as a result of the labors put forth.

In the spring of 1900 it was advised that we come farther south, and open up the work in Colombia, South America.

A little more than a year ago he sold the mission schooner “Herald,” and purchased a building here in Bocas del Toro, and fitted it up for mission purposes. It has been his object ever since to try to get the work established here on a solid basis.

During the past year the work has been much hindered by the revolution in Colombia.

About six years ago he connected the practice of dentistry with his other work, and this he found to be a great help, not only in relieving the suffering, but in winning the confidence of the people for whom he labored. It also made his labors nearly self-supporting. His work was very taxing, and he had felt for some time that he must have a change and a little rest, but was always waiting for some other worker to come to his relief. The Lord, however, has seen fit to give him rest, and what can we say only, “Thy will be done”? We have the comforting assurance, “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.”

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. C. Notman (Baptist), assisted by Brethren Brooks and Humphrey.

Regret for his loss is universal in Bocas del Toro; and many, many kind and willing hands ministered to his last necessities.

He is laid to rest in Macca Hill Cemetery beside Dr. John Eccles,—two weary pilgrims, waiting till the Life-giver shall come to call them forth.

Mrs. C. E. HUTCHINS.