OBITUARY | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 18, 1858

OBITUARY.

SISTER MARY A. daughter of J. P. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Mich., fell asleep in Jesus, March 14th, 1858, aged about fifteen years.

Our young sister has ever kindly obeyed her parents, and strictly observed the Sabbath since they received the truth about six years since. About one year since consumption marked her as its victim, and she slowly wasted away till her death. She endeavored to consecrate her heart to God, and prepare for her end. She bore her sickness with patience and resignation. A few moments before her death she kissed each of the family, told them to meet her in heaven, said she felt the evidence that there was not a sin standing against her, and calmly fell asleep.

Will her companions and young friends with whom she associated imitate her last days, that they may meet her where parting shall be no more?

Sister Mary took delight in the hymn, a verse of which we give below:

"O tell me of heaven, sweet heaven, The home of the pure and the blest, Where sorrow and sin cannot enter, Where the weary forever shall rest. Let me hear of that heavenly city, Where all is immortal and fair, And I'll flee from all earthly enchantments, And earnestly strive to be there." J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

BRO. SMITH: I am called upon to record the death of Hiram Westaver, who fell asleep at his father's residence, (Afton, Union Co., Iowa,) on Feb. 18th, at 11 o'clock, P. M., aged 19 years. We deeply sympathize with those who mourn his loss; but while nature mourns "departing friends, and shakes at death's alarms," "we sorrow not as those which have no hope;" for we do "believe that Jesus died and rose again," and that "those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

Notwithstanding Hiram had arrived at the age when boys are most apt to be disobedient and indolent, he never was known to break the fifth commandment. He sought for light, and lived in harmony with the light he obtained from the Bible. His father, four brothers and two sisters, mourn his loss; but in view of the approaching crisis they can but say, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." We truly shed tears of sympathy with father Westaver, as it has been but two years since he was called upon in a strange land, while emigrating to the West, to follow a christian companion to the grave; yet it is cheering in these disconsolate hours to have a Bible which we can take for a companion, and to have a hope, firmly fixed, "whither the forerunner for us hath entered."

A discourse was preached on the occasion by the writer from John xi, 23, in which we tried to portray the resurrection in its native beauty, with a few remarks on "the fiery trial" through which the church must pass, in consequence of which it will be said, "Blessed are the dead," &c. May this affliction be sanctified to the glory of God and the good of surviving friends. M. HULL.