Fell asleep in Jesus at Irondequoit, Monroe Co., N. Y., our beloved sister Laura, wife of Bro. David Seely, in the 39th year of her age.
Her disease was paralysis. Her sufferings were great for many months before her death. But she retained her reason until near her death, when the disease, which had paralyzed her limbs for months, approached the brain, which she survived but a few days. She had complained of clouds hanging over her mind, which was doubtless the natural effect of the disease; but some days before her death her mind's sky was clear, and she rejoiced in the hope of the glory of God.
She was among the first, in Rochester, to receive the first of the three advent messages, and the very first to receive the third, and come out on the Sabbath of the Lord. She labored zealously for friends, and brethren and sisters, to get the truth before their minds. But her labors, her trials and her sufferings are past, and she sweetly sleeps, a subject of the divine blessing. The writer spoke to the friends and neighbors assembled at her funeral, from Rev. xiv, 13. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth."
R. F. C.
By a mournful providence, we are called to record the death of our beloved sister, Esther M. Hutchins, wife of Bro. A. S. Hutchins, who of consumption fell asleep at Bro. Wm. Camp's, in Chelsea, Vt., May 6th, 1860, aged 27 years, lacking 6 days. She was 70 miles from her home and relations, out in the work of the last mission of mercy to man.
She embraced religion at the early age of eight years, and was received into the Baptist church. Under the labors of Bro. Bates in 1849 she embraced the present truth with her parents, brothers and sisters, since which she has manifested undeviating constancy, and put forth unwearied efforts to promote the cause she then espoused.
Four or five of her last years she spent mostly in traveling with her husband, and in laboring by every effort, by prayer, and holy living, and fervent exhortation, to tell on the minds of the people, and for good in their future destinies.
In the months of Jan. and Feb. last, she had sunk so low it was thought doubtful whether she ever went from home again; but the first of March she was so greatly blessed and strengthened in answer to prayer, that after prayerful consideration she concluded that God would sustain her in coming to Roxbury to attend Bro. Andrews' meeting, which she enjoyed very much.
After staying in Roxbury two Sabbaths, she desired to visit the saints in Bristol, where also she enjoyed the visit, and was much blessed of the Lord in bearing testimony to the truth. From this place it was rather the choice of Bro. H. to return home; but as there was a favorable opening to present the truth in Chelsea, Vt., 65 miles from Bristol, she preferred going there to going home, as she thought they might possibly do good there. They reached Chelsea April 26, she to return no more until she was carried home to her weeping friends a corpse.
Near the midst of that mournful journey, a fond mother and loving sister, while on their way to visit the loved one of whom they were then bereft, not knowing of the sad event, met the lonely procession consisting of the bereaved husband, Bro. Grant and myself. Here in a moment they were made mourners, and bestrewed the highway with silent tears, as they turned and went back to their home, where their grief burst forth anew on meeting a loving father, brother and sister.
The Sunday before her death she attended meeting at the meeting-house in the A. M., but had not strength to bear her testimony. Her last days were very peaceful and calm. She was perfectly resigned to the will of God, and expressed no murmur or complaint that she was away from, and not permitted to see, her parents, brothers and sisters.
Thus ended the probationary course of one to whom the advancement of the cause of truth was more precious than life. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."