OBITUARY by D. Arnold

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1862

OBITUARY.

By D. Arnold

FELL asleep in Jesus at Roosevelt, Oswego Co., N. Y., at the residence of her son, Dec. 16, 1861, sister Flora Wells, aged 75 years, 7 months, and 23 days.

Sister Wells in 1843 fully heeded the cry of the first angel of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, and was thus prepared to yield to the claims of the second angel in 1844, and came out of the Presbyterian church and identified herself in 1848 with the keepers of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus under the third message.

About 1846 she lost her natural eyesight, and although deprived of the natural light of the sun, yet was quick to perceive the light by which the people of God have been led to their present position. She was a faithful and consistent member of the church to the last. Her end was peace; her hope was unclouded to the last. She was a great sufferer, but bore her sufferings with great patience, and unshaken confidence in God and in the present truth. She retained her reason, called her children around her bed, and gave them her last counsel and testimony. Some of her last words were, "Praise the Lord! he has not left me, but has permitted his face to shine upon me. The blessed hope, how sweet it is! I know that my Redeemer liveth, and because he lives I shall live also." Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace. Ps. xxxvii, 37.

Also Harriet S. Drake, daughter of sister Wells, died at the same place, and in the same room, Nov. 28, 1861, aged 35 years, 9 months, and 6 days.

She was united in marriage to Bro. Lyman Drake, Wednesday, Nov. 20. She took a violent cold the Monday previous, which terminated in inflammation of the lungs. None considered her dangerous till the day previous to her death, when the disease determining to the head, rendered her insensible to her approaching dissolution. She had attended constantly and faithfully upon her mother since the loss of her sight. Her mother deeply felt her loss. Harriet embraced the messages at the same time with her mother, and exhibited in her life those christian graces which rendered her a peculiar blessing to her mother in her deep affliction and declining years, and an ornament to the church. In this bereavement the church has lost two of its most faithful members; but we mourn not as those who have no hope.

Yea, saith the Spirit, write them blessed, Who from henceforth in Jesus rest. They from their toils and labors cease, Their works shall bring eternal peace. D. ARNOLD.