Obituary Notices | AdventAI

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 20, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 21

Obituary Notices.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13.

VAN DALSEM.—Died near Austin, Cass Co., Mo., April 12, 1880, of inflammation of the stomach, my dear father, Abraham Van Dalsem, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 29 days. Father was born in the State of New York, and has subsequently lived in the States of New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. He embraced religion in early life, and joined the Presbyterian church, of which he continued a devoted and consistent member until about seven years ago, when, by reading our publications, he embraced the third angel’s message. Though he never had an opportunity of joining our church nor of hearing a sermon preached by one of our ministers, yet I believe he tried earnestly to live out the faith we so cherish, as far as he knew and understood it, though bitterly opposed. He kept the Sabbath from the time he saw the truth till his death; and though he contracted the habit of tobacco-chewing when only eight years old, he had the fortitude to discontinue it at the age of seventy-nine. Those who were present at father’s death say he was conscious that his life had waned to its close, and was fully resigned.

Although a mourner I sit by his tomb, And am wrapped in a mantle of care, Yet the grief of my bosom—oh! call it not gloom— Is not the black grief of despair. By sorrow revealed, as the stars are by night, Far off a bright vision appears; And hope, like the rainbow a creature of light, Is born, like the rainbow, in tears.

MRS. THEODOCIA TERRY.

CRAIG.—Died of diphtheria, near Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah Co., Va., on the 27th day of April, 1880, Arbelia Craig, granddaughter of Bro. Walton and Sr. Ellen Craig, aged 13 years, 4 months, and 21 days. She loved the Sabbath-school, and had been keeping the Sabbath nearly one year and a half. She naturally possessed a meek and quiet spirit, and was beloved by all who knew her. Upon her death-bed she spoke of Heaven, and of that “beautiful land,” and desired that all her relatives and friends should so live that they might meet her there. Her death has made a deep impression upon the minds of the people of the neighborhood.

“And thus shall faith’s consoling power The tears of love restrain; Oh, who that saw thy parting hour, Could wish thee back again!”

Funeral discourse by the writer, from Rev. 14:13.

HENRY A. RIFE.

WORDELL.—Died of pneumonia, at his residence in Tazwell Co., Ill., April 29, 1880, Charles Wordell, aged 51 years. Bro. W. became connected with the S. D. Adventists about three years ago. He was liberal, regular in his attendance on public worship, and an earnest worker. Although an old professor, yet the last two years of his religious life were marked with unparalleled devotion. He became wholly resigned to the will of God, and died in the exercise of triumphant faith. Funeral sermon by the writer.

C. H. BLISS.