Herald of Truth - Volume VI, Number 8 - August 1869 - pages 115 & 127

DEATH. Death is in our midst. On our right and on our left he is calling our fellow beings from among us to try the realities of another world. We have many reasons to consider over the matter and see whether we are also ready, for we know not the hour when the Son of man cometh. Many are taken away very suddenly, and if they are not prepared for death, Oh! how sad their condition. They must take their portion with the ungodly. Oh could we but persuade the impenitent to flee from sin and come into the ark of safety-to repent while there is yet time and opportunity. Especially do I desire to call the attention of the young to this matter. Let me ask you, dear young friends, have you chosen for your portion life or death? If you have not yet thought of the matter, think of it now, for the time may soon come when you will have to give an account of all you have done here below. I will here relate an incident that happened in our neighborhood on Saturday, the 26th of June. A young man by the name of Noah Witmer*, formerly from Columbiana county, O., with a number of his companions went into the water, which was very high, and the current strong, so that he was unable to help himself and was drowned. How sad it is to think that so young a man who perhaps little thought that he had laid his garments by the last time, and that death was so near, and his time so short that he should so suddenly be called from time into eternity. Now beloved young friends, let us take warning and prepare for the solemn change which sooner or later must come over us all, so that if we should suddenly be called away, as this young man was, that we might then have a hope of entering into the rest of the people of God, for they who obey the laws of Christ and do his will have the promise that they shall be arrayed in white robes-they shall rest from their labors and their works do follow them. May God give us strength that we all make our calling and our election sure. Grundy County, Ill.
H. B. S.

(*note: see also death notice below for Noah Whitmer)

On the 2nd of July, in Woodford county, Ill., Jacob, son of Jonas and Polly Mishler, aged 1 month and 9 days. Funeral sermon by Peter Lehman from the words, "To live is Christ, to die is gain," and by Jost Bally from the words, "Let the little children come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

On the 24th of June, in Berks county, Pa., John Moser, aged 79 years and 18 days.

On the 31st of March, in Middlebury township, Elkhart county, Ind., of typhoid fever, Katy Miller, widow of Michael Miller, aged 41 years, 3 months and 17 days. Funeral discourses by A. Hoover and H. A. Miller.

On the 12th of June, in Elkhart county, Ind., Mary Ellen Gill, aged one year, 2 months and 2 days. Funeral sermon by J. Beidler and D. Brenneman from Eccl. 9: 10.

On the 25th of January, in Libertyville Church, Jefferson county, Iowa, Hannah, wife of John G. W. Smith, and daughter of Samuel and Frances Brown, aged 39 years, 3 months and 29 days. A Funeral discourse was delivered by Stephan Yoder. She was a consistent member of the Brethren (Dunkard) Church for many years.

On the 11th of July, in Walnut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio, Aaron, son of Moses M. Miller, aged 16 years, 11 months and 16 days. On the day of his death he climbed on a willow-tree which stood near the house, from which he fell on his head a distance of about 15 feet, fracturing the skull and breaking an arm, from the effects of which he died in about half an hour. Beloved reader, behold the frailty of man, and especially ye young who are yet in the bloom of life, in the full enjoyment of health and strength, and mark well the lesson our heavenly Father would teach by such sudden deaths! He was a large, strong young man, with the bloom of health upon his cheek, and yet in half an hour, he was no more. Oh how uncertain is life! and how sure is death! Let us not neglect to think of this, and consider it well. As I thought of this incident, I felt that it was a matter of great importance to us all, since in these days it is so very fashionable among the young to stand before the looking glass and arrange and adorn the hair, and often in a few hours a change comes over them, and they fall into the hand of the fatal destroyer of human beauty and adornment, death. Let us therefore be warned and set our house in order, so that when the messenger of death calls we may be ready to enter the dark valley. Jesus tells that the son of Man will come in an hour when we think not. The young man was buried on the 12th at the Walnut Creek Omish Mennonite burying ground. A Funeral discourse was delivered by Abm. Mast from Job 14: 1, 2, 5, and E. S. Miller from Sirach 38: 16 to end of the chapter.

On the 12th of July, in Milford township, Bucks county, Pa.., of consumption, Joseph Clemmer, aged 57 years and 10 months. Buried at the Swamp Schummer Mennonite burying ground. Funeral sermons by John Allenbach and Isaac Oberholtzer.

On the 26th of June, in Grundy Co., Ill., Noah Whitmer*, aged 25 years, 2 months and 28 days. Funeral sermon by H. L. Shelly from Matt. 24: 44. His death was caused by drowning. He was formerly from Columbiana county, Ohio.

(*note: see also death notice above for Noah Witmer)

On the 24th of July, in Rockhill township, Bucks county, Pa., Christian Clemmer, aged 30 years and 11 months. He was buried on the 27th at Gehman's Meeting house, where funeral discourses were delivered by Henry Nice and Jos. Allenbach.

On the 20th of July, in Putnam county, Ohio, of inflamation of the brain, Clara H. daughter of William and Eve Dicus, aged 5 years, 2 months and 4 days. Funeral sermon by Geo. Brenneman.

On the 5th of July, near Trenton, Henry Co., Iowa, John Miller, aged 50 years, 1 month and 13 days. He was a member of the Omish Mennonite church, and died in the hope of future happiness. His wife died just 11 months previous. Funeral discourese* were delivered by John V. Ganden and Joseph Schlagel. They leave 9 children. We hope they rest where sickness and sorrow can never come. Farewell, my children dear, I am not dead but sleeping here; Prepare for death, for die you must, And with me slumber in the dust.

On the 8th of July, in Waterloo city, Dekalk county, Ind., at the house of Bro. Jacob Brand, Widow Barbara Myers, aged 76 years, 11 months and 2 days. She was for many years a member of the Mennonite Church. She manifested an eagar* desire to leave this vain world and be at rest. She leaves six children to mourn their loss, but they need not mourn as those having no hope. Funeral address by D. Brenneman from 2 Tim. 4: 6-8.

On the 14th of June, in Plumsteadville, Bucks county, Pa., Esther, Widow of Rudolph Landis, deceased, aged 74 years, 4 months and 7 days. She was buried at Deep Run burying ground. Funeral sermons were preached by J. Allenbach and J. Gross.

On the 28th of May, in Plumstead township, Mary, wife of Jacob Shaddinger, in the 53rd year of her age. She was buried at Deep Run burying ground. Funeral discourses were delivered by J. Allenbach and S. Godshalk.

On the 13th of July, in Mount Joy township, Lancaster county, Pa., Brother Joseph I. Risser, aged 22 years, 8 months and 18 days. He bore his illness with christian fortitude, and had a great desire to depart from this world of tears and sorrow.

On the 16th of July, near McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., Barbara Sherer, wife of James Sherer, aged 64 years, 5 months and 20 days. She was a member of the Omish Mennonite Church. She was buried on the 18th. Funeral discourse was delivered by David T. Zook from Philip. 1: 21.

On the 27th of July, in Branch county, Mich., of hooping* cough, Sarah Ann, daughter of Hervey and Catharine Friesner (age not given). Buried on the 28th. Funeral discourses were delivere* by Peter Long and C. D. Beery from James 4: 14.

On the 19th of July, at her Father's residence, near Mt. Crawford, Rockingham county, Va., Mary Keagy, departed this life, aged 20 years, 2 months, and 4 days. Seldom does it become our painful duty to record the death of one so universally beloved and esteemed, which she gained by her more than ordinary loving, mild, and gentle disposition, as well as by so honorably maintaining that holy religion which she professed, and became a bright ornament of the Church of Christ militant here on earth, as well (as we trust) in the Church triumphant in glory. Consumption siezed* her severely and most rapidly hastened her, as it were, to an untimely grave. Yes dear Mary's cup of suffering is filled, though bitter as it was she drank of it cheerfully to the very dregs, without a murmuring word, with beams ever smiling from her radiant countenance as filled with refulgent glory, with which her transported and enraptured soul seemed to be overflowing. Oh how solemnly did the thought pierce us when we first thought of parting with her, and oh! how keenly did we feel the tender emotions of twinig* tendrils move around our hearts when the hour of separation arrived. But let us not weep for dear Mary, for the sunshine of hope is brightly beaming with rays of refulgent light and glory, while we have such excellent promises and consolations of meeting those dear ones again. "And blissful will be our union there where soul meets soul unencumbered with these earthly fetters, and mingle with each other even as our tear-drops now often glide into each other. But there we shall never weep. No heart will be left unsatisfied, no spirit will mourn in jealousy, for that happy region is the abode of love, of love without the defilements or the disquietudes of mortality, for there it is an everlasting, pure enjoyment. It is a full diffusive tenderness which penetrating all hearts, unites the whole in one spirit of boundless love in the bosom of our God." Sister thou wast mild and lovely, Gentle as the summer's breeze, Pleasant as the air of evening, When it floats among the trees.

Yet again we hope to greet thee,
When the day of life is fled;
Then in heaven with joy to greet thee,
Where no farewell tear is shed.
A Friend.

* Transcribers note: as written

Transcribed by Sandra Poulton, Ontario