Herald of Truth Volume I, No. 11, November 1864 Page 76

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On October 3d, near Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Pa., of consumption, bro. John Shenk, Son of bro. Henry and sister Martha Shenk, aged 22 years and 8 months. He was buried on the 5th. A large concourse of friends and relatives followed him to the grave. The funeral sermon was preached by the brethren Christian Nissley and John B. Landis, from Ph. 1: 21. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Arrangements had been made to fill the vacancy in the ministry occasioned by the death of our dear brother Peter Risser, and the day for casting the lots had been appointed. There were eight candidates, and brother Shenk was one of them; but owing to the extreme illness of his son he could not be present when the drawing took place. It was however determined to proceed, and Eight books were placed upon the desk - Seven were drawn and the Eighth left standing for bro. Shenk -it was the one containing the lot, and he was thus pointed out as the one called of God to fill the sacred place of one gone to his rest, in the blessed work of preaching the Gospel and calling sinners to repentance.
The sorrow of heart occasioned by the death of his son and the anxiety with which this new and important and solemn work would naturally fill every reflecting mind, seem to fall heavily upon bro. Shenk. But it is thus the Lord sometimes deals with his children - it is thus through sorrow and affliction the Lord sometimes prepares his servants for his own work, and blessed are they who can kiss the rod that smites them, and with Job exclaim: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." They who stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and praising God and the Lamb, were those who had come through great tribulation. Therefore let us hope and trust and pray. The darkest hour brings light again-the gloomiest cloud has its silver lining, and in deepest sorrow the Father of mercies draws near.

On the 19th of October, in Lancaster Co., Pa., of consumption, Pre. Tobias Kreider, aged 53 years, 1 month and 9 days. He was called to the ministry some 15 years ago, which office he filled faithfully until his death. He was an honest and upright brother, and walked in the fear of the Lord. We hope and believe that his loss to his family and his congregation, is his eternal gain in happiness, where there will be no more death nor sorrow, nor pain, but where he shall reap the reward of the righteous in glory. His buriel(sic) on the 22nd was largely attended: Funeral sermon was preached by the brethren Daniel Witmer and Benjamin Herr--Text, Heb. 13: 7,8.
C. K. N.
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J.B.
On the 9th of October Waterloo Township, Waterloo Co., C. W. Elizabeth Clemens, wife of Abraham C. Clemens, whose maiden name was Strohm. She suffered from Palsy for more than a year,being unable to walk or speak and sometimes, as it seemed unconscious. Her pilgrimage in this world extended itself to 62 years, 1 mo. and 13 days. Her remains were laid to rest at Wanners Meeting house on the 11th, where a funeral sermon was preached in the English language from Rom. 8: 18. "For I reckon that the sufferings" &c., and in the German from Num. 23: 10. "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his!
JOHN BEAR.

Transcribed by Ron Garber, Kansas

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