Chapter 11
from life to life or how our preachers die by william marion weekly rev benjamin f booth d d having gone to the uncreated source of fire to light his torch dr booth was a light-bearer in the best sense and wherever he went the people felt the glow and warmth of his spiritual life to such a one death has no alarm to bishop weaver dr booth said referring to his illness i do not know how this will turn out i should love to live awhile yet to do some more work for the master but remember it is all right to dr william the key he said exultingly sweeping through the gates washed in the blood of the lamb
his last sermon was preached on the text thou hast been faithful over few things i will make thee ruler over many things so loved was this great soul that the whole church mourned his departure from earth safe safe on the ever-shining shore sin pain and death and sorrow all are o'er happy now and evermore washed in the blood of the lamb rev henry young when asked how he felt in view of his approaching end mr young calmly repeated that oft-quoted verse o land of rest for thee i sigh when will the moment come when i shall lay my armor by and dwell in peace at home then added i am looking for my end every moment i am expecting my saviour nor did he look in vain by this death pennsylvania conference lost a good man
but heaven was made vastly richer in moral worth filled with delight my raptured soul would here no longer stay though jordan's waves around me roll fearless i'd launch away rev jacob antrim mr antrim of miami conference was an evangelist of rare ability and spent much of his time in evangelistic work when the call of the master came he was in pennsylvania conducting revival services when he realized that death was at hand he requested two of his ministerial brethren who were at his bedside to sing what seemed to him an appropriate hymn on jordan's stormy banks i stand and cast a wishful eye to canaan's fair and happy land where my possessions lie he joined heartily in the song and in the prayer which followed and then remarked for forty-two years has the lord been with me and i feel that he is with me now
i am going to a better world this world is not my home so he died at the ripe age of threescore and twelve years and was gathered to his people rev jacob c smith when this hero of faith could no longer speak he would frequently look up with a smile and wave his hand in triumph just prior to his death he wrote a letter to bishop dixon with whom he had long been associated in his conference relations and assured him of his abiding faith in the religion of christ thanks be to god he said i have not moved one hair-breadth from the faith i preached and believed during the forty-eight years of my christian life i often enjoy sweet moments and hours in secret conversation with my christ
my deafness and blindness have isolated me from the rest of mankind i am compelled to be a world within myself god being with me this is possible and even enjoyable yes tis sweet to trust in jesus just from sin and self to cease just from jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace end of section eleven
