Elizabeth-Town gazette., 1819-07-20
REV. BACKUS WILBUR.

/ w.
| WIIBUn, (son of Dea. Joseph Wilbur, Of hi
town. was written by Mrs. Wilbur, and pub
ished in the Religious Remem6rancer in Janu
airy last. Believing it will be particularly inter
esting to many of our readers, who knew hi
worth, and cherish an affection for his memory
we comply with the request of friend in civ
ing it place in our columns
| Mr. Wilbur was born Nov. o, 1888
made profession of his attachment t
lChrist, March q, 1903 commenced
studying with view to the ministry ih,
following autumn; entered the Juniol
Glass in College, September, 1910; gra
!duated 1913; entered the Iheo!osica
Seminary, November, 1918; was licencet
to preach the gospel, April, 1916; fin
Iished his course in the Seminary, Sep
tember, 1916; laboured as missionar,
the succeeding fall and the winter 0
1917 10 Virginia and Illinois; returned
to Dayton in March, where, at the soli
citation of the people, he remained five
months; at the end of that time call was
made out for bim, which was sent aftel
him to New-Jersey in the winter of 1918
He spent the winter Of 1918 preaching il
the suburbs of Philadelphia, and in Eliz.
abeth- Town, N. j. supplying DR.. M.
Dowel's pulpit in his absence. He was
married, March rs, 1915; commenced
his journey to the west, May 20; arrived
in Dayton, June 10 /; joined the Miami
Presbytery, July 9; was ordained and
installed at Dayton on the 9th of Aug.
preached twice the ensuing Sabbath, and
gave an exhorta,ion on Tuesday evening
the last he delivered to his own people.
On Wednesday afternoon, accompanied
by Mrs. K, his sister aud myself, he sci
off for Cincinnati. He had been requested
by the elders of the Second Church il
that place, to administer the Sacrament
Iof the Lords Supper among them. Hs
sent word to Franklin, place Is miles
from Dayton, that he would preach, il
word was given. In the evening there
was quite large and attentive audience
assembled, and Mr.. Wilbur was so niue
pleased with the attention Showed, and
the prospect of usefulness, that he told a
pious man who was Iamenting their desti-
tute situation, that he would make an ar
rsngement to preach for them once q
month that he calculated to go once a
week out in the country to preach, and
that should be one of his stations. The
next evening we reached Cincinnati. Or
Friday, Mr.. Wilbur preached in the
evening preparatory lecture from Exc
dus xix. 10, IL. The next day he COM
Iplained of Stiffness in his neck, and pain
10 his head, and said he had takeh cold
the night before. He studied very hard
part Of the day, and late at night; as it
was the first time Of his administering the
ordinance, he had great deal Of prepa-
ration to make. The next day he preached
on the sufferings of Christ, and admin
istered the Sacrament of the Lords Sup
per. There were two tables, which
made the service more laborious for him ;
as he complained much Of his head,
wished him to decline preaching in the
evening for MIR. Wilson, but he would
not be persuaded. He preached in the
evening from Proverbs iv. 9. 4" Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get wis.
dom," &c.-Monday afternoon he attended
meeting Of the Female Benevolent So.
ciety ; spoke at some length, prayed and
sung. In the evening he attended the
Monthly Concert Of Prayer; he felt SC
unweli when he went, that be thought he
would take no part; but when he got
there, he spoke for some time OIL these
words, Thy kingdom come, aud concluded
with as fervent prayer as / ever heard
him make. o, little did I think he wa
closing his public ministry, while saw
him so zealously engaged about his Mas
ter's business the thought arising from
the pride of my heart was, how mucl
good he was to do; what an example h,
was to those older than himself, of dill
gence and faithfulness in the work of tha
Master whose service was his delight
That night and the next morning, he tool
medicine, but it did not have the effec
desired. In the evening he again tool
medicine. He still kept about, and IN,
next evening he took an emetic, and sait
he felt his head much relieved by it
Thursday we commenced our iourne,
homeward, and reached home on Frida,
afternoon. Mr.. Wilbur being very i'll ",
sent Immediately for physician. From
this time he never rose, except to hav,
his bed made. He would not give u,
the idea of preaching, till Saturday morn
ing. On Friday he said, fear | shall
be badly prepared for the Sabbath
should be thinking on message for m,
|people. On Sabbath he requested to hav,
writing materials brought him, sat up il
1.-The bed, and wrote short note to b,
read in church. He was exhausted will
1.-THE exertion, and seemed quite overcom,
| m:.b tha thnught how soon his etron,.,