Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-08
Communicated.

Communicated
OBITUARY..
Died on Saturday, 18th of October last JAMES Douo.
LASS, Jr. Of the firm of ]. A. Douglas Alexanir;.
aged SO years. By this event society has sustained
heavy loss He was IA man of sterling worth, This
was known while he lived, and it was testified at his
grave by hundreds Of most respectable citizens
tie wasa Christian lie made profession Of religion
at an early period. and by the Grsce of GoD he ss
tanned that profession, with uniform consistency, to
the end OF his hfe He possessed clear and vigorous
mind, the whole force of which was directed to the
subject of region.-This subject he studied, in the
midst ct his secular employments, with great success
Ills heart was in the business He felt the deepest in
terest in it, and he willing to make any sacrifice
consistent with duty for the sake of enjoying the best
opportunities Tor spiritual Improvement. In religious
conversation, in the exercises Of prayer meeting or
OF the sanctuary; in Sabbath schools, Bible societies
&c, he found bis highest enjoyment.-whilee engaged
IN them and IN his private devoons he was in his ele
ment. When be returned again to the pursuits of the
world he felt that was descending from an elevation
where he delighted to dwell, aud where like the dis.
cipes on the mount Of TRANSPORTATION, he was often
disposed to build tabernacles 1t proper. however
to observe that an important change took place the
state Of his mind during the last year of his life Pre-.
vousy to that time his mind generally had been gloo.
my and despondinS. Although his purposes of ODE
dience were fixed, and his conduct and conversation
such preclude, in the minds OF Others all
doubt OF his piey, yet he himself oub.ed whether he
Christian This state of mind was habitua for
= number of years, with only occasional CLEANS Of
hope In his unhappy hours, he often resorted to the
room of An aged and experienced Christian for coun.
sci; and at one time he painfully exercised that
but for the advice Of this FRIEND he would have made
open declaration before the Church. that in his own
opinion he not Christian. Still nothing appear
ed in his conduct lessen the confidence of his friends
n'the genuneness of his piety. All believed him 10
be israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile -
About year before his death, revival of religion
commenced in the I'd Presbyterian church, of which
he an elder. and from the first he manifested a
deep interest init He aroused to more activity
in the service Of Christ and this accompanied by
increasing spirit OF prayer Asthe tone of his feel
ngs rose his efforts for the salvation of souls were in
creased and from every such effort he experienced
happy reaction upon his own religious enjoyment,
until his mind became comfortable, and he appeared
to be relieved from his doubts and fears Thus he had
increasing evidence tia. he possessed the spirit of
Chrst;-and besides-there is, in benevolent desires
to do good. Of enioyment of which the sci.
fish and carna! mad cannot form a conception. His
views OF the great system of Divine Truth, now be-
cane more clear and satisfactory, especially with re
gard TO the obligations nf Christians, to labor and
pray for the salvation Of sinners and Leeye the pro-
misses of Con. His faith now took hold OF these pro.
misses with firm grasp, and the result has proved
that the views and feelings which fit Christian
for active usefulness while IN health, constitute the
best preparation Tor ty ing hour. how did he re-
joce in the fruth-tie truth as he cnphatically ex.
pressed i, in his last Illness, while speaking Of the
source OF his comfort and the foundation of his hope.
He felt thar he had hold of the truh-and il was an
anchor to his soul, which kept steady except in
OF derum, while the storms of death were rag,
ing around HIM.
Oils hand, the good man fixes on the skies,
And bids earth roil-uor feels its idle whir'
The day before his desth being reduced to the last
stage of human weakness, after lying for time
in that kind of supor which generally precedes disso.
luton, he appeared 10 awake who had caught
a glimpse of heaven, and he began to pray with a
strong voice. and in his characteristic sDar,
fatI6n to the viii of Con and the most perfect conf.
dence of his preparation for the change which was so
TO take place. lie prayed for the whole Church
of Christ, but especially and with peculiar affection
for that branch of it with which he Connected
for mpenent sinners belonging to that congregation,
and for world lying in wickedness. lie praised Con
for all his dealings with him, even for his affection
which he then suffering, and above all for the
great work of redemption. This was his last effort;
and the strength Of body and energy of mind he dis
played, so far beyond any thing Of which he was
thought then be capable, to appear almost mira
culous. II must have required Divine nterposition
to raise his ianguid and exhausted powers to such
degree as to speak he did for so long time. When
he Concluded he seemed ready to expire; he sunk into
state of entire exhaustion, from which he never
more recovered; but by signs he gave his friends to
understand that his mind in perfect peace to the
last