Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-04-02
BISHOP AfkENDaEE.
From "A. " eslern Hefhod,H.

Bishop M'Kenfres PREACHED his last sermon G
earth IN he new Church IN Nashville oa Satufdn,
the 23d OF November. 1884, which was reparit
from his lips, and forms the frs, number OF III
Western Methodist Preacher Ills health INN,
dioieY declined below lis usuii log state, and
tinued very indifferent uai,l he let Nashville sbot
The 22l of December 10 VISIT his brother, ID
james NIX enJree, IN Summer county. He react
ed his brothers. hea-e or ITS vicinity before Chrls
MAJ. Ills spirits were then low, md his min
seemed TO be in s,nic ofseycfe ,ro arising che
y from the thought that his days Of usefulness an
labor for The church were over, and that he coul
IN future expect 10 be nothing but an nnprohtabi
servant. A aprlt Of worldly care assaulted him, vii
which he buifeucd for a season, struggling ~ r ny
or against II, IN which abof he was lolneJ by ia
yonte nephew, whose prayers he entreate that tn
e.dptaton might depart. The cloud at lensi
broke the beams ofthe sun OF glory shone through
and tho nbashcd adversary lei from his last con
| lict with this man Of God, ho now boldly steppe'
beyond tho valley Of despair and over the enchant
ed ground, qilie mo The celestial lanl OF Behlah
where heavenly voices were henrd, AMI where mes
scngers from The better world were not few snt
far between"
About this limo the fooefngef of the Bishops
night hand became affected with a singular swell
ling, which came on tho end nctr where nc habit u
II 10 medical trcalncn, from his BROTHER Doc
James M'iLendreo bat 1t seemed to resist and
mock u, all the efforts Of .lslll became exceedingly
painful and wasted away the finger, wIalc the az
ony seemed 10 communicate to other parts OF his
body, as # sympathy existed between his
back ard head and the lncorrslbe ,umot on lbs
finger
Itwas most affecting TO learn tha,aid to which
the Bshap resorled while in pain Sometimes
members of his own family and religious brethren
from tho netghborhppd would be present, when the
Bishop would request their prayers. Such was
his iahh IN prayer-hearing God, that almost IN
vOrlnbly the throbblng would cease during the
prayer, and before IFS close the Bishop would be IN
slumbcr MS calm US an infants. In one instance
he told friend and neighbo, tina, he wished him 10
pray with HIM on account Of his pain; not, says
he, ms you ptay in your family bat n faith, with
direct reference TO my case. Alter prayer the
Bishop smiled, raised his hand, and said ii IS ca
sly now %
His itrcreth woq completely Frustrated, and MS
voice sunk TO whisper. while his chronic asthma.
tic complaints increased, and his fits of coughing,
with his inability TO raise the accumuatng phleg n,
gave prcmonllton that his hold on life was ike the
gossamer web frail as the shndow that dances
the plain.
The Sabbath previous to his death, four days be.
fore mortality was merged IN Immortality, his bro.
thcr, the Doctor, address him to the following e
feet Bishop, you are sinking fast we shall, IN all
probability, be soon separated The Bishop replied
-" yes, know but all IS well - HIS brother
then questioned him IN regard 10 his last wishes
respecting his funeral auangt ments, when both the
L shop md his brother (bo,h having becn similarly
affected with nsthmatic oomplaints) were seized
with fl Of coughing, which interrupted their con
ycrsnlion at that tine Soon after The Bishop was
seen 10 m ke slgnpl with his md that he wished
To speak, when at the request of Dr.. M'Kendrcc,
hi, son, Duly M'Kendrcc, the Bishops ne
phow, leaned over him 10 receive his communlcn-
ION.
With regard TO the state Of his mind the Bishop
said" all Is well, for time for eternity. live
by faith in the Son Of God. For me to live is
Christ to die is gain In his most emphatic
manner he repeated al wish that point to be per
feo,ly undcrstood-,ha, all is well with me wLchcr
live die. For TWO months" said hc, " have
not had i cloud TO darken my hope: | have had
uninterrupted confidence IN my Sevours love.
lie commenced repeating the stanza-
Not cloud can arso to darkcn my skies
Or hide for II moment my lord from my eyes
bu, not being able to finish the couplel it was 6olsh
ed Ton him.
With regard to the circumstances of his inter
ment he summed up his wishes IN the following
expressive sentence -" wish to be buried IN
the ancient Methodist style, like old christian
minister" lie was asked IT he had any choice IN
regard 10 the text of his funeral sermon the preach
cr, or the hymns 10 bn snng oo the occasion: he
swcred that he had none. lie was sub eqnenty
asked il he had any choice in regard to the one who
should preach his funeral sermon his answer was,
" not particularly Logan Douglass as well as any
one This was his way of calling the Rev Tho
mas Logan Douglass, Presiding Elder Of the Nash.
Vile District and this is considered by his friends
as the expression Of preference for him the fu-
neral orator whenever The public funeral shall have
been appointed.
The BISHOP now seemed TO summon all the pow
OF his soul to pass the cold stream of death He
ordered the bea sead on which his venerable father
died years ago to be brought in and, if we mistake
not, the same bed AMI bedding to be placed upon it,
as he wished to die where his father died Upon
this couch he waited the coming OF the messenger
Of death.
In the interval between the Sabbath and the
! Thursday following when he died. he sutf red but
little pain; was calm, composed, and awaited the
coming OF his l. nd Ike whose earthly labor
has been done Many were the gracious expires
SONS which he addressed 10 one and another Of his
tliends durln@ those last days OF his life many Of
which VIII no doubt be treasured up and herenic,
be given to tho public. To h,o nephew, Dudly
MKenjree, he SAID follow me as have followed
Christ, only closer to Christ" lie was rernarka
bly, fond of the phrase" dH is 1ccH" With I'M.
he would aim ST invariably answer every question
which related 10 the sate OF his mind this indeed
was his last connected expression, although the las
word he ever uttered in moral hearing was "ycs'
in answer TO tho question asked HIM as he was dy
ing" Is all well now -
q, thu ds of his de,th No IN, ,,oe,;o,. Il . 49,.