South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-05-20

D1zD, at his residence on Pattcrson's Creek.
on Monday morning last, after an illness ola
few days, JOSEPH IssxRKp, Esq, in about
the 4Oth year of bis age, leaving wife and
five children ID mourn their loss. Mr.. In
skeep was an Elder in the Presbyterian
Church. Magistrate Of the county, and a
highly useful and efficient member of society.
DIED, In the county of Albemarle. on the
23rd of March, M1cAJAH WOODS, Esq, in
the 6lst year of his age. We subjoin from
the Charlottesville Advocate, AN interesting ae-
count Of his character and of the exercises Of
his mind during bis last illness.
MIR. Woods, from his first settlement
in life, had been industriously and sue
cessfully engaged in agricultural pur-
suite: and had in this way amassed an
ample fortune. He possessed vigor-
GUS and discriminating mind; a kind and
benevolent heart. Few men have en-
joyed larger share of the confidence
and love of their associates & acquain-
tanccs. He had long and ably filled
several of the. most responsible Offices !;
and at the period of his death, was the
High Sheriff of this county.
Deeply must we regret that SO much
acknowledged excellence ofcharacter,
should have been accompanied with
radically defective views Of religious
truth. He had rendered himself fa-
miliar with many of the objections usu-
ally urged against the claims of Divine
Revelation; and having unfortunately
failed topay due attention to the reasons
by which these objections have been
so frequently and so clearly refuted, he
became the avowed advocate of Inf
deity. Still he always manifested the
most profound respect for the opinions
and the feelings Of those who differed
with him on this important subject. He
always exhibited an openness to con-
viction, which excited among his
friends, the hope, that he would not al
ways hold these sentiments. Nor
were these expectations groundless.
Long before the illness of which he di-
ed, he manifested no little uneasiness
with regard to the soundness of his re-
ligious views. He listened to religious
conversation, and the. reading of the
sacred scriptures with the mostrespect-
full attention. This soon led to thorough
conviction of the unerring truth, and Of
the infinite worth of the word Of God.
Ten days before his death, was call
ed to visit him. No apprehensions
were at this time felt Of speedy dis
solution--He had no fever, and his
mind was unusually clear and vigorous.
When J entered his sick room,
scene of moral sublimity was present.
ed which l can never forget.-A ven-
cradle old black man-one of his own
slaves--stood at his bed side, grasping
his masters hand, and pointing him to
the Saviour. "There, SIR said the
sick man, "you see faithful old SER
want, who has answered the end of his
being, far better than have mine-He
is a Christian, | am lost sinner. |
would rather now be, what he is, than
what l am, though I possessed the
wealth of the East Indies-I have been
wretched disciple of Tom Paine;-
and what is worse, have endeavored
to make others as bad as myself. "yVill
YOU pray for me?" With this affecting
requestI complied, surrounded by his
weeping family and friends.
During the afternoon and evening,
he made many such remarks as the fol-
lowing---"VVhat have | gained by all
the Deistical works ofwhich / was once
so fond2 Nothing but the horror and
distress Of mind which | now suffer-
They, they are the cause of my misery
-.Now they seem to me as the poison
ofthe serpent. / despise--l renounce
them ALL" On the next morning he
said, "When am cold in dust, tell the
people from the pulpit, all / have said
10 you-Give them full history ofmy
case-Tell them made full proof of
infidelity--and that | found it, when |
came to die, as basket ,cathout q bot
tom. 1t may do in life, but Inow know
full we'll, that it will not dom death.
Two of his old friends and associates
called to see him, who, he supposed,
still entertained the sentiments he had
lust renounced. He was much affect
ed at seeing them-Addressing him
selfto them, he said, II hope you will
not think that ain intruding-that you