Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-12-27
OBITUARY..
nnv. GIDEON nLAckprns, ID. D.

ny literary institutions OF every grade. the
effective witness for Chrht Ia every lart Of o. r
extensive country. a correspondent states
TINT he was i. the ministry ahout 46 years,
aud would have completed the 66;h year of
his life on the 25h of las, month.
For tue New Yo.k Observer.
Heaven has gained another inmate. and
earth has lost another long tried aud faith.
full servant Of God. The Rev. GIDEON
BLACKDUnN, ID. ID. late Ut Carliuv;lle,
lllinpis, departed this life at his residence ON
Thursday the 23i OF August, 1898, in the
sixty-siXth year Of his age.
Iic died lestiiying the truth Of thai, gos>
pei he had SO long and faithfully preached. =
IL pleased divine provd enoe 10 lay him a.
side from his public lnbors for many month
before his deccase. During this period, The
huge pillows Of aflit tim rolled over him in
rapid succession. Few, perhaps, are cail.d
TO pass through scenes Of more intense suff.
ering than he experienced: and few re o lie
found who evince, n more submissive firms
ness. Bitter indeed was The cup nut into
his hand, but like his divine Master, he
could say, "Faiher, glorify myself" lie
was not only enabled TO bear patiently his
ftotracted suifsiings, bu, to rejnicc in them,
us the appointment oil his heavenly Father.
About twsyears ago, he was visited with
a confirmed cancer. lie consi,i.red i, then
as his death warrant, belle ing II incuralle
anu made some touching illusions Ia il in his
publ mini.tratioIs. In the early part of
tho winter, he received a severe hurt ram n
fall on the ice. The injury was principa,jv
In the mp Jpint. and was so great as ever AT
forwards 10 prevent his walking. Thus he
was coufined 10 bed for about six months
suffering intensely al times, bath from the
hurt he had received and from The csncer
which became dali more and more agra
Saied. lhls latter disease first max Ing it's
appearance on The lower side OF his left Jaw,
soon eXhiNi'ed itself on the opposite side,
and rapidly advanced upwards Approach
ihg his right eye. il !hreaieneL him Win The
loss oi sight. VI hen the writer of this M.
tee first visited him, about the 7th of Au-
gust, he found his ,oice much mp.ired =
II was evidently painful ior him 10 sneak
He siii retained his cheerfulness however
ana nanifestiy even under th-se painful cir,
cumsiances, enjoyed social intercourse w,th
his friends. He manifested entire submjs
sion 10 Il divine viii, remarkng in his own
impressive manner, that his Saviour was al
his size, directing every pang lie felt. On
beng eeked II lie could testify TO the truth
al The doctrines he had So long preached, he
replied with great pr.mpiness in the ailjr-
that passage in job which says, "Thnugh he
SHAY me, CT vii, | trust in him. passage
which tie frequently quoted when urging
the doctrine III unconditional Submission TO
God. He was asked il he could now sub.
sGrihe 10 this sentiment To this also he
Replaced wi ID great readiness IN the afTirma.
tive. He was fully sensible of the horrible
nature OF The disease which had seized ON
Ann, and dreaded the termination of his life
ny so fearful aP.Gcess. In Conversation with
ms surviving companion, he expressed
hsre That tho Lord in mercy would send
some Other disease which Would give him an
earlier and an easier dismissal FROM, his pres
sent suffering slate. For this he said he
hau often prayed. This prayer was graz
ci'uily answered About two weeks Le
tie his dccease, he was attacked with Jy.
en'ery, under the ,lehiIita,ing influence of
wai.h he gradually declined until The pulse
OF life ceased to beat
lew days before bis departure, he Een-
hened to his wife that he had ERIC, ed on The
preceding night a season of communion with
Iod his Saviour, such as he had never ex-
Perienced before. Thus did this venerable
servant Of God, even in The midst OF The
furnace Of aflliciion, rejnice in the hope of
blessed Immortality. He retained his Gun
seriousness 10 The last, ard said 10 friends is
hung him, his work was done, and he was
ready to depart. lie spoke with deep feel
'ns"f his entire dependence upon God.
lhe friends OF piutY in the west i'll long
Cnerish The memory Of this man OF God
who might he styled its clerical pioneer.
lis neid oil labour was peculiarly ariuous and
niihculi. II was his lot TO live fer the most
part in newly settled countries, where the
institutions OF The gospel were Comparative
" Unknown typry Thin IN h., Il
houses Of worship 10 he built, churches TO be
organized and schools 10 &c established. For
this slate OF thugs he was eminenily adapt
cd; He possessed al iron constitution, ca.
Paoie OF enduring The greatest fatigue and
exposure; nor dill lie spare himself in the
prosecution OF his benevolent plans. He
was emiuently gifted as public speaker.
rev men ever possessed higher natural
powers. tie had commanding elouuence
TO which delighted muli,udes were ever
ready To do homage, wherever he went.
These gifts were in esfly life consecrnted 10
The cause of bis master, with success TO
winch numbers will testify with joy 20 all
eternity. if"they tba! turu many 10 right
sousoess shall shine as The stars in the firma-
ineDt Tor ever and ever" The luslte OF this
'a'her IN israel ill be of no ordinary bright
ness 10 the world Of glory.
II is hoped tha, some person of suitable
qusiIbcations will hereafter favor the Chris.
Ian public with memoir oflbs honored ser
want OF Christ. His life is replere with in.
,eresting incidents, and would furnish an
instructive and entertaining volume Stuff
Gent materials for such a work j, is thought
may be found among his papers. 1t is
known, however, that he wrote but little
the active employments in which he was IN.
eessantIy engaged. left him but little leisure