Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-15
oBTT UARY.
From the Christian Advocate and Journal, Of Nov &c
THE REV. JOHN w. CRONIN

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From the Christian Advocate and Journal, of Nov &C.
THE REV. JOHN w. CRoNIN.
1t becomes my painful duty to announce to you and
the Church the death Of the Rev. JoHN w. CRoNIN,
OF the Baltimore Annual Conference lie departed this
life at his residence, i'll the town Of Slaunton, ON
the night of the 3D. instant in the 32d year OF his age
aud the ninth of his ministry.
At the early age of seventeen he embraced religion,
and attached himself to the Nj. f. Church. In very
short time he manifested burning zeal for the welfare
OF sinners and the salv alton Of his fellow that
tracied the attention of his brethren who believing
suredly that God HAD chosen him bearer of 'gad It'd
ings TO the meek" determined TO clothc him with full
authority to "preach the word" After much prayer
and mary misgivngs of heart and under decided
vction that il was his duty TO take watchmans Place
upon the walls oil Zion, he connected himself with the
Baltimore Conference, and went forth to proclaim ''thc
unscarchablc riches of the grace Of God" He now be-
man of one cangSemphatical so-and, fully
absorbed in its high and hallowed responsibilities, he
was soon ga workman that necdeth to be ashamed
rightly dividing the word of life His preaching
deeply evangelical and designed less please the fancy
than move the heart His discourscs embodied of
the true Gospel spirituality than any have met with
man Tor his model. Powerful in dcnunciaton, he yet
fingered more about Calvary than Sinai and though he
might have been ''son Of thunder, nc chose rather
TO lean upon the bosom of his Lord and administer the
consoatonsof truth His style chastc and elegant
his SPECULATION clear and distinct, his soft and me-
odods his gestures few and appropriate his whole de-
mcanor grave and serious, well bct the sacred work
in which he was engaged. Faithful in the pulpit and
out of it, his ministry continued series OF religious
vatc and domestic associations characterized him dis
tncty the ambassador of the cross the more public
minstraons OF the sanctuary The crowded audiences
that attended upon his services in the temple fol-
lowed to their homes at stated intervals and his health
would permit by the faithful pastor that fed them
the sinccrc milk of the word before the holy altar
mot TO sport away thoughtess hour, but comfort
the distressed, confirm the waycrng, and TO cncour-
age all upon the path of duty. have known but few
men more successful in winning souls 10 Christ, and
none equal to him in taking of the flock after il was
gathered Like a ministcring angel he followed the
footsteps OF his people, morning, and night watch
ing all their religious interests that give
account and when any turned TO the right hand the
left his warning voice sounded upon their cars, Ths
is the way walk VIC it'' Thus many hating and
feeble minded believers saved from ap0Stacy,
who subsequently, became faithful and consistent
beers OF the Church As might naturally be expected
the fruits of his labors grew and multiplied around him
in rich and varied abundance. That field of labor
honored with his ministrywas blessed indeed. 1t al
ways iourished las the garden of the Lord" Last
spring he appointed TO Staunton, rapidly mprov-
ing town and station in the Valley of Virginia lmmc-
diatcy after the close of Conference, he was seized
with pulmonary hcmorrhagc, by which he was very
much debiltacd for several weeks. Having recruited
so far as to undergo the fatgncs of travel he made
haste to mis- destined charge. He had commence
ed his abors this station before the highest hopes
were excited of rich and pcntcous harvest of sue
cess. In very short time, he became an almost uni
versa favoritc of the town. All classes to hear
him. He pursued his work, though in the midst of
much bodily suffering with his usual ardor and pcrsc
vcrancc until the 18th ult., when ne taken down
by fever. From this however, he had measurably re-
covered and family and friends began entertain the
yea even better health than he had enjoy for many
days.
But how uncertain the calculations of mortals =
He was suddenly seized with cramp choc, which re-
suited in some local Inflammation that baicd all The
efforts of his physicians. He fingered occasionally in
much pain, but with cloudless heaven before him.
from Monday until Friday night, whcn without strug
gle or groan, he breathed his last minutes b.
fore twelve. Like a tempest tost vessel driven ON.
ward through the ashing bi!ow and the booming flood
still keeps It's PROV The haven, and presently with
banners floating, enters there, all hands board and
not sailor losiSo passed my departeI friend through
the complicated ills Of his brief voyage and so triu.
phant entered he the harbor of the eternal CITY Oft
have stood by the couch of the ing sain-oft have
seen my Fathers children pass Jordan their in
hcrncc, and as Oft supposed that should not again
meet with such demonstrations OF religious transport
But my conclusions were drawn too hastily had not
witnessed the death Of Rev. J. w. Cronn. i was with
him almost constantly for the last ten hours of his life
During that period he seemed like Moses TO b., stand
ing upon the Noun, PiSga and looking upon the
Sories OF the better land Many cheering senti-
mens did he then utter and particularly the following
that he had enjoyed the blessing of perfect love for
several ycars,tbat for four years past had not had
solitary fear of death: Heavcn is very nigh shall
soon be in glory " and many words of kindred charac
ter did lie leave with us tor our
that memory has treasured up gladden. the hours of
gloom through which we may yet have to pass. He
suddenly became blind. He told that it indicated
the near approach OF his dissolution he would not
DC long with He called his wife gave her his bless
ing, and bid her tell them at home to meet him in bea
ven He invoked the bcncdction OF Heaven on several
that were standing round him, calling them all by name
Thank God too was remembered in that hour, aud my
OF reunion made, the acus were passed then
followed the shout of GLORY ~ gory % '.glory -
"Hallcujah 20 ''hallcluah % that cnraptured every
pous heart 1t twas the song of the victor gathered
his laurels from the battle field of death Articulation
ceased, and 'halelujah expired upon his lips like the
dying away of the angel song He then lifted his right
hand and with his finger pointing upward, waved it
and again he waved, until it fell elcss and cold upon
his bosom. spoke to him-hc needed me not. Ills
Joshua had struck the waters and my friend my brother
had gone over An immense and weeping asscmblage
followed him 10 the grave Sunday morning the 9th in
slant Both the other churches were closed, and the
whole religious community of the town poured forth to
commnglc their sympatlcs around the grave of him
whom all respected and loved The occasion was i'm
proved by discourse founded upon the beautiful words
OF Isaiah, Chap. ., ole Will swallow up death in
victory. AS his widowed wife looked iof the last
time upon his coffin she exclaimed, Farewell my
husband Farewell until the ing of the resrrcc
ton " Permit me to ask the prayers of the Church.
and particularly of the Baltimore Conference OF which
brother c. member for his wife and three children
n. J. Il. MORGAN.
DIED, last week, at his residence the South River
in this county, MIR. JAMES PATTERSON, aged nearly SO
years.
DIED, in Jennings Gap, the 2ist Dee 1915, Miss
ELIZABETH NJ. DUDLEY, after prOractcd and painful
illness, in the 10Th year OF her age.