Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-24
OLD SERIES VOL. o, NO. &c
JUDGE SPENCER.


The following beautiful incident is related
OF the late Chief Justice Spencer, in his re.
/ tirement and cherished repose, towards ihe
closing scene of his life:
| "Judge Spencer had Withdrawn to his re-
tired residence at Lyons philosopher bu,
it was soon made apparent that in that retire.
ment, he was 10 be a Christian. He was
| then, in great measure, alone. His las.
wife was dead aready--for he had been
three times married, and this one, the last
of ,he three, sister of Mr. Clinton, las was
also his second wife, who lived only few
months from her marriage,) had died in 1887
OF his children some were living and others
were dead, One of them had brought him
honor in his death, having fallen in the war
of 1912. Another had brought him more
! distinguished honor still in his left Decort
decus Gldit auito. All who survived were the
pride and comfort of his age but none were
then resident with him. His house there
fore, though not desolate or sad, was in
measure solitary. He had strong and vigo-
rous health, preserved by great regularity
and strict temperance; and this continued
nearly unimpaired down to his last mortal
illness. His spirits were habitualy elastic
and cheerful.
"There was nothing Of gloom about him i'll.
his retirement yet he was more alone than
he had ever before, and everything was ia.
vorable for communion with his own spirit,
for contemplation and serious thought. He
turned his attention TO relgion--for which
he had always felt and preserved a becoming
| reverencc-but cherished now new interes,
in the subject; and he employed his powers,
so admirably trained and used to deep inves-
tigation, in looking into the evidences of
Christianity, and taking up and weighing the
foundations of that holy faith. The result
could not be doubtful. What Hale, and New
ton, and Boyle and Chateaubriand, and Mar
shall had found before him, that, by the bes-
sing of God, he found-He was a Christian
and henccforth this man Of giant mind might
be seen, bowed and kneeng, in the temper
and with the simplicity of a little child, at
his chosen altar of worship. professed disc-
pie of Jesus Christ, and habitualy Showing
forth his death till his coming again. in tho
Sacrament of the Lords Supper. He was in.
communion with the Espicopal church. Ia
the now state OF mind 10 which he had been
brought, it was natural that he should turn
| with even unwonted interest towards the
cherished friend Of lis heart and life. He
! had now TO perform towards him the last, the
mos, solemn, and the most touching act Of
his whole lifelong course of friendship and
brotherly love. lie wrote promptly to Cen
| Armstrong, TO inform him OF his religious
thoughts and opinions, and TO bring the gen
lie perspasiyes of his own example and his
carnes, convictions to bear on his aged friend.
1t was timely and successful mission of love
and mercy on which his letter was sent. Gen.
Armstrong was then-it was in 1s42-alres-
dy feeling the hand of age begin 10 press hea-
Willy upon and he died in the spring of the
next year, On the receipt ofJudge Spencer's
letter, he was led to give the subject of Chris
tianity and its neglected claims upon him,
an immediate and earnest consideration and
the result was, that he received and en-
braced the religion so affectionately COM
mended 10 him, and was admitted, at his
own request, 10 the Holy Sacrament of the
Eucharist. | need not say, what we'll
spring of consolation all this was in the bo-
som of his surviving, sorrowing, and yet re-
ioicine friend p"