The Portland daily press., 1864-10-27
Rev. Edward N. Whittls,

Os,
1854, Rev. EDWARD M. WHrrrLE, at the adj
Vanced age of ninety-eight 1857 years, one
month and four days. The venerable subject
of this notice,-at the time of his death proba.
bly, the Oldest Methodist preacher In New
England, his connection with the church, as a
member and minister, extending through pc
riod of more than seventy years,-filIs a large
and interesting page in the Methodist church
history of the country, identified, as his life
has been with Methodism from its infancy,
working side by side, as he did, with Asbury,
Lee, Whatcote, Waugh, and all that noble
band of Christian heroes who SO successfully
laid its foundations in this Western World.
"Father Whittle," IS he was familiarity called,
first saw the light in Charlestown, s. c., on
the 18th of March, 1865. His parents short
ly after removed to Alexandria, Va. His
father, being, like his southern compeers,
deeply interested in chattel slavery, died
while on voyage to Africa to procure slaves,
leaving his widow and only son to fight liie's
battles alone. Young Edward early learned
to hate negro slavery. Born in the midst of
the peculiar institution" and being of an OBJ
servant and sensitive turn, its unjust and cruel
workings convinced him of its utter wrongful
ness, while the barbarous acts of cruelty he
daily witnessed soon taught him to abhor and
despise it; indeed, so repugnant to his feelings
did slavery at last become, that while yet
mere youth, he resolved to turn his back upon
the land that acknowledged its sway, even at
the sacrifice of home, wealth, and friends. At
the early age Of nineteen years, he experience
ed religion, and soon after, feeling desire to
warn his fello w-inen of the wrath to come, he
commenced preaching under license from
the venerable Bishop Whatcoat, of Baltimore,
dated March 8, 1850. He subsequently became
a member of the Baltimore Conference. At
ter short itinerancy in the States Of Mary
land and Pennsylvania, he determined to visit
New England. He took up his abode for a
time at Truro, Cape Cod, where he became
acquainted with, and finally married Miss EIiz-
abeth Higgins, a lady of rare christian virtues
and exalted character, direct descendant
from the old puritan stock. Shortly after he
removed to Portland. thence to Bethel. in Ok
ford county, and finally settled down for life
in the adjoining town of Greenwood.
He had previously given up his labors as an
itinerant and now commenced lite anew as q
farmer. Still he labored quite extensively in
n his own and adjoining towns as local
preacher, labor which he loved, and which
was attended with the most excellent results
No season of revival or religious gathering
within his large circle of acquaintance was
complete without his presence. He was a
dear lover of that peculiar institution of Meth
odism, the camp-meeting. Almost from time
immemorial the well known and venerated
form Of "Father Whittle" scarcely failed to
grace the meetings. Naturally warm-hearted,
and of sanguine temperament, he entered up
on the duties of such occasions with degree
of earnestness and heaven-born enthusiasm
such as to add most materially to their sue
cess.
As q preacher he was ar gumentative and
sound, always sticking to his text" in ex-
hortation he was most powerful and eloquent,
often bold and dedunciatory. His appeals
were tempered with bursts of most thrilling
pathos and words of heart-touching tender
ness. Always outspoken and decided in his
convictions of duty, political as well as religi-
GUS, he was universally respected and beloved.
During the last fifteen years of his life he was
deprived of his eyesight, sore affection in
deed to one of his studious habits, yet it did
not deter him from his wonted labors of love.
Up to within short time Of his death he con-
tinued to preach to aud exhort his fello w men
from the pulpit, and with marked effect
This lamented father in Israel. coming
down to us from time so long past, as he NOV
ed among US, his decrepid form, flowing locks
of snowy wilderness, and sightless eyes, re-
minded us of the patriarchs of old. Born
prior to our great Revolution, reared and ed
ucated amid its shifting scenes, he stood
among us as memorable relic of that historic
age. He had walked and talked with our i'm
mortal Washington, stood in the presence oil
Jefferson and Adams, and witnessed with his
own eyes scenes in the great drama f.that
time, whose curtain fell at last upon the COM
plete triumph of American freemen over
would be tyrannical masters
But he has passed on beforei like shock
of fully ripe corn. he has been gathered into
the garner! He died on calm night in the
spring-time, quietly, peacefully, in the home
his own hands had reared, amid the scenes OF
his life laborss surrounded by dear relatives
and friends who loved him. As his life was
eminently one of Christian holiness and puri-
| ty, SO his death was noble Christian triumph
calm, holy, happyl Mark well the death
of the righteous man and let your end be like
his. G.W.Y.
/ w