Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-02-21
Ltrom the Athens Messenger.I
ZAEEsVTLLE LETTER.
Funeral of the Rev. George wv.
Brush-AdditionaI Particulars of
His DeeEh

Funeral Of the Rev. George wv.
Brush-AdditionaI Particulars of
Bis Death,
am Just returned from the funeral I
services Of the lamented George W.
Brush, one Of the most eloquent preach
ers and conscientious Christians I ever
knew. His remains reached here yes
terday, (27til) from Delaware, o., where
he was pastor Of st. Paulrs Methodist
Church. The funeral took place from
the residence Of his father, Daniel
Brush, ESQ, at 10 A. n. to-day. The
procession was one of the largest ever
seen in GAINESVILLE, and the sympathy
aud esteem indicated by it most sincere.
The following ministers were present:
L. D. 1fcCabe, D. D., Professor Belle
Letters, and G. G. McCabe, Financial
Agent Ohio Wesleyan University; Q.
A. Van Anda, A. G. BYers, I. Crook,
w. n. Scott, d. HOrlOcker, E. 81. Heag-
Ter, Columbus Z. W. Stanley, DR..
Kingsbury, sbytsrian,) Iartindale,
General Ag'G Bible Society, Putnam
I. ID. Phillips a. Il. WinsOr, G. d. Bat
telle, w. M. Baker, I'D Presbyterian
J. z. Oil, (St. James Episcopal,) Zanes-
vile.
I have gone thus into particulars, be-
cause of the many of your readers who
win remember the deceased as the be-
loved pastor Of the Methodist Church in
Athens in 1859; and who viii be glad
to know as much as they may of one so
justly admired for faithful services and
brilliant talents. The Daily Ohio State
Journal of the 9th inst, gave the par
ticulars Of his death quite correctly;
yet additional information NAV not be
amiss. For months he had been labor
ing under the most fearful mental de-
preston. He was predisposed to brain
disease. 1.-TWO Of his children died of
it, His brain, unduly large, was con-
stantly taxed TO the very utmost. There
was no more incessant, profound, in
tense thinker. Add to this another
fact, and we arrive as nearly as possible
to the causes that led to the unspeaka-
bic calamity of his death. Years ago,
NOR phine and its equivalents having
been prescribed as medicine, their use
became q necessity. AS soon as he was
aware of the habit formed, he shrank
in horror from it, and began earnestly
and religiOusly the endeavor TO break
it up. Those aCho kg3es0 han best, JOUed
him most, and only they know with
what intense travail of soul, he strove
against its power. Yes, one other, only
one, God, touched a0itk The feeling Of oar
i7955TD1gtjeS3 he b75O0etH.
Mr.. Brush sought every information
on the subject of his B1Rlady, aYRiled
himself of every counsel and assist
ance, with the fearful eagerness of a
drowning man, but in vain, He de-
scientiOus to live in thralldOm of
habit his soul abhorred; his over
wrought mind fixed on this, broOded
over it, yielded to it, and he became q
4IlOllOntG1tiGc on this subject, In his ter
rible conflict and despair. he has told
his wife he feared reason would be de-
thrOned and his life violently arrested
by himself-a prophecy sadly truthful.
His labOrs for the eighteen months of
his pastOrate in Delaware, were crown
ed with success. Many were added to
the Church, his congregations were al
ways crowded, the students almost
idolized him, and he was enshrined in
the hearts of his people. The Church
in Ohio began to entertain well defined
expectations that he would be advanced
to a prOfessOrship of Theology in the
University, where his rare gifts and
culture would be most largely useful
His sermons, on Sunday, 18th inst,
were regarded as among his best efforts
--intell leCtual and spiritual masterpie-
ces His last sermon, night of 18th, was
on this text, Haze .fttith IN Cod. His
prayer meeting, Wednesday night fol-
lowing, was an unusually interesting
one. He urged the Church to prepare
spiritually for the approaching quarter
~ meeting, which il was his intention
70 protracb. This was his last appear
anCe among theusa In the afternoon of
the following Saturday, 25th, the con-
ing exercises Of the quarterly meeting.
Wondering at his delay in coming, they
sent a messenger to ascertain the cause,
The rest you know.
He had made every preparation for
the meeting. His records were posted.
reports prepared and a sermon ready
for Sabbath night, from the words, Let
tl3S mind be 57C goa, eO]g5cl5 9gGs also IN
Christ Jesus.
All the forenoon he seemed to give
himself to Tightening the domestic du-
ties of each member of his family get
ting household affairs beforehand that
the meeting might be enjoyed without
interruption. After dinner, while the
family were preparing for church, in
his slippers and gown, he went into the
yard, as was his custom to enjoy his
cigar. Then 1t was that the idea of
self destruction must have possessed
him. He must have gone down cellar
and got rope that had been used for a
swing, then gone to the stable, cut the
rope into with an axe, tied one end of
the piece used to the mauger, thrown
the rope over beam above, tied a
single bow-knOt in the other end, pass
ed his handkerchief through the loop
thus formed; then standing on the
manger, tied the handkerchief around
his neck, and with his hands in his
pants pockets, 1eaped off. His wife
alarmed at his absence, went to the
stablein search of him. A glance re-
vealed the fearful situation NerVed BY
the hope of resuscitating him, she
sprang on the manger, united the knot
in the rope, and he gently fell on his
knees and remained in that POSTURE
He was yet warm his #c0untenance
wore a sweet expression; but though
medical attendance was Immediately at
hand, life was extinct.
The blow upon his family, his church,
his native place, his conferences, is in
describable. Time alone can reveal the
greatness of cur loss.
BrOtheri farewelli We shall miss
you al the hearth-stone, on the plat
form, in the pulpit, in the council,
eUeTgil0bere bat az Heaven. There we ex-I
pect to see you rejoicing among those
who have come out of great tribulatiJn,
and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb.
ts DAVID n. MOORE.