Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-08-26


fervor of the prayer, little did his wife snd
daughter suppose they were hearing thai
familiar voice in prayer for the last time. II
was now half past nine o'clock.
As Mr.. Clark was retiring, the clock struck
tho hour OF night, and he observed-"That
ten-an hour later than usual" But a short
time had elapsed before he expressed the feal
that he was about to have one of his season,
of pain and suffocation. Soon his wife wa.
convinced that his fears were not unfounded
He arose in pain and with considerable diff
f1culty of breathing but he did not seem te
be nearly 80 III as he had often been before
He prayed, Lord Jesus, have mercy on ,
poor sinner" He said to his wife, 81 an
fearful we'll be alone. "No," said she
the Lord is with us" Yes, that is tru,
God is here" he family replied, and re
clining upon the bed, he breathed his lif,
out sweetly there, without struggle OF
moan.
Thus occurred the first death in our con
gregation during the current year thus fel
asleep in Jesus our Oldest Ruling Elder, ant
main pillar in the Church and thus depart
ed one Of the purest and best of men it ha.
ever been the speakers privilege to meet.
Dying, when he did, and as he did, SO be
loved, so lamented, and with such a record
dying at his own home and on his own bed
without half-hour's suffering, and in the
full use of his reason full of years and full
of honors, and. best of all, dying in the &C.
ceptance Of God and with meetness 70,
for the glory-land, surely, these are circum.
stances of comfort and of mercy connected
with this affective dispensation.
Only the day before his death he was ask.
ed the question, If he did not fear to die, to
which he promptly piled: "Of course l
feel very solemn when have my severe at
tacks, but cannot say that l fear death
either at such times, or at any time. 1 feel
satisfied that am prepared to CO." And
he did approach death
Like one who wraps the drapery of bis couch
About him. and lies sown to pleasant Dreams"
What a privilege to die thus and what a
privilege to see one die thus!
AT home and abroad Mr.. Clark was an
eminently social man. He was most affec-
tionate in his own family. He loved to have
frequent family reunions. None that were
present will ever forget his joy, as, on the
seventeen anniversary of his birth, he had
gathered around him his children and grand
caildren with few others-including his
pastors family, in his palatial residence at
prospect Fair
lie loved little children, and little children
loved him. He was generous and noble
hearted friend, and he made friends wher-
ever he went. He was perfectly Transparent
for you knew him at the first interview, and
all after acquaintance served to ratify and
increase the favorable opinion you then
formed of the man. He uas given to hos
pitdtity. One always felt at home in his
hose.
Taking in account the slender opportuni-
ties for education he possessed in his youth,
ais knowledge was both accurate and exten.
sive. He was great reader, and remem-
bered well what he reld.
1t was rare privilege to ride over the
ncighborlood with the deceased and TO have
him give the history of each farm and fami-
" as you passed them by; and il was u
pleasure to hear him recount the incidents ci
his childhood and youth, with which his
faithfully retentive memory was well laden.
He was early to bed and early to rise. He
naxrs cf,nTt r.A fssr IL.