Litchfield enquirer., 1873-01-16
OBITUARY.

Deacon Ashbel Fuller, we'll known for many years as an earnest worker in church and Sunday school, died at his residence residence in Kent on Saturday evening last, and on the Wednesday following, his funeral from the Congregational church, of which for more than forty years he had been member, was attend ed by an unusually large concourse of sincere mourners.
 MT. Fuller had been ill for more than a year, his friends constantly hoping that he would get better until within the past three or four months, when it became evi- dent that his disease, form of consump- tion, had obtained such hold upon him, that recovery humanly speaking was inn possible. Everything had been done that could be done, the best physicians in New York and elsewhere consulted, the sea side, the south, the mountains all oc- casionally tried, but nothing could ar- rest the sure progress of this disease; and when, at length, he himself realized the hopelessness of fighting longer against it, he accepted the fact with entire compos- ure and 8 complete surrender of his will to that of his Heavenly Father, which as the hour of his departure drew nearer grew more and more into joyful antici- patton and 6 longing for the gladness and rest of Heaven.
 In early life Mir. Fuller had intended to enter the ministry and, indeed, after grad uation at Union college, passed through two years of the theological course. But his health was not strong enough for him to continue his studies or to hope to be able to do thoroughly minister's work, and reluctantly he gave 1t up. But this did not prevent his devoting himself to the work of Christ most earnestly. AS Deacon of the church for twenty-three years, as superintendent of the Sunday school. as leader of large and flourish ing bible class. he worked long and faith fully. Always ready to help on every im- provement in the church or in the com- munity both with his time and his money, he ever showed himself public spirited, liberal minded, generous, christian gen. tleman. Somewhat over-reserved and dignifed in manner, his heart was yet very large in its sympathles and he was far more deeply interested in the person al affairs of those among whom he lived and valued their friendship and esteem far more highly than was generally SUD- posed. Those who were fortunate enough to know him intimately know we'll how warm was his sympathy, how kindly his feelings for his neighbors and towns-folk, feelings which though he lacked the hap py tact of expressing them readily, were yet very deep and true. His acts of qui- ct unostentatious kindness will keep his memory fresh in many humble home while his iberality in suctaining the work of the church and in subscribing to every good cause has set noble example to those who have enough and to spare. Taking it as a whole the influence of Mir. Fuller's life has been very strong infiu- ence for Christ, for what is true and right and good, and dying as he has, but little past prime of his manhood, his loss will be deeply and sadly fslt by the church and indeed by the whole community, for his refinement, his iberality of ofsentiment, his education, his christian culture, to say nothing of what he actually did, exercis- ed silent, perhaps unrecognized yet pow erful influence which we can ill afford to lose. Yet we thank God that he lived, and now that he has gone to his fair man. sion in his Fathers house. It is for those who remain to press manfully forward and fill the gap which he has left.