The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-22
Rev. F. II. Bowman.

THE Memphis Presbyterian gives an account
the sickness and death of this lamented brother.
is a sad event. loss to his family, his friends, Il
the flock which he fed, and to our whole Church
forthe harvest is great and the laborers are few
At such times we can only look up from the loot o
the eternal throne andsay-" was dumb, opened
not my mouth, because thou didst it." Mr. Bow
man was son of the Rev. Francis Bowman, d. D.
many years ago pastor of the Presbyterian church in
Charlottesville, Va and whose old age is now hlled
with sorrow in this bereavement The Rev. John
R. Bowman, of Harrisonburg, Va, is by this event
called to mourn over the departure OF brother
greatly endeared to him, his companion also through
the whole of their literary and theological educa-
ton. The deceased succeeded the writer OF these
lines as pastor of Augusta church-ministering to
hat people for period of about seven years, i'm
medately before his removal to Memphis.-CEN.
PRES.
OUR SAD BEREAVEMENT.
"Our city is in deep mourning. We have
laid in the grave our beloved brother, Rev.
f. H. Bowman, the pastor of the First Pres
byterian church. Very many have been the
sad scenes that the last six weeks have wit
messed here, but none of them has cast so
deep gloom over the whole community
Brother Bowman was much beloved by all
classes, and by Christians of all names. His
amiable disposition and his genial manners,
joined with his deep piety and the high
character of his mental endowments, had
made him one of the most popular and most
truly loved and admired of our city pastors.
Some months since, when the cholera was in
our city, he labored constantly among his
flock, giving consolation and sympathy to
the stricken and sorrowing ones, until he
himself was taken with the disease. God
spared him, and raised him up again, but his
health has not been so good since that at
tack as before. When the fever appeared
in our city, he did not for moment waver
or shrink from the path of duty, but was
found constantly at the bedside of the sick
and dying, or administering comfort to the
sorrowing. Until Wednesday of last week
he was enjoying his customary health, and
while in our office on that day remarked that
he did not know what was before him, but
he felt more than his usual exuberance of
spirits, such as he had before sometimes
felt in the mountains of Virginia.
On Thursday, he was not feeling so well,
but visited and prayed with dearly beloved
Christian sister, who was going down into
the dark valley. Even then the chill was
on him, and he returned to his home to take
his bed, with the fever. His attack was an
exceedingly violent one, and in little more
than three short days it carried him away.
He breathed his last on Monday morning
about o'clock. The nature of his disease
was such that visitors were generally kept
out of the room and only one of our minis
ters saw him IL nis last lhoments. To him
he expressed his assurance that for him to
die was gain, but that he felt solicitude for
the dear ones he was leaving behind-and
even these he was willing to commit to
covenant keeping God.
He seemed to have some premonition of
his attack, and in his disinterested love and
devotion to his dear wife and children, he
had exacted the promise that if he should
take the fever she would not come into the
room where he was, but take care of her
self, for the sake of her children.
So passed away, in his fortieth year,
devoted and self sacrificing husband, low
ing and loved father, an eloquent and earn
est minister, faithful and beloved pastor;
and not only does stricken family and
numerous social circle and large church
mourn their loss, but the whole city is over
shadowed with sadness and gloom.