Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-06-27
DEATH OF REV. THOMAS MADDIN
ID. ID.

From the Union and American, 2lst inst
This venerable minister of the Cos
pei, having long since passed the Psal-
mlst's allotted three score and ten of
years, after severe but brief illness
of few hours, expired at his residence
the Maxwell House in this city-at
an early hour yesterday morning. His
disease was aneurism of the abdomi-
NAL aorta, seizing him acutely about 8
or 9 o'clock Friday evening, and after
severe and repeated paroxysms of in
tense suffering during the night, cul-
minatlng In rupture a few hours afte ;
daylight, and IN death. His sons-Drs.
L. l.. and j. w. Maddin-were with
him from the commencement of his
attack, and he was also attended by a
daughter and other devoted relatives.
Thus has suddenly passed away a true
patriarch in Israel. Indeed, has this
good man realized the end of life de-
scribed in job: "ThoU. shalt come to
thy grave in full age, ike as a shock
of corn cometh in, in his season."
The Rev. DIR. Maddin was of Irish
ancestry, and was born in the city of
Philadelphia in the year 1896. He
obtained before eighteen years of age
the rudiments of an education which.
in the soil of natiyely vigorous and
fertile intellect, was fully developed,
and fitted him for the extensive field
of useful labor-labor in fact-that he
has so successfully filled for more than
half century. Before his maturity,
he differed in religious views with his
father, and following his sacred con-
vlctions of duty and conscience, he
left the parental roof, and turned his
steps enthusiastically, reaching this
place-then a town little above the
pretensions of a village-iu the year
1917. Shortly after, but through pow
erty and many vicissitudes, he was ad-
mitted to preaching license as a "cir-
cult rider" of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, then having church juris-
diction of the territory South Of the
Ohio and extending to the Indian res
ervations in Alabama and Georgia.
He was first assigned to border duty
and among the pioneers and Indians !;
but in the year 1920, he was made the
stationed preacher at Nashville, and
administered his duties in the tene-
ment still standing on Church street
adjoining the Union and American
block. While in this charge he was
the virtual founder of the Sunday
school in this region, an Institution
and nursery of all churches, which
was then not only unknown, but was
the subject of prejudice among all de-
nominations. In this department of
the Christian work his zeal never re-
Taxed, nor did his arm, though feeble
with age, ever fail. One of the last of
his labors was Sunday school found
ed at Arlington Chapel, in this vicinity
and TO this he was devoted,
In the work of the ministry of the
Methodist Church for fifty years, he
was conspicuous aud signally devoted.
If man ever had the commission from
on High, he had it. As laborer on
the circuit F; as preacher in prominent
stations in the conference; as Presid-
ing Elder of districts; as representa-
tive of general interests of the connec
ton by conference appointment; as
delegate to General Conferences, he
was indefatigable, faithful, jealous in
the work, and blameess in his life.
The greater part of his ministerial life
was in the Tennessee Conference, com
prising, until a few years past, what is
known as North Alabama. For three
years, however, for special reasons,
and to use his admirable executive
capacity, he was transferred and made
Presiding Elder Of the Louisville dis
trict of the Louisville Conference.
At the session of the Tennessee Con-
ference in 1869, he was passed to the
superannuated list, as one who had
performed o life-work worthily. In
the autumn of 1870, he was appointed
to the chaplaincy of the Tennessee
Hospital for the Insane, and in this
position he was faithful, and abundant
in lahors in all seasons-alike amiable,
fervent and firm in his mission. In
this work he died. Before the writer
of this tribute lies his sermon prepared
for today, and completed few hours
before his fatal attack, with this note
appended;
This regard as my belief, and /
have been telling the people of it for
fifty years, and each year only confirm.
ed my growing belief. June 10, 1874"
The text is from Rev. xiv, l to ) in
elusive: And | looked, and 10,
Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and
with him an hundred forty and four
thousand, having his Fathers name
written in their foreheads," etc,
For more than half century the
venerable deceased has been pillar of
the faith; and, throughout the breadth
of the Methodist connection, the in
telligence of his death will be received
with sadness. Though aged and feeble,
his works will survive him; and the
church will feel las when standard.
Narer fainteth.
The funeral services will take place
at KcKendree Church to-day at 4 P.
NJ, and will be conducted by Bishop
McTyeire and other clergy. The re-
mains will be buried at Mount Olivet.