The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-01-23
An Incident in n PASTORS Life.

Died October 9th, 1873 at the residence of
his uncle, A jackson Young, 111S Pine street,
St. Louis, Mo-, ALONZO THOMAS BOW.
Frs, aged 81 years, month and days.
The following article on the death of MIR. Bow
crs, is from "Tnc Church News" of st. Louis
Mo-, and by the Rev; Montgomery Schuyler
ID. d., of st. Louis, and entitled rs above
Editor Ch'vch NemS: An interesting case in
the course ofmy pastoral duty has lately come
to my notice, which seems worthy of record, in
asmuch rs it illustrates the influence of n moth
cr's prayers and teaching. | had lust re.
turned from the dying bed of n good Christian
woman, who was supported in calm confidence
in view Of the approah of death, when the door
bell rang. was requested to go Immediately
to see young man who was supposed TO be DIV.
ing. found him evidently very low, having had
u congestiyc chill, from which there had been
comparatively little reaction. He was, however,
perfectly conscious, and now, apparently, fully
aware of his danger had Il conversation with
him, and found that he had been baptiscd in in
fancy, but had never renewed his VOWS in con.
firmation; and although he had not been
grossly wicked young man, yet he had been
careless of his religious duties. He had left
home when he was about sixteen years old, and
had been away from all its restraining influences
for the past five years. | saw afterwards, on
another VISIT Prayer Book which his mother
had sent him on the occasion of his twenty first
birthday, only few months ago. Having con-
versed with him for some time and cndeavorcd
tc lead his mind to the necessity and blessed
privilege of looking to Jesus for pardon and
grace, offered prayer with him and left Icall.
ed to see him the next morning. and found him
apparently in the same condition rs at nv first
visit, so far as his physical health was concern
ed He was, however, evidently much more in
earnest about his spiritual health and talked
of his mother and of her prayers and interest in
him, and listened eagerly to passenges of HOLY
Scripture which | read to him, and at the end
Of II n
called on the evening of the same day. He had
been looking anXiously for my visit. He was
still perfectly conscious. l sat down by his bed
side, and could see that his mind was fully arous-
cd to his condition: l told him in my own Ian
guage the story of the Prodigal, and that the
readiness of the father in the Parable to welcome
back the wanderer was an illustration of our
Heavenly Fathers readiness to receive His pcni.
tent children. He then said: "Read me some.
thing from the Bible that will apply to my case"
l thought for moment, and took up his Pray
or Book, which was lying by the bedside, and
turned to the "The Order for the Holy Com.
munion," and having told him that what was
about to read was "The Comfortable Words,
addressed by the Church TO all who were waiting
to come to the Holy Table read them, begins
ming with "lIear what comfortable words our
Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to
Him." then read 'the confession to be made
by the Priest and all those who are minded to
receive the Holy Communion" After the silence
VI u lew III cAClallNCu, 'LlyNt LlgHf,
Whdt comfort, achdt contortr' and then he but
his arms about my neck and kissed me. He
seemed after this perfectly calm and peaceful,
and expressed himself willing to die, if it was
Gods will. He asked if lie might receive the
Holy Communion told him | would gladly
administer it to him, and would come the next
day. This was satisfactory to him, and he spoke |
of it afterwards, and of his willingness to abide
Gods will, whatever might be the ordering of
His Providence.
On the next day visited him, intending to
give him the blessed Sacrament, but his mind |
was wandering, and he was evidently fast ap. |
proachng the moment of his dissolution. of. |
fered prayers with him, and he died shortly
afterwards, never entirely returning to his con.
seriousness, but calmly and without q struggle.
From my first visit, l felt there was the holy
influence of mothers prayers, though she was
far away, to aid my humble endeayors to lead
him to his Saviour, and ! could almost realize
the presence of that mother at his bed. side with
her precious words of love and encouragement,
She was in his thoughts continually, and the
Prayer Book, the last gift of her affection, was
cherished as precious treasure.
What q comfort and encouragement should
cases like this be to mothers whose prayers for
long years may yet be unanswered ''dlrays 10
pray and not to FAINT" for in due time 'they
shall reap if they faint not"