National Republican., 1875-07-05
THOMAS B. rLoyxEscE
Hi. Death and a slstaA of His Life,

light and beauty yetter day evening Just as ht
mortal eyes beheld for the last time the glory Of
the setting sun. His last earthly request was for
air and light, and 50 ssreueiy did he part with
all that bound him TO earth, so peacefully and
brsvely did he fa ee tho sKing Of Terrorsn 30
hopefully did he rest On the arm Of his Lord and
Saviour, 10 whom he had been beautifully recon-
ciled, 90 sure was he Of breathing the atmosphere
OF immortal love, and Of beholdIng tho light OF
eternal day, that hts weeping friends.areund his
bedside could scarcely tell when the good man
preathed his last Angels ofPesce controlled his
chamber of death and sdmiaistered to the dying
the richest consoiatiops of the Divine promises.
saturday morning Colonel f'lorence was informed
by his ply ysician that hfs condition was critical,
and that be should prepare for the worst. He
sent for MI. John Morris, who has had charge OF
bis business for q long time, and everything per-
tanning TO his worldly affairs was quickly Id
jussd, and all his private and personal interests
disposed Of. rnen, after little rest and regain
ing some strength BY the use OF stimuisnts, he
signifed his desire fer the presence Of some
"a PRIEST or TIE CATHOLIC cHURoH.
quietly intimating preference for Father Bokel,
who had performed for his wife, few years since
when she was dying, similar once. At that
hour l23o) It was believed the Colonel could sur.
yive only fer httle while and his hands were so
cold his pulse % low and his eyes so CLASSY that
he really seemed to be IN the hands Of death
Father Bokei came, and after q little general
and preliminary conversation he addressed him
directly IN regard to matters pertaining to his
soul. Colonel Florence replied that he felt pre-
pared to accept his fate and desired the ofces Of
the Church. The priest then placed around his
neck purple velvet stole; the attendants with
drew from the room, and there, In the presence Of
the Judge he was about to meet, he made full con
fession Of all his sins prayed devouty for forgive
ness and was absolved. His friends returned to
the room, and then thesolemn rite Of baptism was
performed. Father Bokel then briefly explained
the pstufe and efficacy of the holy eucharist as
understood by the Catholic Church, and Colonel
Florence signifying desire to receive 1t the
priest returned to the church to prepare IT, In
the meantime Q little altar was erected.
covered with white, and when the priest came
back he lighted wax caudis and most
solemnly and impressively administered
that rite. Then after teaching again. the cere-
mony Of extreme unction was proceeded with. 4
Anointing irst his eyes with the holy oil, the 1
priest said: Through this holy unction, and
through his most tender mercy, may the Lord
pardon thee whatever sins thou hast committed
BY seeing" Then, anointing his ears, and nos I
trils, and hands and feet, pardon was asked for
Sins committed "by hearing, /" "by smelling, p .by
taste and speech, !" "by touch, and "by walking
Further prayers were offered and lessons given, /
and the ceremony ended. Whether by its iuiiu.
ence or not, the Colonel seemed to feel much bet
ter, and be slept quietly for some time and amer.
wards was able to converse little. At II o'clock
Saturday night it was thought the crisis had
come, and that he would then breathe his last. !
Several Of his friends stood around him, and
when asked II he recognized them he mentioned
them all By name. Here most affecting
SCENE or FAREWELL
occurred between himself and his niece, Miss
Lucy i. Norman, lovely and most affectionate
girl, and who, though young 10 years, has watched
and waited upon him with tender solicitude and
sleeSless devotion all through his long and pain
full sicknets. He drew her down to his bosom,
kissed her, and with tears streaming from ms
eyes, invoked upon all her future life the choicest
blessings Of heaven. 1t made the stoutest weep.
Morning came and he still breathed.
wound around Bis affiictsd limbs, @ and % Ssain rs
OF health. His voice came quite firmly back, and
radisSee 50 secvs Of ois % among men snd
bewitching TO women. He conversed with .
sns 81 tSs lSie1n scsDs, q the nigh. and Of
thankful for them, that they had done him !
great deal Of good, and said, whatever our |
We all have TO come back at last to early teach.
Ings could not be sustained on my dying bed
s's d mad: my psaes .i.h God and st
full now, and DO not dread DEATH" Then ex- |
tending his hand he said, "Good morning, !" with |
a
meaning in his mind. He continued cheerful |
throughout the day up TIL o'clock, when a /
great change again took place, and at I:i9 O'Clock
BIS LIFE AND CHARACTER. 7-f;
Thomas B. Florence was born in PhiladeIphis, |
January 20, 1872, and consequently was in the /
sixty fourth year OF his age when he died. HIS i
parents though poor were Of noble character, and /
ton. but such were his superior natural eudov- L
ments that he early took the lead among the /
M. 81 sas o spS G ne wa; q
Of the public schools, which once he held for nine
YEAR,; He was then popularity known as t'rhe
about him the interests Of iaborinz men. He
served an apprenticeehip at hat-maktng, and es- |
tablished for himself most profitable business IN
. splendid halter was spoiled to make poor |
politician" He was Q leading member Of the
rs time, before the Invention Of steam re engines.
BE was also captain Of q leading military organi-
lation and during the riots Of lsl he wasstaucued
Wien 3. sas Ss S
rain Of powder laid and other preparations for |
e e dss'rneuos, but ne Sfayely preserved the
prayer book taken from off its altar At this |
line he took severe cold, and insammatory |
snd S sc 1.s never ne Ms .ho Ersas ron M
he was also leading spirit in the organization
v the
bhOIhEhhOOD Of Thk UllOh, L
secret society In the interests OF vorkinRmen.
md which spread like .wiidfire Throughout tbs
ountry. It was about this time, too, 1876 thai |
le began to appreciate the evils Of intemperance.
nd at once became q great power in the cause.
!nally became Grand worthy Patriarch Of the
reds Of divisions 70 his Lgh honor let Il here
Q recorded that be never Violated hif pledge
.le COuntrTmeD. nreaHIing NV an NJ 4
mple the blessings Of . temperate life, and
Ihen, In bis decline, he was forced under the
rs health, he grievsd over the necessity. and
Fas as sparinE as possible. America does not az
ord more brilliant example In this regard 20
hat he was constantly surrounded BY tempta-
lon, and had one Of the brightest and most So
ial Of natures He was always Inclined TO the - |
r. LIE OF JOURNALISM,
nd somewhere about ls4e established the
ierged In the Keystone about 1850, and rs early
1854 he was the editor Of tho Philadelphia
Tgnss n "a 81, 10 o. them Democrstic nswspapers
Inst district Of Pennsyhsnis, and defeated By |
he Hon. Lewis o. Levin, the ablest exponent OF
iated and again dsfessse q ate By NJ Levin IN 1SS 1sss
ut on the third trial, In 1850 he was successful
nd he served eontinuousiy untl 1859 He was an
. Naval Affairs and Invalid Pensions he was
lso elected to the Thfrty-stxth Congress- and
1tn ne eetaplltneo mere the "Democratio Quar-
,rly Review" whose pages were occupied by |
,me Of the ablest pens Of the nation. The |
ar coming On, and the subscription list |
eng principally q the South, its suspension was
matter Of necessity. Amer this the Constitu-
ondt Unfon, daily and weekly, was established |
ere, and a. rs editor and proprietor he made &c
cry successful; but the daily was suspended n /
'o7 or 'oe and his next venture In the Newspaper
GRID was the Sunday GGzeffe, now o fiourishing
,neern and leased TO parties for i've years, who
lso have the privilege Of its purchase.
In 1858 be was the candidate Of the Democratic |
arty IN the Second Congressional di trfct run- i
ing against the Hon. Charles Nell, and though |
ie district was Overwhelmingly Republican, he I
,dueed MI. O'Neils majority down to doe
pint. In 1879 he was again candidate, ,Hrom the 4
irst district, and was only defeated by q very |
nall majority, and had he remained in posses
on 81 his hsalth, he would have contested the
L wss while ssrving on the Committee of In.
.iid Pensions that he acquired his welLxnown
sTHE WIDOWS FRIEND
I'd II was true. He vas kind and sficleut in |
eir behalf In all business connected with the | /
oyernment, a. much 10 as o man well could be-
never refused favor which it was In his power
bestow, and IN Determining this possibility be
'ver consulted personal sacrifices, but made
am a. freely a. he breathed the air. To many, II
t1is regard, he was not always syorldly wiseS /
II he may have been much wiser than he ap- 1
AIRED. The very lket letter he ever received /
as last Saturday morning, from q poor man In | !
hiladelphia, asking his influence for work In the
His iDhusnce sss also vidsly sought by persons