Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-10-07
DEATH OF REV. DIR. EsIETLE.


The Salem, Va, Register, in giving
the particulars of the sudden death of
Rev. DR. Bittle, President of Roanoke
College, SAYS
A mighty warrior in Israel and bene-
factor OF his race has fallen. With his
armor on and his face to the foe he fell.
On Monday night, the 25th September.
about 9 o clock the startling news ran
with electric rapidity through our town
that DR.. BiltIe was dead. This thrill
Jag announcement was so sudden and
unlocked for that it fell like lightning
stroke, and almost paralyzed the
thought and speech of our citizens who
but few moments before had seen him
walking our streets in apparent good
health, and engaging in social converse
as he passed amongst US.
The circumstances attending his
sudden death are as follows: The de
ceased had been engaged during the
day in attending to his duties as lnstruc-
tor, aud in supervising the interests OF
the College. A meeting OF the EXecu
tive Committee of the Education and
Missionary Society of Southwest Nirsl-
MIA Lutheran Synod had been appointed
for the hour OF 7 clock L. NJ, Ill Prot.
Yonces lecture room. Before lhemeet-
ING was formally opened, the members
engaged in pleasant and cheerful con-
versation, and none with greater zest
and cheerfulness than DIR. Bittle. The
Chairman called the meeting to order
by requesting DR.. Bittle to open with
prayer His prayer was an earnest and
truthful invocation of Gods blessing
upon the various enterprises OF the
church, and especially the great work,
in the interest Of which the Committee
had met, the preparation of young men
for the gospel ministry. Whilst in the
midst Of these deliberations, the Doctor
was called out to attend to some duty
connected with the College, and he
hurriedly left the room. After the
lapse OF abont half an hour he returned.
AS he entered the room he, in response
to the offer of chair by member OF
the Committee, courteousy replied
"Mr. w., keep your seat" These were
his last words. He seated himself in
the protfered chair, but no sooner had
he done so than the gentlemen present
were filled with alarm by the peculiar
symptoms which manifested themselves
in the Doctor, and which proved TO be
a. - 10
men rushed 10 him TO render relief, if
possible; but the hand Of death had too
Enthusiastically laid itself upon him, and
in less than three minutes, whilst seat
ed in his chair and before physician
could arrive, he had breathed his last.
The physicians ascribe his death to a
rupture of the walls of the heart. Or
gauic disease of the heart had for some
time been gradually undermining the
foundation walls of life. Thus peace
fully, with scarce a struggle, in the
midst of his labors in behalf Of his Mas
ters cause, he was called to higher
life and more glorious field of labor.
Soon an excited aud grief-stricken as
sembly Of students and citizens gather
ed in the recitation room around the
remains of the honored President to
bewail their great loss-many of them
10 weep bitter tears. 1t was truly an
affecting sight. The dimly-lighted
room, the inanimate form of the Doc.
tor reclining on one of the recitation
benches, the alarm and distress depicted
on the counteDances of the excited
spectators, who had so unexpectedly
been summoned together, the suppress
ed sobs of students and cltlzen-trlends,
made up a scene never TO be forgotten.
Only a few minutes before, he had
visited some of the students rooms,
and had shown unusual cheerfulness as
he talked with the occupants. Now he
had entered into the mansions OF heav
enly rest, where lie was holding con-
verse with the spirits of Just men made
perfect Only few minutes before he
was invoking the Lord of the harvest
to send laborers into the harvest Now
he had come to the great "Harvest-
home, like as ''shock Of corn cometh
in its season." He had finished bear
ing the cross and now he was wearing
the crown.
In the morning of Tuesday. the
students were assembled in-the College
Chapel. 1t was flock without a
shepherd. No levity, no gaiety, mark
ed their conduct. The burdep of a
heavy sorrow had fallen upon their little
community. In silence they filed the |!
Chapel, and listened with subdued
spirits to the selection of scripture, and
to the appropriate remarks made by |
some of the Professors touching the re-
cent calamity.
In the afternoon, the Board OF Trus-
tees of the College met and performed
the sad duty o. msnifesting their respect
for the deceased by adopting resolutions
suitable to the mourntul occasion, and
by determining upon a programme to