The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-12-14
REV. JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT.


HIS DEATH FROM BROKEN HEART.
The Rev. d.. Carter has been writing for
the .Netiodist an autobiography from which
we quote IN reference to the singular man
ner of Rev. Mr.. Mafiitt death:
Mr.. Maifist must have preached thirty
years in I'll is country. his death occurring
when he was about fifty eight years of age.
lie Travelled all over our land, especially in
the larger cities and was greeted every
where 10y immense audiences. There was
wonderful fascination in his manner
Multitudes yet live who heard him preach;
and multitudes in various places. who are
still members of the church militant, were
converted through his instrumentality: and
muitltuGcs, no doubt, have gone to JOIN
the church triumphant, who were called to
Christ through the Word which he preach
ed. We pass over all these years Of his
triumph. 1t was not our intention to
speak of them at present. We come To
the closing up of his earthly career, for the
particulars Of winch We are indebted To a
pamphlet written by Rufus F. H,bbard,
bearing the date 1856.
Many persons who will read this article
probably know that. during his life, Mr.
Maifitt, like other great and successful
preachers, was assaulted by various calum-
MES. Ii has been well said that the whittier
our garments, the more easily are they
stained. He had been for some weeks
preaching in Mobile. The news came TO
New York that he was ministering TO large
assemblies with extraordinary success, and
that glorious revival was attending his
iabors. Some person or persons furnished
for the columns of a scurIilous paper. pub
lished in New York, articles in reference
to Mr.. M.ffit, charging him With gross evils.
and revivIng old rumors that had been
"iioat in the church. An extra edition of
this paper was sent to Mobile and sold
around the church where he was preaching
during the hours Of service. The brethren
still believed i'll his innocence and III. meet
ings grew more and more interesting But
each succeeding week the paper, As it was
forwarded from New York. cuntaincd more
pointed articles, and, influenced by its
statements, several persons. who were not
members Of the church in Mobile, took the
matter up and charged fragrant crimes
against him.
4; length the official brethren forbade
his preaching in the church. Mr. Maffit
exclaimed:
God pity my enemies and fell back
ward \ physician came in Immediately.
who said it was spasmodic action of the
heart. lie applied restoratives and the
great preacher revived fingered some
hours and died without 4 struggle. His
sister said that the evening before his
death, rs they were walking the room to-
gerher, talking of his prosecutions, he
said:
"oh, Ellen, your poor brother is dying
My heart strings are breaking; | feel they
are; but remember die innocent, 4 Chris
tian and gentleman. | pray God to have
mercy on my enemies, and forgive them. a.
do from the bottom Of my heart"
Tins died John Newland Mafltt. 4
post mortem examination was demanded by
has friends. They selected the best physi-
elan in this city. DIR. Melt conducted the
examination and found the stomach aud
lungs in a healthy condition; but when
/ DR. Mott took out the heart he wept like 4
child and said:
- There can be no doubt as To the cause
, of his death, now, for the heart is literally
I burst. -
| The heart was taken to the doctors
office, IN Mobile, and preserved. and tin.
body was buried wIthuu, it. The verdict
/ of The Jurors WAS that J. y. Matiitt died of
u broken heart, caused 10y excessive grief
aud, says Mr.. llilliard: II believe the
heart still remaius IN Mobile and may be-
seen 10y any one. =