Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-15
Gilbert Haven.
The GREAT BIsHOP's DEATH-BED LEvEE.

From advance sheets of a memorial vol
ume Of the late Bishop Gilbert Haven, short
ly to appear from the Boston publishing
house of Russell & Co., compiled by Mr.. W.
II. Daniels, author Of the ILLUSTRATED Histo-
ry of Methodism," the Sunday Herald ex-
tracts the following pathetic passage:
On the 18th of November he reached the
old home at Maiden, quite exhausted by his
labors at the missionary committee, but beIi
on attending the funeral of his old friend
Gershom +. Cox, of Salem. On the follow
ing evening he lectured at the Peoples
Church, Boston. an enterprise in which from
the first to the last he had taken an especial
interest, and whose heroic pastor he had con-
stantly aided. not only by generous sub
scriptions himself, but by persuading Others
to subscribe. On Sunday, the 23d Of No
vember, he attended public worship at the
Methodist church in Maiden, where, during
the service, he was seized with pain in his
hands, which crept up along his arms and
pervaded his body. until in unutterable dis
tress, he left the church for his mothers res
| idence, only few steps away, and passed
over its threshold, never more to cross it till
devout men carried him to his burial. On
y
after period of comparative relief from
pain, he had a violent attack of distress fol-
breath. and begged his physician, DR.. Saw
| telle, to remain with him until be was better
About midnight he awoke from troubled
sleep, and said, ''Thank God, the storm is
over. Doctor, you can go home now. My
good brother, Cunning to his nurse) and
will fight it out on this line tonight" The
family having retired, exhausted with long
Watching and the doctor taken his departure
he called to his faithful companion and said
snow, Brother Griggs.
TELL Me ABOUT GRANTS MOVEMENTS To.
Will he get safe through the South? Thank
God that he will not accept reception when
the black man is ignored Next he asked
about the state of things in Maine His com
panion reminded him of their agreement not
to talk about that exciting SUBJECT, to which
he replied, as if with clear consciousness
that this was his last night on earth, 81 must
know tonight all there is to be known. The
will of the people must not be thwarted.'
He was informed that the election had been
referred to the Supreme Court, whereupon he
turned his thoughts to other pressing matters
About 5 o'clock he turned his face to his
friend and said: "Do you think | am dy-
ing?" and on receiving the answer "NO.
bishop, but think this is the beginning OF
the end" he asked ''Do you think the
physicians have given up all hope?" 81 fear
they have" was the reply. SIS that so, =
said the bishop. s'What had | better do
For the sake of the church | am not willing
to die until every means is exhausted. Call
my sister and my son. Let us have little
consultation. we four" On Saturday morn
ing, the I'd of January, 1880, his regular
physician, DIR. Sawtelle, in making his usual
early call, noticed that during the night a
great change had taken place in the condi-
ton of his patient. This was, beyond a
doubt, the day on which Bishop Haven must
die. The fact was communicated to him,
and he again sent for the family and, on
their appearance, he said, with characteristic
spirit: "There! 1t is just as told you.
am like the deacOn's one horse shay, all
broken down at once
Fer weeks no visitors had been permitted
to enter his room; but now his longing de-
sire to see his old friends was granted The
telegraph summoned those who were in Bos-
ton and vicinity, and presently his neighbors
began to come in to all of whom he spoke
IN the manner of man eonversing with his
guests, rather than of one in the very clutch
of death. His mind was perfectly clear and
his voice natural, though speaking with soma
difficulty, and for nearly eight hours the dy-
ing bishop held what may properly be de-
scribed as
DEATH-BED LEvEE
The room was filled with the glory of God.
at was" said one, ''more like reception
than death-bed scene" His love for his
native New England famed up during the
LAT oh, H.
thereof, and he laughingly referred to a con-
versation with his colleagues sometime be-
fore, at which he recommended friend from
Massachusetts, to some vacant post of duty.
''Bishop Harris said, at our last bishop
meeting, that, if a man was wanted to make
a new archangel of. Haven would undertake
to look him up in New England "And'
he added. with his CHEEKY smile. II would
find him." too. When his old college class
mate, DIR. Newhall, entered, the meeting was
tender and affecting. Doubt had been ex-
pressed whether it was safe to trust this bril-
liant. broken man in the presence of his dying
friend; but the shock, though a severe one,
did not unhinge his mind, and the two talked
naturally, tenderly, but with very little death
in the discourse. II have beaten YOU just a
little this. time. said the bishop. II thought
you would have gone before me-" Then re-
ItrfluS u Nue dInlctlOn WnlCn MS dear
brother occasionally suffered, he said
"There has been a little darkness over you,
but there is light, ahead" To another friend
he said: The first Sunday of the new year
I shall spend in glory" SO real was this
"glory" to the man who was so soon to enter
it. that he and his widowed sister, Mrs. Cox,
spoke together of the message which he was
to take from her to her husband, ''Gilbert.
you know what told you to tell Wilbur. .
"Yes," was his reply, Il will remember it
all, and will deliver your message" As
time drew on he remarked that he had in the
morning sent for DIR. Garratt, who had prom
Used to come to him at o'clock that after
noon- ''You will countcrmand the order to
DIR. Garratt," he said. Il have no need for
him. l sm going where the inhabitants shall
never say, 81 am sick" To his friend DIR.
Upham he said '.Preach whole christ. II
whole gospel, a whole heaven. whole hell.
q whole Bible" To another he said: .Stan1
by the old church." Then. referring to his
own experience, he said: at is so delight
full dying-it is so pleasant-so beautiful-the
angels are here-God lifts me mp in his
arms. cannot see the river of death
there 10 no river-it is all light am float
ing away from earth up into heaven-I am
gliding away unto God" One of his friends