Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-11-06
IN sfEMORlAM.

,,br;st Yours IN sorrow,
J. Il. Campbell.
IN MEMoRiAM.
Th5 Rev. Levi Keller, member Of
the Evangelical Lutheran Synod OF
MARYLAND, and pastor Of the Funkstown
charge, peacefully fell asleep in Jesus
at 6 o'clock q. m, Monday, October
llth, 1880, having completed in June
las, his sixtieth anniversary. The facts
connected with his death are OF strange
and painful interest. They are, II IS
believed; substantially as follows anu
are here given for the Information OF
his numerous relatives ana irienus'
Whilst engaged in gathering apples
from an old apple tree in lis garden that
never before bore fruit, large limb
mon which he stood (and since found
70 have been in a state OF decay sud
IanIv broke from its trunk; when he,
being q heavy man and encountered
with an additional weight OF apples,
was preepitated some dozen feet with
Great momentum to the earth, and so
Violent was the shock that the bone OF
one leg was forced through the flesh,
dislocated from its anklesocket, and
thrust into the earth. Friends came
Immediately to his assistance, the limb
was satisfactorily adjusted, and hope en-
tertsined that possible amputation might
not be necessary. The pain he endured
for several hours was intense. Fever
set in, and his general condition soon
became such that, in the opinion OF his
surgeon, amputa,ion would jeopardise
his life. But, alas! the fond wish and
cherished expectation were doomed to
disappointment, and the operation which
it was thought might be avoided be-
came a necessity, as the only alterna-
tive which promised hopeful issue.
Accordingly, OH the sixth day after the
occurrence, the limb was taken Off, ana
all the indications for little season
were propitious. Soon, however, ul-
favorable symptoms made their appear,
ance, the wound gave no evidence OF
healing, gangrene supervened, and IN
four days our intimate friend aud broth
or serenely and cheerfully, and III the
fuIl possession of all his mental faculties
passed away from the pilgrimage OF
earth 10 the citizenship of heaven.
short while before his end he called his
famiIy to his bedside, babe them, one
by one, an afftctionate farewell, and
rrsinn,dlv committed them TO the prov
iden,ial care aud blessing ola covenant
keeping God. a strange incident con.
nected with the dying condition OF Bro
Keller is perhaps worthy of mention;
account for it as We may. y few hours
,r.y:nls to the final struggle he counted
aloud deliberately upon his fingers l, 2,
>, /. 5, 8, and remarked 'ihen my COT
fix" and mvsterious as it may appear he
i;rd within five minutes of the designa-
l.d hour. His death was the prelude
t. eternal life; and his chamberthe ante
room OF heaven.
The chamber where the Christian dies
/, privileged beyond the common walks OF
life
Just on the verge Of heaven
The occasion was improved Monday
evening in the Z. J.. Church, Funks
town. by the Rev. S. w. Owen OF la.
gerstuwn in the presence OF a large, anu
deeply impressed congregation OF rel
a,ives and friends "who sorrowed most
that they should see the face otthe de,
voted husband, father, pastor and friehd
no more on Garth" In an eloquent and
tender address he reminded them OF the
mortal worth, and Christian Character
Of him who had been the bond OF the
household as an afectionate husband,
and father aud as minister OF Christ
faithful and useful servant-wlth earn
est entrcaty he besought his hearers 10
initiate the example of him who had
gone in, aud out before them; and who
although silent in the cold embrace OF
death vet spoke forcibly to them by his
lite and happy end; OF the inestlmaole
value of peace with God, and the hope
of glory.
1T orc p. NJ. on Tuesday the corpse,
and cortege comprised of the bereaved
family-and large delegation from the
Funkstown charge arrived by rail at
the b. & O. depot, Strasburg, a., where
a large concsurse had assembled TO await
the arrival of the inaninate form OF one
whom all loved; and to many OF whom
in former years he had spoken in earn.
est tones all the words of this llte. Ills
body was inferred in the Cemetery al
Joining the Z. i. church; the spot most
fit of all others where his earthly re-
mains should repose in slumber un
broken until the trump OF God shall
sound, and the dead arise. Here his
cspousals were consummated-snd here
his ministry began. The services at
the grave were conducted by the pastor
of the congregation QRev. }. WilliS
and hard indeed must have been the
heart that did not feel the solemn I'M
uressiveness of the ceremonies, ana the
circumstances OF The occasion. On en-
teriuc the church we found it tastefuliy
draped iu mourning and already filled
to its utmost capacity, willis: the con
gregation was being composed the choir
sweetly rendered that beautiful ana ap-
propriate hymn 81 would not live Away,
away from my God" The pulpit and
chancel were occupied by Drs. Bowman
and Gilbert-Rev. Prof. Miller-Revs.
Bushong-WIllis aud Smith OF the
Lutheran Church; and Rev. Fox OF the
M. +. Church. The services OF the
Altar were attended toby Drs. Gilbert
and Bowman; and sermon was preach
cd by the writer at the special request
of the deceased. Text "For our core