The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-18


his nostrils. AS he fell. Mr.. Strange raised him
self to his loftiest height and with his eyes lift
ed to heaven. cried out, with voice like trum-
pet "All hail, conouering Son of God
That smiteth the nations with the
sharp two edged sword! Ride forth and conquer"
The scene that followed was indescribabe. The
sinners could stand it no longer. Some of them
lied from the grounds, while others fell upon
their faces in an agony of repentance. The bully
was converted and became one of the stanchest
members of the church
Not a great while before he died he preached
at a camp-meeting held near Columbus. He was
then III failing health, suffering from the dread
dlsease-consump:Ion 1t was an extraordinary
effort. He knew that his days this earth
were numbered. and were swiftly slipping away.
His friends also knew that the day of his death
was not far distant. and thought that in all prob
ability this would be his last sermon. When,
pale. emaciated and weak he entered the pulpit,
be found it full of weeping ministers. In
voice Of deep and tender pathos he read the
hymn beginning
Come, let join friends above
That have obtained the prize;
And on the eagle wings of love
To joy celestial RISE"
The prayer that followed was one of wonderful
sweetness and power. aid melted the entire con-
gregatlon to tears He took for his text the
words from the seventh chapter of Revelations:
These are they who have come up out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb" 1t
was grand text for the peculiar eloquence of
Strange, for he delighted to picture forth the
gories of the New Jersusalem. and the ecstatic
bliss OF the redeemed. AS he rose to loftier and
higher flights of eoquence his face seemed to
glow with divine halo, and his audience was
lost to all but the magic Of his At length
he broke forth with Farewell, world! | leave
you in the hand of the Redeemer"
Farewell, beloved ministers! Farewell, breth-
rem, all! | shall soon be with the blood
washed on that shining shore Very soon shall
lift these feet all dripping, from the waters of
Jordan and set them on the golden streets of the
new Jerusalem. Soon | shall be with Paul and
John, with Polyearp, and Wesley, and White
field, and all the martyrs and sufferers for the
testimony of Jesus. But who these9 There
stands one in the midst of the throng brighter
than all. 1t is the Lamb in his glory. He beck
ons and bids me to come. Get out of my light.
ye crowding mutitudes / must see Jesus and
take him in my arms" AS he uttered these
words he sank back exhausted and carried
from the pulpit amid the sobs of the multitude
His last pulpit effort was to preach the funeral
sermon of Rev. Edwin Ray, one of his colleagues
and dearly loved friend. Mr.. Ray died but
short time before the meeting of the an
nual conference. which held its session
that year in this city. Although a diving
man himself Mr.. Strange was selected to preach
the conference memorial sermon. Few men
could read poetry as John Strange could, and as
he read for his opening hymn the words
''Who there arrayed in white,
Brighter than the MONDAY sun;
Foremost of the sons of light
Nearest the eternal thronel' etc,
The tears nvountariy started from every eye.
No description of the sermon could do it Justice
Inspired by his theme, and calling to mind the
deep feeling of friendship that had existed be-
tween himself and the one in whose memory the
services were held. his soul melted away. and
he stood for many moments unable to utter a
word. He then began to describe the second
coming OF Christ. bringing with Him them
that sleep in Jesus" Standing erect and
gazing ntently, il looking into the
audience by crying ont where is Edwin Rayl
l see him l him! Hail, Edwin! Hail, Ed
win! Hail. Edwin! Soon shall l hail thee, oh,
Edwin, before the throne. Having walked to-
gether along this mortal vale soon shall We walk
together along the banks of the river of lfe
and drink forever from the stream of life that
maketh glad the city Of our God. Be hushed
my murmIrings; be dried, my tears; shall
soon be at rest with my Edwin" Further utter
ance was impossible. nor could the audience
have stood any more This was his last SER
mon. Within few short months he, too was
dead.
Mr. Strange possessed voice of remarkable
power and sweetness. 1t was as clear as a bell.
and full of music. In preaching he had wonder
full control over it, One moment it would ring
out through the forest like the notes of a trum-
pet and the next sink to a sweet persuasive
tone that brought tears to the eyes of the listen
deepest feelings of his audience He loved the
grand old hymns of those days. such as
"Hear the royal proc amation,
The glad tidings of salvation;
Published now to every creature
To the ruined sons of nature"
But he took the greatest delight in singing that
hymn still SO dear to all Christian people:
GAN hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth tho royal dadem.
And crown Him, Lord OF ALL"
He had given himself up entirely to the work of
the master. and took great joy In singing NO
foot of land do l possess" etc. His singing
would thrill his audience, especially when they
were worshipng beneath the shade of the
mighty forest, and then he would come down
could withstand No other preacher, since the
days of Whitefeld has been able to
gather such crowds to hear him. When it was
announced that he was to preach thousands
assembled. Men and women would ride twenty
or or thirty miles through the woods to hear him.
The hearts of men were to him musical
instrument. of which he knew every string. and
he swept them with the hand of a master He
was thoroughly imbued with the idea that it is
with the heart that man beleveth TO salvation
and his appeals were always addressed to the
heart and conscience. He never argued as to
the divinity OF Christ or the truths of the Bible
but forced home upon the heart that man was a
sinner and could be saved by grace alone. Such
"do uto pcCClidr power LnaC the lapse of wears
could not drive from the memory of those whe
heard him the thoughts he advanced.
or the influence he exerted He died
at the early age of forty-four years worn
out by his ceaseess tolls broken down
by his riding through the forests in
heat and cold, in sunshine and storm; by sleep-
ing in the woods and swimming swollen rivers.
he died as much martyr as Stephen Peter or
James or any of the other thousands who gave
up their lives for the truths sake He died as he
had hved-rejoicihg the strength and Joy of his
Lord, feeling assured that though he had trav-
eied through this life "a poor wayfaring man."
that he was heir to kingdom prepared for him
from the foundation of the world AS his life
slowly aud painfully ebbed away he could sing:
10! upward gaze and the glory supreme,
That illumines the h ights ely 81 ln
Shines down thro the veil-there is life in each
beam
u 1t renders immortal my vision.