Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-09-29

DEAOON JAN \. COOK
Delivered by Rev. &. Is. Wright,
Sent. Is. 1856.

ii
Delivered by Rev. &. Is. Wright,
Sept. 10. 1886.
James Nelson Goo was born in Malone
Franklin Co.. n. r, Sept. 7th. 1891. Last
Tuesday was his sixty-ffth anniversary.
When only about ten years of age he was
converted and united with the Congrega,
tional church OF that place. His own early
convention may have accounted, in part, fol
the great interest he had in the conversion
of children. No one among us was more
delighted to see children coming to Christ,
and come into the church. than he. Nc
one had more faith In them than he.
When about II years old. his father, Rev.
Stephen Cook. removed to Marlborough,
| N. ", and he went to Oberlin, Ohio, to enter
school: Here he remained for about Il years,
and nearly completing the College course.
He lacked but six months of graduating
from College, when he was obliged IN &C.
count of his eyes, to give up his studies, and
also to r%eiinqufsh the plan he had formed,
and which his father had cherished for him
of entering the Christian Ministry.
an attack of small pox. During the last six
months of his College lite. he could get his
lessons only by having his roommate read
he left Oberlin about 1915, and went to
Peru, N. Y, where his father was then living.
Here he spent about two years.. part Of the
| time ICaC0lNE, ana inc remainder IN the
work of colportuer.
He was united in marriage, October S,
1s46, at ChanceIlorvi!le, N. Y. to! Miss Lory
Barnes, and soon after returned with his
II years. until the year 1857, when they came
to Austin. arriving here the last day OF April.
of that year. His father and mother: and
brother John F. Cook, and sister Mrs. J. A.
Wheat, had arrived here the previous sea-
son. His brother, William Cook. came at the
same time with himself.
MR. rln0n rrnn chan a 00rOl <ovs ~
twelve small buildings comprising what is
now the city of Austin.
In July, OF the same year, this church-the
ized, by the father of Mr.: Cook. who was its
first pastor.
Mr.. James Cook and wife were among the
of the tirst Deacons of the church. a position
which he has continued to occupy, and whose
duties he has eyer faithfully discharged, UNI
til now, after q years, he has been sum-
Little did he think, as he left his home
last Sunday morning to come to church, that
he should never return to it again, and that
before the day should end, he would be called
to meet his Maker. But he was ready. ]
think he had not been without premonitions
of his end, and that he had been ripening tor
bBteay; ready 1H'' f hi his f heart ha ID lo %eoi Been aaY IN
the Savior's keeping. And how better can
a Christian die?
He had, more than once, expressed the
wish that, when his time came to go, he
might receive his Gail in the House Of God.
And God gave him his desire. 1t was when
his head was bowed in prayer. and his soul
the pastor, that the Lord called him. In u
few moments he was unconscious. The last
earthly sounds he ever heard, save a few
ones at his bedside, were the sounds OF
Prayer and Praise. And from the earthly
sanctuary which he loved. and where he had
80 long worshipped, he passed to the
| WOrShiDO1nK COmnanT on HIGH.
Among the fruits of character for which
Dea. Cook was specially DISTINGUISHED, l
Of most kindly and otrec,ionate disposition.
How he manifested this spirit in his own
home is well known by all who had any &C
9uaintaac Cell, in the ne, famiiy. n he carried
ever knew him to speak an unkind word, or
do an unkind deed?
Personally, l shall never forget the many
came to this church, and which | have re-
ccivcd ever since. lie was never anything
but helpful to me. always seeing the bright
enlargement. Just when it was needed
z. With bis Kindness he coupled a very
charitable spirit. | never heard him speak
sometimes to me Of that in certain persons
which he regretted, and wished was other
wise. but never except in the most kind and
e merits bic language n = ana q, spirit; His object,
do what be thought the cause demanded Of
him. When he saw that in a fellow-christian
which he thought was wrong, his habit was
monition, as, In uniting with the church, we
pledge ourselves to do for each other. He
never talked about other people. He was too
to some OF you In admonition,, you may be
sure of this that he never talked against
you behind your back. 3. He was a most
hisIown, and held them firmly, and expressed
them fearlessly. But he was always candid.
Always willing to listen to the argument on
r%e 1'n aiwa svse' carried med the the w dax v 81 a 6i%.
Though his views might sometimes differ
from those of his brethren in the church,
yet be always acqu,esccd cheerfully in the
decision OF the majority, and joined heartily
ia carrying 1t out. There was nothing self
willed about him. And this must be looked
upon as a fine evidence of grace in his heart.
willed man. He only wanted that done
which was wise and right. He cared nothing,
apparently, for having his o,pn way. Many
times nave l oeen str 11a VIII this trait Of tits
trait Of his character was his conservation to
the cause Of his Master. He. believed in
God and In the Bible with al his heart To
to that.
When in Oberlin, before coming to Austin,
be was for several years, one of the Dea-
cons, in the First church of that place, and
sat under the preaching. Of that wonderful
man, Pres: Finney, when he was in tho days
influence over Mr.. Cook, aud kindlcd In his
soul a fire for his Master, which never went
out. TO labor for the church-and you
Of his means; to face the severesc storms
by day or night, that he might attend the
services of the church-all this was to him
no cross, except as it was sometimes, OF
ing the last few years Of his lie. His in.
terest In the work made 1t easy and pleasant
He was never too busy to listen to what
pertained to the interest of the church. HI
was seldom so busy as not to be willing to
leave his work on the farm, at any season
some matter OF the church. More than once
have / known him to do it. l doubt whether
he ever prayed that he did not remember the
church, and = his pastor; or that he did not
of late that seems to have been the burden OF
bis prayer. am told that, for weeks past, he
has most earnestly, prayed. every morning,
for a Revival of Religion In Austin. Last
Sabbath morning, that was the burden Of his
prayer, that God would cause q Revival here
such as we have never seen.
And had he known that he was so near
death, l have no doubt he would have prayed
that that event might be made to contribute
to that resplt, on bow we need more suct
'm ion in all our churches men Of consecra'
lam not trying to show lea. Cook to have
been a faultless man. Every man has faults
Every man has q weak spot somewhere
In the stern conflict of life, every man II
liable to break down somew where. II Dea
Cook had faults, and doubtless he had, they
were on the surface. They were those which
one could sec. While some were in danger
of overlooking his rare virtues, his kind
ness, his candOr, his self-sacrifcing spirit
his CONGREGATION to the cause vt his Master
traits Of character which, after all, are fal
higberlthan those which are commonly mort
highly esteemed upon the street, and with
out which. SO FAR as true, manly character /.
concerned. those are of but little account
While Dea. Cook had high ideas Of right
eousness, both for himself and FOL
others. yet he would have been one o.
the last OF men TO rest in his own risht
, eousness. He never once thought Of any
thing that had been done as a ground O
confidence. Christ was his only hope. H,
would havc said as cmphaticaiIy 40 tb,
Apostle Paul: Not BY works OF righteous
ness which l have done, but according t,
His mercy has he saved me-"
And no he rests. Rests with = smile o,
his face. His lite Of toll ended. His worl
we'll done. Already he has heard the wei
come Of his AaneF, well done. good an