Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-07-11
DIR. JOHN 8. MARTIN DEAD.
"A NOTED METHODIST DIvINE-sKETCH
HTS TNrEREsTTNG TIFE


the best-known ministers of the Southern
branch of the Methodist Church. died at the
parsonage, 1850 W. Fayette street, Bait, at
half-past eight O'Clock last Sunday night,
in the 73d year of his age. While his death
was shock to his family, to his devoted
congregation and to his many warm friends,
it was not unexpected, and this fact tenn
pered some what its severity.
The first inroads were made on DIR.
Martiu's strong and vigorous constitution
while he was the presiding elder of Win
chester district, in Virginia, two years ago,
but no serious malady was developed, and
when he came to Baltimore few months
ago the hope among his friends was general
that by the relaxation from very arduous
labors to which he had been subjected he
would regain his former vigor and health,
but they were doomed to disappointment.
About seven weeks ago carbuncle show
ed itself on his back. DR.. Jas. Bosley was
summoned, and in few days the learned
divine showed marked signs of improve
ment. He seemed to be well on his way to
recovery when the kidneys became affected
and there were frequent hemorrhages from
them, which were finally checked, however,
but the sufferer continued to wear away
under the strain. Drs. Allan P. Smith. J..
Edwin Michael, Jas. G. Linthicum and 8.
@. Chew held consultations, but were un-
able to determine the exact nature of the
complication;
DR.. Martin married Miss Susan Ruff, of
Rockbridge county, Va, in 1888. Their
golden wedding was celebrated few
months ago, when congratulations poured
in upon them from every side for their at
tainment of such a ripe age, and the hope
| hot hot ha ad
many years upon this earth, Mrs. Martin
and six children-fve daughters and one
son-survive him. His son, Rev. Asbury
R. Martin, is supernumerary of the Balti-
more Conference ofthe Methodist Episcopal
Church South, and resides at Goshen.
Montgomery county, One daughter, Mrs.
Hattie Perry, is a widow of the Rev. W. P.
Perry, and lives in Staunton, Va. Another
daughter married Mr.. Bell, of Prince
Georges county, Nd, and another is the
wife of Rev. o. A. Hammond, formerly a
travelling but now a local minister. Two
daughters are unmarried. A brother, Mr..
William Martin, now lives in Philadelphia.
These relatives had been present during
his illness, and were with him in his last
hours. A large number of the members of
the congregation Of st. Paul's were constant
in their solicitude..and administration.
Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson preached at
ST.. Paul's Church Sunday morning, and in
his prayer alluded touchingly to the illness
of DIR. Martin.
John Satchell Martin was born Septem-
Der 7. 1916, at Alexandria, Virginia. His
father, Thomas L. Martin, born in North
ampton, county, Va, vas Of Scotch descent,
and his mother was Harriet, daughter of
Robert Lamphier, of Huguenot family.
Both his parents were Methodists, and his
grandparents on his mothers side were
among the first Methodists in Alexandria,
and at their home were entertained Nc
Kendree, Roberts, George and many other
early itinerants.
Young Martin was educated at the fam
Gus institution of Benjamin Hallowell, in
Alexandria. He was converted in August,
1882, when he was but sixteen years old,
and three years later was licensed to preach,
and was received on trial into the Baltimore
Conference in March, 1885. From that
time until his death he ministered faithful
ly in his calling, and he has left the impress
of his life.work in the Valley of Virginia,
in Baltimore, Northern Virginia and South
ern Pennsylvania, where he labored in every
position, from the circuit, with twenty
eight appointments, to the passionate of
some small country church; from the active
ministerial life in large city charge to the
duties of presiding elder.
Eight times delegate to general confer
ence, six times presiding elder, known as
a circuit rider trained to endure hardships
and privations, and as an energetic pastor
of important city churches, DR.. Martin was
perhaps best known as the secretary of the
Baltimore conferences, to which Office he
was elected in 1858, and which he filled un-
til his death. Standing below the bishops
seat, and before table covered with manu-
script or reference books. he was an ideal
secretary. Of tall, welI-built figure, with
grave, dignifed Roman-shaped face, a
piercing eye, frmly.set lips, strong under
Jaw, and gray hair brushed back from
noble forehead, his was presence COM
manding attention and respect.
Blind, Deaf and Dumb.
On the first Of March, 1887, Miss Sullivan
began her duties as teacher to the little
pupil, who was destined, under her training,
to become so great wonder that scientific
men from Europe, as well as of this country,
would study as real intellectual phenomenon
Miss Sullivan found her a bright, we'll
grown girl Of nearly seven years of age, with
a clear complexion, and pretty brown hair.
She was quick and graceful, with merry
laugh. and fond of romping with other chill
dren. You wonder, don't you, how she
can run about and play? Well, she will
play stag" and have as great frolic about
it as any child you ever saw. She feels the
vibrations of the ground by her feet, and so
knows just which way to go. and what to
avoid. Indeed her sense of movement is
very acute, and she tells often about going
to church s'to hear the organ play" She
knows when it is being played, in the same
way that she can tell which way to run in
the game of stag" The floor vibrates and
that conveys to her the knowledge of what
is being done. 1t cannot be possible that
she gets any real idea of sound in this way,
she must get the rhythmic flow of
the music. How much she is able to realize
of its beauty and harmony we never will
know; but there must be some charm about
it, for she is very fond Of it.
Would you think that without the ability
to hear the music or to see the steps, that
she could learn to dance? 1t doesn't seem
possible, does it? And yet she has learned;
she was taught by one of her little COM
panions who love her very dearly. She likes
always to do what the other children do,
and as they were dancing one day she want
ed to Join them. The little friend took her
hand ana GrleO TO make ner keep Time Will
her in the step. But she could not manage
it. Suddenly, as swift as though, for, with
this wonderful child, to think and to act are
she slid to the floor, and mo-
tioning the little to go on with her dancing,
she felt the motion of her feet and the
bending of the knee. In moment she was
on her feet again, dancing merrily; she had
caught the very spirit of the motion through
her little fingers. And now dancing is .
favorite diversion.
1t is doubtful whether any one in posses
sion of eyesight and hearing Can arrive at
little Helen's acuteness of touch and sensi-
tiveness to motion. We depend on our
eyes and ears and do not call our other
senses into full activity, and these "other
senses" will best be studied in persons like
this little Helen Keller. She can distinguish
between the puppies of the same litter, and,
now since she has been taught to spell, will
spell the name of each one as soon as she
touches him. Her sense of smell is so keen
that she will recognize different roses by
their fragrance, and by the same sense she
can separate her own clothes from those
which belong to others. She knows if any
one near her is sad. Seldom will physical
pain make her cry, but she will discover
quickly if friend is hurt or i'll or grieved
by her conduct, and this knowledge will
make her weep bitterly.