Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-20
WILLIAM MCDOWELL ALBEIT.

Editor of Eagle: Please allow me to
ask of you the following indulgence for
myself and few of your readers who
are friends of my father, to copy in the
EAGLE the subjoined obituary from the
pen of Rev. DR.. Howard Henderson, of
New York city, as contained IN the Ken
lucky Central Methodist of July IA, 1888.
Yours truly, H. WINsLow ABBETT.l
Wichita, July 10.
Rev. W. Med. Albeit, recently de-
ceased, is the man to whom [ owe more
grateful regard than anyone who has
ever touched my spiritual life. / was
an inmate of his happy home at Coving-
ton, Ky, when | was converted. He
was the first person to whom l com
municated the change. Nine months
afterward he baptized me. My license
to preach, signed September 20, 1855,
is signed by him as presiding elder of
the Millersburg quarterly conference.
When admitted to the Kentucky confer
ence, September, 1857, my recommends
ton bore his name. After the close of
the war 1880 1 was appointed to Frank
fort, where | found him superintendent
of the Institute for the Training of
feeble minded children. He had been a
Union man and | Confederate. He re-
ceived me with cordiality. and reminded
my firm friend and supporter dnring the
four years pastorate following. He was
in the habit of calling me ''his boy"
loved him as father and his good wife
as a mother. | have never known any
minister as intimately as / knew him.
and to me he was a fiawless man. He
was as mountain snow, and yet as warm
as a Geyser spring. He was patient
under persecution, and always able TO
give the soft answer that turneth away
wrath. He was a mellow preacher.
His own heart was ripe with the fruits
of the spirit. His voice was sweet and
tremulous with emotion, dropping truth
into the heart like heaven does the dew
into the thirsty cup OF flowers. He
was mighty in prayer-eloquent be-
cause he prevailed with God.
He plead as an earnest, al
fectionate child with its father. He
could not take no for an answer. He
always got the blessing, and so did
many others: while as prince, he plead
and prevailed with God at throne of
grace. He was a sweet singer. | can
iiC'ci AOA INV AACNAi 49, " 10000
me, as just previous TO the baptism Of
children, he tenderly sang: Il think
when l read that sweet story of old,
etc. In the social circle he was charm
ing. His coming to our home C'Forest
Hill') was looked forward to with a
happy anticipation of fireside delights.
He had rich fund of refined humor
and of pathetic incident. He was good
liver. and enjoyed the delights of the
table. His own wife was a famous
housekeeper. She was skilled in all fine
culinary arts. His home. when / was
an inmate of it was an earthly paradise.
He had two lovely daughters and two
amiable sons. Halcyon days were
those for me. far back yonder
on the sunny side of youth. 1t was
given to Brother Albeit to reach "a good
old age" He enjoyed golden autumn
The spirit of poesy fingered with him,
and when he reached patriarchal years
he struck the Tyre of the muses. with
deft hand. II was beautiful TO see how
gracefully he grew old and sat so COM
placently by the river, his Ebenezer by
his side and heaven in the vision o. his
faith and hope. Ii would, TO me, have
been benediction TO have permitted 10
be near him and TO note the frightening