The Penn's Grove record., 1889-04-13
REV, LEWIS N. ATKINSON,


The funeral of Rev. l.. M. Atkinson
whose death we mentioned last week
took place in Emmanuel church oil
Tuesday morning, at 10Y o'clock. sew
eral hundred were present to witness
the solemn services, and not only all the
extra seating room, but also the stand
ing room was occupied. A large dele
cation of ministers of the Conference
were present.
Presiding Elder, Milton Relyea had
charge of the services. After singing
hymn No. 979, "Asleep in Jesus, blessed
sleep, read by Rev. W. S. Barnart, Rev.
}. r. Westwood led in prayer. Rev.
W. Mitchell read the Goth Psalm n
Presiding Elder Geo. Dobbins read
part of the 18th Chapter of LIST Corinth-
ians, after which Rev. DIR. Geo. X.
Morris, of Philadelphia, delivered an
eloquent address, his principal theme
being that there is no pain in death and
death is no more conqueror since Christ
died for us, but to die is gain. 1t Is
natural and wise for us to love n
cherish the things about us, but to die
in the faith of our Saviour is to triumph
over the fears and discomforts of this
world and gain the eternal enjoyment
God designed for us. He did not want
us to look at death as the sad and sor-
rowful parting with all things to be
desired but as a victory in which the
gain of an eternal inheritance is to be
preferred.
He spoke of Brother Atkinson, when
a youth, coming to see him, when
stationed at WoOdstown, and telling
him he thought he was called to preach
the gospel. DIR. Morris gave him some
words of advice and points on attaining
the goal of his ambition, which caused
him to leave with a lighter heart and
brighter hope DIR. Morris examined
and gave him his certificate of admis-
sion to the conference in 1876.
DR.. j. b. Graw told of his appoint
ments and spoke, of his enthusiastic
Christian ministry. He was a whole
sOuled mar and a soul winner. DIR.
Graw married him.
Rev. W. n. Ogborn, now stationed
at Bethesda, where brother Atkinson
had his most successful ministry, spoke
of his extraordinary success there and
the feryent and loving regard with
which many at that charge held him.
He was Bro. Ogborn's school mate and
chum at Pennington Seminary.
Presiding Elder Relyea spoke a few
fervent and well chosen words of tribute
to his life and character after which the
choir sang his last hymn the ''Sweet by
and by"
The funeral cortege left PENIS Grove
at $40, Wednesday morning, on the
workmen's train, in order to connect
with a train at Camden for Egg Har-
Dor City. The following members of
Emmanuel church accompanied the
funeral train: Samuel B. Holton, w.
Henry Denny, John Diver, Vincent
Sparks, Samuel M. Justice, Samuel
Ansink, Benz. Featherer, D. V. Sum-
merrill, ST., VIM. Diver, VIM. P. Denny,
Jas. Cunningham and G. V. Dolbow.
The train reached Egg Harbor City at
$3.50 and the nine miles distance to Low
er Bank, a small village on the upper
side of Mullica river, had to be travelled
in carriages. A short service was held
at the residence of Mrs. Lane, mother
of Mrs. Atkinson. Rev. Chas. Livesly
led in prayer and Presiding Elders Rel
yea and Graw made addresses, after
which the remains were taken to the
cemetery and buried.
Emmanuel Church gave, as a tribute
of respect to their dead pastor, a floral
design of gates ajar and a white dove
with the works ''our pastor'' on it flying
towards the gates. The Sunday school
gave a wooden blanket with satin trim
ming to cover the remains; his Sunday
school class, a floral emblem of a Tyre;
and st. Pauls Church a floral crown.
His LIFE AND MINISTRY.
Rev. Lewis NJ. Atkinson, was the
son of Samuel F. and Hannah G.. At
kinson and was born March 7th, 1845,
a Woodstown, in Salem county. He
spent his youth at the residence of his
parents at Duell's corner and attended
school at the old Cross Roads School
House.
When seventeen years of age he was
soundly converted to Gods service at
a revival in the Cross Roads School
House under the ministry of Rev. Sam
uel Wheeler. Like his Lord and Say
Jour. he was of humble parentage and
the son of a carpenter. In early youth
he manifested a docile disposition and
utNOtlOlldl spun, ho uoubt lliicrltCu
from kind Christian parents. While
other boys would be at play and enjoy
ing their sports he preferred to be with
a book or Bible drinking in useful
knowledge or the inspirations Of the
God whom he 10 dearly loved. Such
was his strong desire to serve God and
hear his word expounded he would
walk four miles to a church on Sunday.
Being inspired with a Jealous desire
to preach the gospel and having receiv-
ed all the education the Cross Roads
School House could afford, his indom-
liable and ~persevering will overcame
the limited circumstances of his par
ents and showed that where there's a
will there's always a way for all those
who love God, as all things work togeth-
er for the good of those who love him.
In 1865 or Sc he entered Pennington
Seminary as a student. The first term
1oo;ra m maka ron;d st.;Ixoo