The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-07
HIS LIFE TO THE CHURCH.
Impressive Services in Honor of Rob
ext W. Macdonald.

| A special memorial service was held at
Wesley Monumental Church yesterday
morning in honor of the Rev. Robert W.
| MacDonell, missionary of the Methodist
Episcopal church south in Mexico, whose
recent death at Nombre de Dios has cast a
gloom over the entire denomination of
which he was faithful and devoted repre-
sentative.
The church was well filled and the service
throughout was deeply affecting. The
Young missionary whose father was for
many years pastor of the church, was per-
sonally and intimately known to many who
were present. Addresses were made by the
pastor, Rev. A. u. Wynn, Principal Train
Of the high school, S. B. Adams, Esq, and
Presiding Elder Rev. 4. T. Christian.
Young MacDonell was pupil, in his school
days, of Principal Train, and the latter
spoke OF him as a scholar and as christian
boy. he paid glowing tribute to his mem
DRY. Mr.. Adams alluded to him as a
Sunday school scholar and worker, and a
faithful and devoted missionary In the
up building Of the church to which he
gave his life and services. The presiding
elder spoke Of him as man and as a minis
ter of God. He dwelt at length upon the
services which he had rendered the church
in a country where the seeds Of Protestant
ism have hardly yet been sown, and where
attended by many trials and hardships, but
are surrounded with many perils. He paid
a high tribute to the life and character of
the man who had given himself up TO the
work OF the church in foreign laud.
The pastors words were spoken from the
heart, and they sauk deeply into the minds
Of all who heard them. He knew tho mission
airy from his childhood. Rev. Wynn was a
co-pastor with Rev. q. q. II. MAcDonell at
Columbus when Robert MscDonell was
born. He was with him during his boy
hood days, and the earlier years Of his
ministry, and it was through his preaching
that the young minister entered the mis-
sioIary field. He alluded TO his struggles
IN thought and prayer while he was en-
deavoring 70 decide the great question OF
his life-whether or not no should cast his
lot among those to whom the name Of pro-
testantism is almost unknown.
Mr.. Wynn read q letter from United
States Consul j. b. Chess Of Durango, Mex
leo, who was a warm personal friend OF
young MacDonell, giving a detailed account
of his shoEt illness and death at Nombre de
dos, and the affection of the widowed wife
and orphan child.
The reading of the letter had deep ef-
feet upon the congregation, and there was
hardly dry eye in the caurch. In con-
nection with this letter, the pastor also
read letter from Rev. q. q. n. MacDonell
and two letters from the young missionary
TO his father written last year giving a de-
scriptiou of his work in Mexico and the
hardships which he was called upon to en-
dure Ia the prosecution Of his labors among
a people welded to idolatry and iniquity in
all its forms. In connection with these let
tiers the pastor also read a letter from
Bishop Duncan, who presided at the last
South Georgia conference, in which tue
bishop paid high tribute 10 the life and
character of the missionary. He also read
a letter from Rev. H. c. Hernandez, the
native preacher at Nombre de Dios.
All of the letters sUoke in the highest praise
Of young MacDonell and Of the sorrow which
his death has caused and the loss which
the church has sustained. His heroisn,
his conservation and his pure unselfsh do
votion to the cause have eudearsd him to
every member of the church, and his death
is looked upon as a calamity only to be
compensated by II renewed and successful eff
fort to establish the cause of Christianity
in the country for the Christianizing
of which the young missionary gave his
life. At the close Of the memorial service
the presiding elder administered the sacra-
ment.
Rsv. @. G. N. MacDonell, the father
of the Young missionary, will leave
Townsville tomorrow for Durango TO
bring becA TO Georgia the widow and child.
The journey is a tedious one. 1t requires
nearly two weeks to reach Durango, which
is yet fifty miles from Nombre de Dios,
where the missionary died, and accessible
only by mountain routes.