Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-01

In Memory of Captain samuel +. Blocksom.

Can't Samuel Fisher Blocksom was born
in the town OF Lewes Sussex county, Del,
October 9th, 1884, died July 20th 1895. lie
spent his earlier years on the farm com.
age and continued in this pursuit until 1855.
when he accepted position as superintend-
ent for the lJrAndywine Granite Co., alter
ward was with the !. II. Hathaway d Co. OF
Philadelphia, taking charge of their busi-
ness in Florida. Those gentlemen hold him
in high esteem as capable, energetic and
gentlemanly in all his bearing. The symp-
toms of terrible disease were noted three
years ago. He continued to grow worse and
was compelled to give up his position and
grapple with the disease which resulted in
his death. After those symptoms had fully
developed, then those weary months when
he could find no relief, but was ut any time
liable to paroxysms of physical suffering,
postponing the surgeons knife until he
could postpone it no longer, with nervous
horror approaching the crisis until he had
not sufficient strength to meet 1t, then lin
gering month after month, week after week,
then the days dragged heavily along until
the shadows of the evening were stretched
out and his immortal spirit took flight
to the God who gave il He was married to
Miss Phoebe Purnell of Kent county, Del,
who still lives with four children to mourn
his loss. He was a kind husband. q LOVING
father and true friend, We had the priyi-
entered his room we felt the shade of death
coming on. His eyes were fast closing to
earthly things, but was conscious of his sur
roundipgs, and as an outburst Of grief from
his wife and daughters was heard he sud-
denly lifted his handsas il to check them and
gave them the assurance that he was only
waiting for his great deliverance from the
burdens of the flesh. Long before he was
aware of the fact that he could not get we'll
he was brought to saving faith in Christ,
who took His weary, wandering child into
His ark and gave him that rest of soul
which he had longed for so many times
during his eventful life. He was always a
| friend to the ministers of the church, and
during the last conference held in Whining
| ton, ministers were welcomed to his home
and soon learned to love him. God moves
in mysterious way. 'Tis sad thar such
noble characterdid not embrace Christianity
earlier in life, he had been strong.
healthy iuan all his life and his
associations in great measure were of a
| a religious character, but it was not until
his own strength come to fail that he was
brought to realize his need Of the almighty
arm of the living God TO support him and
lead him. But we do thank God that he at
last experienced the comforting words of
Jesus, My grace is sufficient for thee"
After weary hours of suffering here he is at
rest, where no more windy tempest shall
sweep over him. that home Of the soul,
where Gods children are gathering one by
| one. His vast sympathy made him friends
wherever he went and his conversational
| powers were indeed fascinating well de.
veloped mentally and physically. He ex-
| hibited tact in handling men, stern in the
midst OF danger and duty, kind and gentle
| as child in the presence of suffering, ever
touched with the infirmities of his race,
| ministering to the helpless and using his
influence in supporting the weak His life
was busy one, the greater part of it in his
] business pursuits called him away from his
family, and when the time came that he
could be with them in the heighth OF his
prosperity the pale horse and his rider
| were seen the shadows of the grave
were visible and his life eelipsed,
but not extinguished, something passing be-
tween us and him doing no damage to him.
When the earth casts its shadow on the
moon 1t is lunar eclipse but no one has an
idea that the queen of night is dethroned,
| When the moon hides the sun 1t is solar
eclipse hut no one has an idea that the king
OF day is dead pronounce the departure OF
| Samuel Blocksom to be an eclipse or d sun
set, In relating to the sun there is an inter.
esting thought We ere apt to grieve over
our departed friend as II the bright spark of
Immortality were for ever extinguished or
as they go into the grave to be forever
hidden from our sight. lie has gone from
us. Death shuts him from our view. The
light OF love and OF earthly hope shines no
more upon us and we shall never again
behold him in the flesh But be is no more
lost than the sun is lost when he rolls down
behind the Western hills, for as the sun
leaving us in darkness still lights up other
lands so this loved one shines in another
sphere OF existence. When therefore we
stand by his casket to-day and then by his
grave and return sad aud heavy hearted we
should not mourn as those who had no hope;
he is hidden but not lost; he is still alive in q
| h1Blpr hU aipig
seductive art, undelled dwelling MS re.
deemed spirit in the presence OF God. When
we see the sun set We know il will rise again,
and SO when we see the body of our friend
and brother borne to the tomb we know
that he will rise again. Every night of
death is followed by resurrection morning.
But how shall the dead rise? They shall rise
with the glorified bodies upon which the
second death has no power. Rise by what
power? BY the mighty power Of God. Rise
70 health beauty and strength when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven
with all His mighty angels. How this hope
lights up the tomb and makes each open
grave the gateway leading to glory. Our
friend is gone but not lost We can meet
him again in that fair morn OF morns. No
sickness there, no weary wasting of the
frame away, no fearful shrinking of the
midnight air, no hidden grief no wild and
cherries visions OF despair, no vain pehrion
for Il swift relief, no fearful eyes no broken
hearts are there in the light of divine reve.
lation. Let us remember the Creator in the
days of our youth, while the evil days come
not nor the years draw nigh when thou
shalt say, | have no pleasure in them
While the sun, or the light of the moon, oi
the stars be not darllened, nor the clouds
return after the rain. Let us so live that
when the summons comes TO Join the un
Vulnerable caravan that moves to the pale
realms oi Shade thou sustained and sootheC
, by an anfaltering trust, approach thy grave
! like one who wraps the drapering OF hi
couch about him and lies down to peacefu
dreams In conclusion We say farewell
thou dear old friend; thou vast very dear Il
3 us. Many acts of kindness will follow thee
Thou hast removed many stones in thu
highway of life for the struggling, by THY
kind words and sympathetic heart. Fare
! well till we meet again.