Middletown transcript., 1895-02-09

|. our aspirations are higher and our aim nj
|, 3 bier for having come within touch of TIL
Vi man of God. In him We had friend in til
= truest sense. He was as true as the mort
;Ssistar, and never failed US as guide an
! lScounsellor. His influence was always fel
ION the right side of every question, an
Nnot the church alone, the state and societ
have sustained great loss in his death.
II Mr.. Brownies administrative ability wa
livery marked. At the last session of tn
@annual conference in Salisbury, in tn
absence of the Bishop, he was made tn
,apsesidfpg officer, and the ease and modest
with which he performed his dutieswere tn
1occasion of no little comment at the time
n Mr.. Browne took very positive interes
Yin the affairs of state and nation. He wa
4thoroughly independent in his poli.ica
$views, and his estimate of measures ant
3men in the political world were invariabl,
fcorrect.
n He loved his home as few men do and a:
Ia husband, father and host he was seen a
nature, and of late years developed rare
4fondness for Horticulture
v His death while yet young man is one
gof the mysteries that is not solved on
earth. When a star is quenched on high,
lEits light for ages, travels on downward from
sssthe sky, and shines ON mortal sight So
Athe light he leaves behind him still shipes
lsupon the paths of men.
h Minute IN relation to the death OF our
late pastor. Req. Nicholas M. Browne:
q The official Board Of Bethesda Methodist
&Episcopal Church, at special meeting
s3held on the afternoon of February 5th,
.91S95, has learned with profound sorrow
aand regret, that God in his all-wise provi-
ssdence, has removed from u.s. as by stroke i,
5our beloved Pastor. Brother and Friend j
aRev. Nicholas NJ. Browne. who at the timeI
.,of his death, was just closing his fourth
syear of we'll appreciated labors among us.|
And while we do not presume to ques-
I 5tion the rightfulness of Him, from whose!
4 3hand this blow has fallen, "to do what
3seemeth him good" and while we believed
! that the only proper attitude for US to as
! ssume as Church, is one of unquestioningt
Ssubmission and obedient following; andE
swhile we may be able to say. with the /
mighty man in sorrow long ago, 81 was
dumb, I opened not my mouth, becauseE
Thou didst it." yet in view of the sudden-E
ness of this dispensation, and the veryf
great loss we have sustained in the taking
AWAY of Brother Browne. not only as a
Church but as individual members, wei
have to say with Job, when 1 looked for /
good then came evil unto me; and when II
waited for light there came Darkness"
But notwithstanding this affective provi-E !
|dence. We will humbly and devoutly pray
that 1--WE may see the necessity of it and bel
|humbled; see the use of it and improve it:
|see the love there is in it and be thank ful." B
1t is unnecessary to recapitulate the i
many virtues of our departed Brother, yet
I'VE desire to record for the imitation of ali :
who may come after him, and for the
comfort of his family and friends. that it is :
|our deliberate judgement that Brother
Browne, was faithful pastor, q wise coun-
sellor, a judicious administrator of the
affairs of the Church, a christian gentleman
and kind and loving husband and father.
But while as a church we are sadly be- =
reft, we are not unmindful that this terri IS
bic blow has fallen with a more crushing
weight upon her, who has for so many
years been Brother Brownies constant ad-
wiser, companion and help meet.
Many trials have no doubt come to her &
in the past.as they come to all but this om- &
nipotent affiiction that pales the sunlight e
and which is calculated to make the once
pleasant routine of life perpetual funeral 81
march, has fallen upon her as no other
When troubles come to US, We are apt to 81
think our trials are peculiar, while to the
outside world it seems that we are bu. pass
ing through the ordinary vicisituded of life@
wrong; there may be nothing apparent in
The form or bulk of the trial that sets IS
him apart from the trouble of others. ButI
in spite of appearances there is speciality
in every ones troubles when they are sent
Of God. They come at such times, or in
such way, or they find us in such moods,
Or they so break the continuity of our plans
and hopes, that they have peculiar power
Such troubles as have come to our deai
sister Browne. and her family are designed
'pecialities, sorrow of a diviner sort, in the
presence of which we sit dumb and silent.
At such times as these God deals with
His children, not in masses, but one by
,ne. He wrestled with Jacob alone. Geth-
emane is apart from the crowd, and we
lave no companionship there. Friends
nay be with US, as the disciples were with
he Lord; but into the innermost garden, no
DOT intrudes.
What Gods purpose is in sending these
rials, we may not know; but that God is
linking about us, we are certain. And this t
$ also certain, that he who is dealing with
Is is full of tenderness. IA bruised reed
le will not break, and the smoking fax
le will not quench."
"Not now, but in the coming years,
1t may be in the better land,
We'll read the meaning of our tears,
And there, sometime, we'll understand" b
We desire to assure Sister Browne, and e
er Son, that they have our sympathy and
rayers as an Official Board. We believe \
hat while they may be called to travel over "
hese rough paths, it is Gods way for all
hat (the way the Master VENT and in these, p
s in no other they shall have the Heavenly r.
resence. By these paths, as by no other,
hey shall find their way through this be- u
'ildering world out of the shadows into :.
ne day, pass through the troubles to the
~, up from the sin and sorrow, to the ,
eace and righteousness of Gods kingdom. :,
WHEREFORE, In testimony of our respect !,
nd love for our deceased pastor it is
rdered that a memorial page be set apart >
n the records of this Official meeting.
hat the Church be draped in mourning "
n thirty days, and that we attend the