Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-17
Rev. George Barrett Nurting.

Born March IL, 1925. Died Feb rs, 1885,
The subject of this sketch was the fourth
son OF William Nutting, Esq, of Randolph
Center, VT.
He pursued his preparatory studies in
Orange County Grammar school, and was
graduated fromDartmouthc college in 1S47.
After teaching for a time, he studied in
the Theological Department OF the West
ern Reserve college, Hudson, o., and was
ordained in his native place Aug. 20, 1851,
as missionary of the American Board, to
labor in connection with the Gaboon mis-
sion in western Africa. On account OF a
severe illness soon after, he was not able
to go to Africa that year, and later his
destination was changed to Asia Minor.
he was married in Geneva, N. Y, to
Miss Hodges, niece of Rev. DIR. Leonard
Bacon, and they embarked at Boston for
Smyrna, AsIatic Turkey, in company with
Rev. ID. w. Marsh and others, January,
1853.
They Joined the Central Turkey mission
and were located at Aintab, but after two
or three years they removed to Oorfa in
Mesopotamia, the ancient Odessa, ana
started new station. Here they resided
till 1868, most OF the time without mis-
sionary associates, and accomplished a
vast.amount OF evangelical and education
al work in that city, in the large towns Of
Severec and ALBANIAN as well as in many
villages connected with that station.
Before he left that field he had, with
Gods blessing upon his labors, been in
strumental in the organization of two
Protestant evangelical churches in Oorfa
one in Girmish, one in Severec, one in
ALBANIAN, and another in Behesne, some
OF which had become entirely, aud others
nearly self-Aupporting, having native pas
tors over them. He had selected from
these churches several promising young
men to become pastors and teachers, and
spent not little time in giving them in
struction; some of whom, later on, took
more extended course of study in the Cen
trail Turkey college and Marash Theologi-
cal seminary, and became very efficient
helpers in the missionary work.
He was regarded by the other mission
aries in the Central and Eastern Turkey
missions as a very earnest, devoted, self
denying and efficient missionary; and the
older members of the churches he planted,
still remember him and speak OF his faith
full and loving work among them with
great interest.
He returned to his native land with his
family in 1868, and the following year he
resigned his connection with the Board Of
Foreign missions and engaged in home
missionary work, first in western New
York, then in Minnesota and afterwards
in Colorado.
In 1898. on account OF impaired health,
being unable to preach, he and his wife
left Colorado and came to Pelham, New
York, where they resided with three OF
their sons till last October, when he went
TO Black Mountain, near Asheville, North
Carolina, to spend the winter with Mrs.
Nutting and an invalid son. The change
seemed beneficial until about the first OF
January, when he met with an accident
which rendered him helpless during the
remaining weeks OF his life.
He was very patient In his helplessness
and suffering. HE enjoyed the reading OF
letters which came from his faraway sis
ter and brother and other relatives, and
sent back such messages as this :-Give
them my love, and thanks for their kind
letters, and tell them | have every care"
He also enjoyed hearing passages from the
Bible, and favorite hymns OF hope and
trust, read.
His strength failed from day to day, and
on the 18th OF February, as his son came
into his room, he said &c Goodbye, Henry,
am soon to go ~ The next evening be
quietly and peacefully ceased to breathe
and entered into the joy of his Lord.
His W lie, four sons and a daughter in
law were present at the funeral, on the I'd
inst, conducted by the Rev. Mr.. Morse OF
Asheville, formerly missionary in Japan.
The burial was in the churchyard of ''rhe
Tabernacle" near by.
'soh, how sweet II will be,in that beautiful
land,
So free from all sorrow and pain,
With songs on our lips and with harps in
our hands,
To meet one another again ~