The Newtown bee., 1898-09-02
Rev Edwin Warmer,
HIS DEATH OCCURS ON
MONDAY.
A Faithful Minister of Christ.


lily friends, for he had endured or the
past months painful illness, the end of
which seemed a certainty and which he
waited with calm Christian fOrtitude.
For years since his army life, he has
fought chronic diNIrtuA, which kept
his bowels In such irritation that can
cerous destruction of this part OF his sYs-
tenn was not surprising. For the past
year he has been much worse and went
to Clifton Springs, N. y, to the sanitar-
um, in quest of better health. But Prov
idence had ordered otherwise and he re-
turned to Stepney a few weekG ago, and
has since been Diined to the bed, sui
ferer, but sustained by all that loving
hands could do. For the last three days
ne was unconscious most of the time and
passed away peacefully on Monday. He
WAS 50 years old. Rev MIR Warmer was
born at Ellsburg, N. y, and was the son
of a local preacher, Solomon j. Warri-
ner. He dates his conversion back to
when he was 10 years OF age, and to
preach the gospel of Christ seems to
have been the ambition of his life, for
when but II years of age he WAS licensed
to exhort, as 1t was then termed, and
few years later received his full Creden-
tials AS "a minister of the gospel. His
preparatory school was the Fairfield
Academy in Berkimer county, n. y, but
Just preparing to enter Wesleyan college
when the war broke out. He offered ms
services to the government and was az
pointed chaplain of the Second Connect
cut Cavalry. He was one of the young
est Chaplains in the army, being out y
years old. He served three years at the
front and on his return entered the New
York East Conference in 1864. He has
held many charges In this conference
during his "a years of service In 1t and
has been valiant soldier of the cross,
only laying down his armor when COM
PEELED to do so. His last charge was at
Stepney, and here as elsewhere he made
many friends, who, while mourning his
loss, believe that ito depart and be at
peace" was for him far better. He had
calmly made certain requests regarding
his library and personal effects and told
his wishes regarding his funeral &c rvice.
He always retained his interest in the
Grand Army and was a member and
chaplain of Miriam Post Of Meriden aud
also chaplain of the L. Y. U. He is sur
vived by his wife and four children, Mrs
II. K. Thomas OF Hartford, Ky, Willard
Ives Warmer of Los Angeles, Cal, Win
sOr w. Warmer and Miss Edna l.. War
riner.
The funeral service was largely attend
ed on Wednesday afternoon vt Z o'clock
L
offered at the house, and then the Casket,
borne by the associates OF the deceased
in the ministry, Rev B. c. Pillsbury, Rev
). A. Sands, Rev f. L. Curtis, RevsSam-
uel Quincy, Rev j. l.. Rollins and Rev
+. L. Braman, was taken across the
village green to the NJ ethOdist church. At
the door Of the church the Casket was
taken in charge by II. c. Hayden, Ed
win Booth, William French and Mr. L M
norman, and carried to the altar. Mr.
Hayden represented the Grand Army
post OF Meriden OF which Mr. Warmer
was member.
The service was in charge of Rev Levi
W. Holmes, pastor of the Stepney Meth
odst church. The choir first sang
abide with me, favorite hymn of Mr.
WARMERS, after which Rev Jesse l.,
Rollins OF Nichols read the 9lst Psalm.
This was followed by fervenC prayer by
Rev Smith A. Sands OF Darien. Rev
Edward j. Curtis OF Plattsville then read
the hymn, beginning:
Thou who driest the mourner's tear
How dark this world would be,
II when deceived and wounded here,
We could not fly tC Thee.
Following the singing of this hymn by
the choir, Rev +. +. Braman, pastor OF
the Baptist church, read the fourth chap
ter of I'd Corinthians. A hymn entitled,
Farewell" was then sung with fine eff
feet by Messrs G. X. Osborne, and G. K.
Osborne, Jr., and Miss May Osborne.
The latter also presided at the organ.
The main address was given by Rev Mr.
Holmes, whose eloquent and heartfelt
tribute to the character of his friend,
found q ready response in the hearts of
his listeners.
He based his remarks on I'd Timothy
G7, and said among other things: Paul
had been urging pom Timothy the i'm.
pOrtance of being laborious and faithful
In the performance of the duties Of his
office. The reason Of this, was the con-
viction Of the apostle ths& he was about
to die. His own work was nearly done.
He was soon to be withdrawn from the
earth, and whatever benefit the world
might have derived from his experience
or active exertiOns, it was soon to be de-
prived OF It. He was about to leave
work which he loved, and to which he
had devoted the vigor of his life and he
was anxious that they who were to sue
coed him should carry on the work with
all the energy and zeal in their power.
This expresses the common feeling of
ministers as death draws near. Though
their work be ended, they would leave
behind competent successors who will be
ambitious for God -laborious in his serv-
ice, and at last as triumphant as they.
The life work Of our predecess ors does
not end when the heart ceases to beat.
We live in the midst of the built up walls,
the reared temples, the reconstructed
gates, the vanquished enemies of Gods
earthly Jerusaiems. The lives OF Gods
ministers may set but the trail of light
they leave behind guides other pilgrim
feet to theY heavenly home. The minis
ter may fall IKE tree of the forest, but
even after theqapse of years, others may
find light and warmth at the affairs upon
which he kept the fire Of zeal and love
burning. Our affairs, our hearthq, our
hearts, burn with brighter fires because
these men of Goa once lived.
The coral insect performs Its work and
then dies, but the reef it raised breaks
the surge on the shores of great consi-
nents, or has formed an isle in the bosom
Of the ocean to wave now with hArvests
for the good of man and TO be gem here
after for the diadem of the Blessed Re-
deemer. The lives of good men seem to
be divided between earth and heaven
and yet not divided-but like the golden
staircase which jacob saw, their life
work converts some desolate and dreary
place into q Bethel of flaming light;
come night-shrOuded mountain into the
house OF God and the gate of heaven,
while the other end of life reaches up 60,
and dove-like, folds its weary wings and
nestles In the bosom OF God.
While we take mp the work where our
brother left 1t, he takes up the crown,
and becomes a king and priest unto God.
81 am ready" This phrase conveys the
Idea of willingness to depart. This may
be the correct idea, but II was not the
idea conveyed by the apostle. His state
ment is merely OF the fact that he WAS
about to die, or that his work was draw
Ing to d close. No doubt he was ready,
Bsngt as~A