The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-18
"DH, | SEE JESUS
We're the Last Words of Mrs.
N. D. Leonard.
DIED AT CAMPMEE1lNG
In an Effort to Suppress Her
Great Joy.
CAMPMEE1lNG

Mrs. N. G. Leonard. who lives with her
husband and family on farm I'VE miles
south on Lawrence avenue. died very sud
denly yesterday morning at the conclu-
sion OF the 1880 prayer service OF the
Holiness campmeeting Death was caused
by the bursting of a blood vessel during
a strain of suppressed emotion and JOY.
She was carried to a tent and laid upon
a cot, where she died within fifteen min
Cave was called. but Mrs. Leonard was
dead when he arrived. The body was
taken to GilI's undertaking rooms and
prepared for burial
Probably a more intense spiritual
awakening or higher pitch of re ig.ous
fervor was never experienced than that
witnessed at the morning prayer and
praise service at which Mrs. Leonard was
taken away. An unusual power seemed TO
have been visited upon the congregation
and shouts and hallaiujahs echoed midst
and three or four others were most gra-
ciously blessed during the services and
they could not control their emotions.
Evangelist Reese had announced the close
Of the meeting and was happily pacing to
and fro on the platform waiting until
Mrs. Leonard could control her emotions
before announcing his text for the regu-
lar morning sermon which should follow
the prayer service. Mrs. Leonard had
been on her knees crying few minutes
before, hut now the character of her JOY
had changed and she began TO laugh. The
exhilaration. born of clean soul ready
for the Kingdom, had so wrought upon
her that she could scarcely control her
self. 1t is said that this was not hap
piness. but joy completely satisfying.
Heaven-sept joy. Mrs. Leonard could not
suppress it.
The evangelist kept walking the ros-
trum and saying "Glory to God" The
amens from the apdience were growing
weaker and fewer, when Mrs. Leonard
rose from her seat and walked to the
west side of the tent. Mother Haven, who
has been converted for forty years, sane
titled twenty years and a member of the
Friends church in this city for ten years,
Mrs. Leonard and asked her II
she was Ill. Suddenly she looked up and
clasping her, hands, said: F'oh, see
jesus" These were the last words she
uttered. The blood began gushing from
her mouth and she could not utter her
husbands name. Mother Haven called
for Mr.. Leonard and he and Captain Lee
the dying woman to q tent
nearby. In ten minutes she was dead
The great wish of Mrs. Leonard's life
had been gratified. She had prayed to die
at Methodist campmeeting and the Lord
had heard her prayer. Mr.. Leonard said
wish to die shouting at a campmeeting
and she had spoken of It yesterday. 1t
that a season OF unusual power
and manifestation of the spirit had been
ordered especially for the hour OF her
death.
The meeting was delayed only a few
minutes on account of the death OF one of
the number Many did not know she was
dead until after the sermon was over.
AS they took her to the little tent Evan
gelist Reese Gained his audience by tell
ing them that too many attendants would
probably do her harm, and the meeting
went on. He preached on sanctification,
taking for his text the thirteenth and
fourteenth verses of the fifteenth chapter
Of Hebrews. the text being in the fifteenth
verse: "But strong meat belongest to
them that are full aged. even by those
who, by reason OF use. have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil"
The manner of Mrs. LeOnard's taking of |
seemed to add zeal to the meetings of the
afternoon and there were joyful and ex-
services during the rest Of the |
day.
Evangelist Reese was seen after the |
services by a reporter for the Eagle and |
asked IL he had ever had such an ex-
perience In a meeting before.
Eyes" said the evangelist. IT have !
known Of two deaths at REVEALS similar |
to this of Sister Leonard. One. however. |
I remember. died while in the act OF /
shouting. and the physicians In their ex-
aminations afterwards never were able TO 1
tell what caused her death. She simply /
went to glory shouting. The sister who |
left US this morning died just as she |
wanted to die-simply stepped over into |
the Glory Land; we have from her one
more blessed testimonial Of the power
and goodness Of the Holy Spirit
Pew. Lowther said he had witnessed |
one other case similar 20 that OF Mrs. |
I,eonard But ne said. Mrs. Leonard di1 /
not die Of shouting. but OF a natural
cause which would have produced death
probably at any other time. The acct
dent OF the bursting OF a blood vessel
was probably fastened. he said. by the
strain occasi0ned by the strain Of sup
pressed Joy. Mrs. Leonard was trying 70
control her great emotion "She was one
u the brightest examples OF a Christians
Joy and hope have ever SEEN said Rev.
Mrs. Leonard was 4 member OF the
{ nited brethren church She was about
: years old and the mother OF eight chill
fren. all Of whom have been left a price
ess legacy Of Christian faith and char
lcter.
NEW HOUSES At BLACKWELL !