Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-14
PRICE THREE CENTS
A Pioneer Gone to Rest.

The Advent Review and sabbath Her
aid, published at Washington, d. C.,
gives an extended account OF Washing
ton Morse, who was born in Brookfield,
June "a, 1875, and died at the home OF
his son, q. W. Morse, at DeLand, Fla,
Nov. last, having reached the great age
Of 93 years, 4 months and is days. Oct.
Is, 1898, he married Miss Olive BuzzeII
and together they walked life's journey
nearly 65 years before her death in 1909
at Mnskoka, Can. To them were born
IL children, of whom seven are still Iiv-
ing. Two OF the children, q. w. and Liz
zie ]. Morse, tell the story Of their faith
er's life as follows:-
sEarly in the rise of the great Advent
movement of 1S36-44, father and mother
accepted the expositions OF Prophecy ne
presented by William Miller and his CO.
laborers and identified themselves with il.
Father was more or less closely con-
neoted with the leaders in the proclama-
tion of the Advent message and put all bis
earthly possessions into the cause. With
them be labored many months with no
thought or expectation of financial re-
muneration. Their faith was unwaver-
ing that Christ would come Oct. %, 1874,
and when that date was reached, father
and mother, with many others, were
gathered at the home Of Brother Cushman
in Tunbridge TO watch for the appearance
of the Savior in the clouds of heaven.
with the bitter disappointment that
came TO them by the passing Of the time
set without the realization OF their hopes,
our dear parents were plunged in deepest
gloom; but they held fast their coufidence
in God and His Word and believed that
sometime and somehow all would be made
plain. And so, when q few years later
light came to them regarding the future
work God had for his people before the
Savior would come, they gladly embraced
it.u
aIn the winter OF 1859 Elder James
White sent to father prophetic chart
with an earnest exhortation that he en-
gage In public labor in preaching the
message and his first meeting was held at
East Randolph. To the extent of his OPP
while supporting his family
Of several children, he labored in YER
mont until the autumn of 1865, when he
removed with his family to Illinois, locat-
ing. temporarily, about thirty miles south
OF Chicago. During the winter, while
laboring to earn the wherewithal to sup
port bis family, he also did hat he could
10 spread the message.
Sin the spring OF 1867 father arranged
with the gentleman for whom he had
been working, to remove himself and
family to the then territory OF Mime
sofa. They went in pioneer emigrant
wagons, aud located in Steele county.
Ordinarily, the prospect that was then
before our parents would be considered as
desperately dark and discoursging. In
new and strange country, with family
II eight children most of whom were
TOO young TO do work Of any kind-abso-
utely no financial capital, provisions OF
lil kinds exceedingly hieh-in- pFias, il is~--
,videut that they must have been wonder
ulIy sustained.
"Upon the organization OF conference
u that field, father was chosen as its
PRESIDENT, position that he held for sew
raj years. His labors were nearly always
'iven gratuitously, and at reasonable fig
Tres amounted to many thousands OF dol
ars during the first ten years of his resi-
lence in Minnesota. Up to the year 1851
le received only thEty dollars from the
onterence as compensation for labor. In
S74 he bore heavy burdens in the con-
truction nj the first Seventh-day Adven-
ist church building that was erected in
minnesota. This was at Mankato.
"In 1895 father and mother removed
rom Minnesota to Canada, so ss to be
ear some OF their children who were
with the work in that field.
topping for short time with the under
igned at Toronto, they then went on 10
Peterborough, where daughter, Mrs. II.
Farnum, lived. During the eleven
ears--1s97 to 190s-fsther was for most
I the time quite active in the missionary
anvassing work. For about eight years
e did great amount OF missionary cor
averaging some two hun
red letters each year.
"In July, 1908, be came to our home in
lorida. As a matter OF fact, one chief
eason Of our getting home here was on
ather's account. While attending the
smp-meeting at Orlando, October 21-30,
e contracted cold that resulted in
and upon his arrival home it
'as evident that he could live but a few
ays. just before the end came, he
cached out his hands to be taken up.
lis request was granted, and in very
~ moments he passed to the last. long,
reamless sleep in the arms OF his sou,
18th not a struggle as be 'crossed the
pr.