The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-30
Nj. Vernon Man Who Became
Convert TO Faith
And Rose To Highest Office
In Organization
Becoming Famous As Such
Throughout The Land
(wsshinsIaa Post)

(WsshinabA Post)
Nothing has so profoundly stirred
the big encampment at Takoma Park,
where the world conference of Sew
enth-day Adventists is convened in q
twenty-four day session, as the, death
of Elder G. A. Irwin of California,
whose funeral service took place yes.
terday in the big canvas pavilion in
which the conference is meeting.
Four thousand people gathered
from every state In the country and
from nearly every nation on the
earth united in the solemn and i'm.
pressive funeral service in the after.
noon.
Elder Irwin, whose home was in
Iona Linda, CAL. had held many posi-
tions Of great influence In the denom-
ination. He died Friday at the Wash
ington Sanitarium at Takoma Park OF
heart disease.
Paying their last respects to their
fallen leader thousands of persons
passed by his comm as It rested, pre-
cedlng the funeral service. Just In
front Of the great platform Of the big
canvas pavilion.
After the body had been viewed the
members of the general conference
committee. the governing board Of the
denomination, of which Elder Irwin
had been a member for years. proceed.
ed to the seats reserved for them. &C.
companied by Mrs. Irwin and Prof. c.
w. Irwin. the son of the deceased.
who is president Of the Pacific Union
College at st. Helena, Cal.
The funeral service was directed by
clergymen who had been closely asso.
ciated with Elder Irwin. The Scrip
ture reading was conducted by Elder
]. o. Corlis of Mountain View, Cal.
Eulogies of the deceased were given
by Elder E. E. Andros of Los Angeles,
the president Of the Pacific Union
Conference of Seventh.day Adventists,
who succeeded Elder Irwin In this
position; Elder A. G. Daniels of Ia.
koma Park, the president of the Gen.
eral Conference, who also succeeded
Elder Irwin In that position; Elder
J. N. Loughborough of Lodi, Cal. long
associated in the ministry with Elder
Irwin, and Elder A. 0. Olson of Chi.
cago, former president of the Cen
eral Conference. A choir under the
direction of Prof. Clemen Hamer. the
musical director of the Washington
Foreign Mission Seminary, rendered
two selections.
After the service, as the funeral
cortege began It's journey to Rock
Creek cemetery, where interment was
made, thousands of persons gathered
on the banks Of the roadway, and
with bowed heads, as the procession
passed between their ranks. paid their
last measure of devotion to their lead
er.
In addition to being prominent in
the affairs of the Seventh-day Advent
list denomination, Elder Irwin also
served throughout the civil war.
At the beginning of the war he
joined Company of the goth Regi
ment OF the Ohio Volunteer Infan
try. and was engaged In at least sev
enteen battles and engagements. He
was captured and spent seven months
In captivity, being in both Anderson
Vile and Libby prisons.
At the close of the war he partici
pated In the grand review In Wash
ington and then was mustered out
Returning to his home near Noun
Vernon, Ohio, he Joined the prohibit
ton cause. September II, 1867. h,
was married to Miss Nettie Johnson
who survives him. One son was borl
to them.
Later Elder Irwin became maste
OF the county grange of Knox coun
ty. Ohio. He became seventh-da!
Adventist in 1885, and shortly afte
was elected treasurer OF the Obi,
Conference, of which he later becam,
president. In 1895 he was made di
rector of the southern missionar.
operations Of the denominations.
In 1897 the highest honor In th'