Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-06
OLDEST PASTOR
IN CONFER ENCE
is CALLED HOME
Rev. j. S. Cumming Active in
Methodist Church Three
Score Years.
OVER 30 YEARS OF AGE
Sudden Death from ApopIeXy Comes
After Work in Preparation for
Sunday Was Dene.

Rev. Joseph Smith Cumming, pastor
Of the Second Methodist church of Mo
line, and oldest active minister in the
Central Illinois conference, passed
away at his home in this city at ?
O'Clock Sunday morning. The end
cane suddenly, apoplexy being the
cause.
Mr.. Cumming had the wish he had
often expressed realized in that he
died in the harness. With his deep
reverence for the Sabbath, he had done
all his work in preparation for the
services Of Sunday Saturday night be-
fore retiring. His sermon was pre-
pared, announcements written and
clothing cleaned and laid out ready
for morning before he retired.
About o'clock he complained 10
his wife of feeling i'll. She helped
him TO take a simple remedy which
was kept in the room. 4 few moments
later he lapsed into Inconsistencies
and in a short time was dead. Two
physicians were summoned, but they
found that the spark OF life was gone
TOOK SLIGHT COLD.
Mr.. Cumming was in his usual
health, except that he had taken a
slight cold a week ago while attend
ing conference at Galesburg. Owing
70 the circumstances it was considered
Unnecessary 20 hold an inquest.
Mr. Cumming had been in the min
istry three score years. He was born
IN Abingdon, Va. April %, 1882, being
81 years Of age His parents were
Rev and Mrs. W. G. Cumming When
four years OF age he came with them
20 Illinois. settling in TaZewell county.
When he had finished the common
schools he graduated from the Mt.
Morris academy at Mt Morris and
later taught school He studied for
the ministry and in 1853 was admitted
TO the Methodist conference of this
part OF the state, there being no Cen
trial Illinois or Rock River conference
az that time
The first work as pastor was done
ut Carthage Among other cities in
which charges were held were Peoria
Monmouth and Odell. He served as
pastor in Moline three times, twice
with the First church. The first time
was in the cos when the church was
located on Fifth avenue. lie again
served with the First church from
1893 to 1896. He came 70 the Second
church from Odell four years ago.
WAS OFTEN HONORED.
Besides his pastoral duties. Mr.
Cumming had served the church il
many other capacities. From 1882 L
1896 he was president of Hedding col
lega at Abingdon For so years ht
was member Of the board OF trus
tees of the Illinois Wesleyan uniyer
sity at Bloomington, from which b,
obtained the degree of l.. l.. d. Tn,
degree OF d. d. was obtained from
the Iowa Wesleyan university at Mt
Pleasant. For IA years he presided
over the Central Illinois conference,
and for three years he served as IL
secretary As head of the home mis-
sion and church extension boards b.
presided at the recent conference q
GalesburE. In all the three-scor
years OF his membership he missed bu
one roll call at the Central conference
and on that occasion he was callet
away 10 otiiciate at the funeral OF al
Old friend
Mr.. Cumming was twice married Il
July, 1852. at Washington. he wa
united with Miss Margaret r. Maris
OF the eight children born TO n
couple. six survive Rev Frank Gun
ming Of Memphis; Mrs. Belle Giibert
Mrs. Eva Sisson and Mrs. Gussie Nett
gar Of Chicago; Mrs. Minette Pattel
son OF Monmouth, and Mrs Fanni
Walker Of Seattle. In 1923 Mrs. Cum
ming died aud in 1895 the widowe
married Mrs. Sarah DoNsee OF Moline
who survives. There are also tw,