Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1887 — DEAD. [ARTICLE]

DEAD.

REV GRANVILLE MOODY, D. D ■■■ ■ ■ "■ " ,i ■■ ■ . • % “General Granville Moody Udeadl” So sped the tidings lightning winged, all all pver the nation; and few messages of death more hearts, or caused more tears of genuine bereavement to fall throughout our country. To his comrades of the Union Armies the announcement that man famous in history and in their personal memories as “The Fighting Methodist Preacher.” has fallen in death, will thrill their hearts with sadness akin to that experienced when Logan suddenly vanished into the heavens. On Sunday morning, May 29th, General Moody left his country residonco near Jefferson, lowa, in company with his son Charles P. Moody, and was hurriedly driving to the Methodist church in Jefferson,where a large audience was watingto hear him preach tho memorial termon before George H. Thomas Post No. 23 G. A. R. of lowa. In turning a corner, a tug became detached, the carriage pole fell* causing the carriage to suddenly loave the track,while tho mo montum of tho team throw it over, hurling its occupants violently to the ground Dr. Moody was assisted into a house near by, and a physician hastily summoned, who at first expressed hope that no serious injuries had been sustained. But the General although cheerful and talking freely of his other adventures and escapes in battle and elsewhere, told his son Charles at once I “This is my ond’’ and seemed joyful in anticipation of his speedy transit to tho skies. Two hours later he was driven home and, for two days, no serious symptoms appeared. On the third day inflammation of the pleura set in and the lungs soon became involved, developing pleura-pneumonia of a type that .defied all medical skill. Telegrams were sent for hi 3 children, and bi 3 son GranviMo from Renssolaer Indiana, and second daughter,. Mrs. Lizzy Rowe, of Binghampton, N. Y., with her husband ! reached his bedside a few hours before | his death, but in time to receive tokens |of recognition. Prof. Hugh Boyd, D, i D., of Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, husband of his youngest daughter, Mary was also present. Mis. -Boyd was sick at the time and unable to go. | The eldest daughter, Clifford, wife of Capt. Fyffe of the Boston Navy Yard was intercepted at Mt. Vernon with the tidings that she need proceed no farther as she would not see her lather alive. The last days of General Moody were days of great triumph. Much of his time was spent in joyous repetitions of those “exceeding great and precious : promises’’ which were then the solace of his soul, His favorite and oft repeated scripture utterance was “We shall see Him as He is;” and he frequently repeated with deep and tender emotion that couplet of Dr. Watts: “Thou art my soul’s bright morning star, And-Thou my rising sun.” .. Toward the last he adverted to the goodly company who were awaiting jiim above. He named the Bishops and leathers in his church who were in heaven. He spoke of the more , than eight* thousand who through his ministry, had been led to Christ, many of whom weic there, and then he exclaimed, “Best of all who have been* with me on earth, Lizzie (his recently deceased wife) will meet me there.” A littlo later ho seemed to fix his eyes upon his Savior dying upon the cross, and repeatedly exciaimed: ‘ ‘On the Tree t On the Tree!” This was the his last connected sentence, and last utterance, except “Lizzie” and “the baby,” as he gave to his newly arrived daughter and grandchild his “hail and farewell” kiss. The night before he died he requested Pastor Harncd to hold a brief funeral service before Ins remains were convoyed to Mt. Vernon for final: funeral Service and burial. He selected the text, John xi. 2Gth, and told him to es- * peeialiy. emphasize the words ••Shall never die,” saying, “I am not dying, J .'■hall never die.” - - - - The entire community seemed to bo present at the funeral as real mornors. At halt past nine o’clock at night they formed in pocesssion and escorted the remains to the railroad station. lLdf a mils from town they were met by the Post of the G. A. R. with torches anil music, aud thoso took charge of the casket, which was covered with tioral offerings, and bore it-forward. Oa arrival at tho Train the G. A. R. opeued ranks and stood with bowed and uncovered heads while the remains were borne forward and placed upon The train. Rarely has human eye witnessed a scene more impressive than that, as tho bright silvery moonlight fetj upon that long line of silvery heads reverntly bowed while the coffin of their companion ar.d chieflian was borne from them am id the sobs of the bereft i and the solemn cadences of a funeral ! dirge. Let me here smmarize the history of Granville Mocodv’s eventful and suer* issful career.

He was,bom at Portland, Maine, Jan nary 2nd 1812. His parent* were Con* gregational Presbyterians, and he was baptized in infancy by the eminent Dr. Edward Payson. He was educated In his own father’s school in Baltimore. He was powerfully converted after the Pauline manner, near Norwalk, Ohio, when about eighteen, and joined the Methodist church. He crossed the AUeghanies on horseback alone while Still a mere youth. On march 4th 1882, be was licensed to preach. In 1835 was ordained Deacon b£ Bishop Andrew, and was ordained Elder by Bishop Robert Roberts in 1837* F<?r a good full half century he preached the gospel, chiefly in Ohio, filling three pastorates in three different churches in .Cincinnati, also pastorates in Columbus, Lancaster, Zanesville, Springfield, Dayton, Xenia Unbana, Piqua, Ripley, Middletown, Hamilton, Jamestown, Newport, Ky. and Presiding Elderships on Piqua and Ripley districts. It were vain to attempt a description of tho ministerial career of this wonderful man. Almost a giant in stature and strength, ho was altogether a giant in mental strength and oratorical ability. In the groat forensic contests that marked tho antislavory struggle in the General Conference of the Methodist church, Granville Moody wa3 the peer of any man of his time. In the war for the Union ho servod as Colonel of tho 71th Ohio Regiment from Dec. 10th 1861. till May 16th 1863. He was struck four times with balls and painfully wounded, and -had a horse killed under him at the battle of Stone River. The writer rode by his side into the battle, and was an eye and ear witness of many of the exploits and expressions now recoi-ded in various war histories concerning the great “Fighting Parson.” No braver man, no truer patriot, lias Hallowed the field of conflict with his valor and his prayers since “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon” flashed terror among the hosts of Mideanri The'iujuries sustained in this battle compelled his res. ignation, b.ut he was breveted Brigadier General, March 13th 1865. He was the warm personal friend of President Lincoln, and it was to him that Lincoln gave his pledge to issue the Emancipation Proclamation some days before it was acted upon by his cabinet, regardless of any possible opposition from that body. During the war he purchased hi 3 farm near Jefferson, lowa and in 1882 moved to Mt. Vernon, spending some months occasionally- upon his farm, but much of his time among his . books and mansenpts in the spacious residence of his daughter Mary and her husband Dr. Boyd, at Mt. V«poh. At five minutes before six o’clock on Saturday evening, June 4th 1887, while the setting sun was flooding the fields and foliage and the flowers of his prairie home with its wealth of gold, Gran ville Moody’s princely spirit bade adieu to its princely casket and aseended to his God. Tho golden sunset dissolved amid tl\e dazzling effulgence of the Throne, and the Saturday night of mourning and tears brightned into a Sabbath of bliss amid the inseparable reunions of the skios, and paid the fruition of his exultant shout in death, “I shall see Him as He is.” The final funeral service were held from, the Methodist church of Mt. Vernon, whose pulpit Dr. Moody had Several times filled with groat ability, and in whose social meetings his presence was always a bemliction. The cduroh was most elaborately decorated with flags and army corps banners, and the altar and surrounding xpace contained many, tokens of affection ajxd esteem from citizens and Grand Army Posts and Woman’s Relief corps. Two posts of the G. A. R. were present as organizations, These acted as pallbearers and guard of honor. All his living children were permitted to be present; which was the. fulfilment of one of his most cherished wishes. Rev. Dr. Herald; pastor of the churchf’read a series of resolutions from the Cincinnati^Preachers’ Meeting and then introduced the Rev. I. W. Joyce, D, D., pf St. Paul’s Church Cincinnati, who made the journey of a" thousand miles tp lay his eloo 4 uent tribute upon tire’ Sltar of perfect affection, and Ur pajr. Ilia last trihuta to the Ann through whose in strumentality he was inducted into the ministry. The text had been selected by the family, being “d Timothy 1-12. “For I know; wuoni 1 have believed, and I am persuaded ha is able to keep that which 1 have c-enmuitcd. to Him against that day.” T<MMU*mplA summary of that mat eel* ously eloquent, euilying and comfjttiog sermon, would bo to mar it. It was a tribute from Dr. Moody’s Conference worthy of that body. . Dr. Joyce was billowed by Chaplain j Lozier, who wa- u chaplain in General i Moody's by ('apt. C. IV. Kepler, i Chminander of the G. R.Tost, by Pres- ! ideut King, of C*>l noil college, wher begap j to know Dr. Moody while a student in i OhioAferigyatffFVfivesity,;A>ver 30 years I and I y fmtnv tßralfl, who closed the j services in the church with another of of Dr. >1 ) 'iy s’favorite hymns, beginning j i -Thus-far -The 1 Lord has _led us on.’ j Among tire impressive decorations were j two ot General oid field swords, ' crossed, and sunuajnnisd uy the,acorn badge'-of the Gcncrat'i* old Fourteenth ' ' V " Sri " ‘ -

Corps* All the appointments and arrange*menta bore the iidptan of tenderest affection and sincereet showed alike by the family and .community £ all of whom fait, as D. Joyoo ..aid,, quoting the words of a prominent of . Ohio that “lowa’s soil had neve; £ees honored with the dust of a grander .ipaa than that of General Granville Moody,” And ao, at last the aon of the tar eastern “Pine Tree State, ’the school boy of the “Monumental City,’' the youth of tho AL loghaniea, the peerless preacher and pastor foi half a century among the chief cities of . Ohio, the fearless commander whose blood, and prayers wero alike freely given for the nation’s life, is laid to bis last repose , in the soil of a state he chose for hjs earthly .home, and sleeps wall in the soil of a state where the saloon is by law a nuisance, and every vender of intox. icants a felon. By the side of tho companion of hi» youthful struggles add his half century of triumphs, and under the shadow of a beautiful monument erected by himself to his beloved “Lizzie,” his kindred and comrades hi>'r«» IkiS - klmTantTaWy til raaf; ftnTT'TrJma’" little mound in the lovely cemetery at Mt, Verdon—the new shrine of myriads of lov, ing hoar's, we look through portals faith hath set ajar, and see Granville Moody shining “as the el’ars forever and ever” in the galaxy of the nation’s undying dead. John Kogartb Lozixr.