PETER BACH, AGED 72 YEARS, PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN FORREST, ILLINOIS, MAY 4, 1946. DEATH WAS CAUSED FROM A HEART ATTACK. HE WAS BORN DEC. 10, 1873 IN ALSACE, LORRAINE, GERMANY, THE SON OF NICHOLAS AND CAROLINE (MEISS) BACH. AT THE AGE OF SEVEN HE CAME WITH HIS PARENTS TO AMERICA SETTLING FIRST IN NEBRASKA, COMING TO PLEASANT RIDGE TOWNSHIP IN 1892. FOR FIFTY YEARS HE LIVED ON THE SAME FARM, 1896 TO 1946, COMING TO FORREST SEVEN WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH.

ON APRIL 20, 1902, HE WAS MARRIED TO LENA SCHARLACH, WHO SURVIVES WITH EIGHT CHILDREN: GEORGE, ESTHER HONEGGER, EDWARD, LOUISE JOOS, MARIE SCHROF, CARL, RUTH SCHLATTER AND REUBEN. ALSO FOURTEEN GRANDCHILDREN AND TWO BROTHERS, J. N. AND EMIL.

HE SERVED AS ELDER OF THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH SINCE 1932, AND IN LOVE HAD THE WELFARE OF THE CONGREGATION AT HEART.

FAIRBURY BLADE

MAY 10, 1946

PETER BACH, FORREST, DIES SUDDENLY

PETER BACH, A WELL KNOWN RESIDENT OF FORREST, PASSED AWAY THERE LAST SATURDAY MORNING SHORTLY AFTER 11 O’CLOCK. MR. BACH HAD FOR MANY YEARS RESIDED NORTH OF FORREST, MOVING TO THAT VILLAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO. LAST SATURDAY MORNING HE WAS TO HAVE MET A PARTY AT THE BACH LUMBER OFFICE IN FORREST. WHEN HE DID NOT PUT IN AN APPEARANCE A TELEPHONE CALL WAS MADE TO HIS HOME. WHEN MRS. BACH WENT TO LOOK FOR HIM HE WAS FOUND AT THE GRADE DOOR LANDING HAVING EVIDENTLY PASSED AWAY WITH A HEART ATTACK. HE WAS AGED 72 YEARS, FOUR MONTHS AND 24 DAYS.

MR. BACH WAS A WELL KNOWN MINISTER OF THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

MR. BACH WAS BORN IN ALSACE LORRAINE, DECEMBER 10, 1873. WHEN SEVEN YEARS OF AGE HE CAME WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO AMERICA, LANDING AT NEW YORK, DECEMBER 6, 1880. THEY LOCATED AT WISNER, NEB., WHERE THEY RESIDED UNTIL 1892, WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED TO THIS VICINITY. SINCE 1896 MR. BACH HAD RESIDED ON THE HOME PLACE NEAR FORREST, UNTIL HE MOVED INTO FORREST IN MARCH.

ON APRIL 20, 1902, AT THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THIS CITY, HE WAS UNITED IN MARRIAGE TO MISS LENA SCHARLACH, AND THEY TOOK UP THEIR HOME ON A FARM NORTHEAST OF THIS CITY.

SHE SURVIVES, TOGETHER WITH THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN: GEORGE EDWARD BACH, MRS. WILLIAM HONEGGER, MRS. PAUL SCHROF, ALL OF FORREST; MRS. JOHN JOOS, OF PRINCEVILLE; MRS. DAN SCHLATTER, OF CHATSWORTH; CARL BACH, PHOENIX, ARIZ., AND REUBEN BACH, OF FAIRBURY. SURVIVING ALSO ARE TWO BROTHERS, J. N. BACH, OF FAIRBURY, AND EMIL BACH, OF NORFOLK, NEB., AND FOURTEEN GRANDCHILDREN.

FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD AT THE NORTH APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON TUESDAY MORNING AT 10:30 O’CLOCK AND INTERMENT WAS IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY. THE SERVICES WERE LARGELY ATTENDED. HE HAD BEEN THE PRESIDING MINISTER OF THAT CHURCH FOR MANY YEARS.

AMONG THE RELATIVES ATTENDING THE SERVICES FROM A DISTANCE WERE MR. AND MRS. EMIL BACH, OF NORFOLK, NEB., AND CHRIS SCHARLACH AND DAUGHTER, GENEVA, OF ALGONA, IOWA.

SONG BY BRO. EMIL SCHUBERT, PEORIA, ILLINOIS: FOR THIS PRESENT OCCASION, LET US SING A FEW STANZAS OUT OF HYMN NO. 152. "THE CHILDREN’S PRAYER" (VERSES 1-5-7).

READING BY BRO. ELI DOTTERER, JUNCTION, OHIO: MAY GOD GRANT GRACE TO READ A FEW VERSES FOR THE BEGINNING OF OUR SERVICES IN THE SECOND LETTER UNTO TIMOTHY, THE FOURTH CHAPTER

PRAYER BY BRO. DOTTERER: (LET US RISE IN PRAYER TO GOD).

OH, GOD HEAVENLY FATHER, LET OUR WEAK AND HUMBLE PRAYER ARISE TO THEE, OUR GOD AND SAVIOUR. WE THANK THEE, HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT WE, THY CHILDREN HERE ON EARTH CAN CRY TO THEE TO BRING OUR HEARTS’ WISHES AND CONCERNS TO THEE. THOU ART LOVING AND KIND, AND THE CHILDLIKE PLEADING IS PLEASING TO THEE, SO WE PRAY, BEHOLD US, FATHER, AS WE ARE GATHERED HERE FROM NEAR AND FAR IN THIS MORNING HOUR.

WE HAVE COME TOGETHER , OH FATHER, TI ALSO SEEK TO BRING A COMFORT UNTO OUR BEREFT ONES HERE WITH WHOM WE ARE UNITED AND HAVE OFTENTIMES SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER JOYS AND SORROWS. NOW THE HOUR HAS COME IN WHICH THOU HAST ENTERED INTO THIS ASSEMBLY HERE AND TAKEN OUT OF IT AND OUR MIDST, A DEAR SHEPHERD. OH, FATHER, WE REALIZE THE LOSS IS GREAT, BUT THOU, OH GOD, WHO SEES AND KNOWS THE HEART OF ALL MEN, DOETH WHAT IS GOOD, EVEN THOUGH IT OFTENTIMES SEEMS DIFFERENT TO US WHO TARRY HERE BEHIND.

WE HAVE LOVED OUR DEAR BROTHER WHO HAS LABORED HERE FOR MANY YEARS, WHO HAS SOUGHT TO SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WHICH THOU, OH GOD, DIDST ENTRUST UNTO HIM AND WE REALIZE THE LOSS IS GREAT, BUT FATHER WE PRAY AND KNOW THAT THOU WHO HAST TAKEN, CAN ALSO GIVE, AND WE TRUST THOU WILL TRULY PROVIDE FOR THY CHILDREN AND THY PRECIOUS FLOCKS WHICH THOU DIDST PURCHASE, OH FATHER, BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST JESUS, OUR REDEEMER.

LOOK DOWN UPON THE FAMILY , FATHER, WITH WHOM WE ALSO ARE UNITED. WE PRAY THEE FATHER, COMFORT AND CONSOLE THEM, ESPECIALLY THE DEAR WIDOW, OUR BELOVED SISTER IN FAITH. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTING HOUR IS PAINFUL TO THEM, BUT OH FATHER, WHAT A BLESSING TO BELIEVE THE DEAR FATHER AND HUSBAND OF THIS HOUSEHOLD HAS PASSED AWAY WITH A LIVING HOPE AND IS AT REST AND WAITING FOR THOSE WHO YET SHALL FOLLOW AND COME TO THEE, OH GOD.

WE HAVE ALREADY READ OF THE GOOD TEACHINGS PAUL GAVE UNTO TIMOTHY AND WE THANK THEE, FATHER, FOR THESE GOOD TEACHINGS. MAY THEY ALSO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE IN HUMBLENESS AND OBEDIENCE TO THY WORD AND GOOD WILL AND THAT THY GOOD AND HOLY SPIRIT WILL LEAD US THROUGH THIS PILGRIM JOURNEY LIFETIME.

OH FATHER, BEHOLD US AS WE ARE GATHERED HERE TOGETHER AND WOULDST THOU SPEAK UNTO US THROUGH THY WORD, THROUGH THY SPIRIT AND IN THY LOVE AND DO THOU EVER ABIDE WITH US SO THAT WE, CHILDLIKE, CAN COMMEND ALL THINGS TO THEE, BELIEVING THAT THOU WILT IN ALL WISE PROVIDE.

OH, WE THINK OF THE HOURS AND TIMES THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST LABORED WITH OUR NOW DEPARTED BROTHER. OH FATHER, WE REMEMBER WELL THAT OUR DEAR BELOVED BROTHER WHO OFTEN GATHERED IN OUR MIDST, ALWAYS PROVED HIMSELF CONCERNED - HE HAS NOW DEPARTED, BELIEVING HE HAS LABORED PLEASING IN THY SIGHT AND THAT HIS DAYS’ WORK IS DONE. HE HAS LEFT IT BEHIND FOR OTHERS TO STEP INTO HIS PATHWAY AND SERVE FOR AS LONG AS THOU ART MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS TO ALL THINE AND ALL THE WORLD.

WE REALIZE AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS NEEDFUL AND OUR DUTY TO CONTINUE IN PRAYER AND PLEAD FOR GRACE, LIGHT, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE REMAINING BEHIND MAY DILIGENTLY LABOR FOR THEE IN THY VINEYARD AND WORK OUT OUR SOUL’S SALVATION SO THAT WHEN THE HOUR OF OUR DEPARTURE ARRIVES, WE MAY DEPART IN PEACE AND MAY HAVE THAT LIVING HOPE WITHIN THAT WE SHALL MEET WITH ONE ANOTHER AND BE WITH THEE, OUR GOD AND FATHER.

WE PRAY THEE THESE FAVORS AND INVITE THEE INTO OUR MIDST AND WOULDST THOU IN THIS HOUR BLESS US AS WE ASSEMBLED IN THY NAME THROUGH CHRIST OUR REDEEMER. AMEN.

SERMON BY BRO. DOTTERER: (WE WILL ABIDE BY THIS READING).

PAUL, IN HIS LETTERS WHICH HE WROTE UNTO MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES, PROVED TO BE A TRUE SERVANT OF THE LORD. WE REALIZE WHEN WE READ THEM THAT IT WAS A GIFT FROM GOD TO WRITE THESE LETTERS IN THEIR CLEAR LIGHT. GOD TEACHER US THROUGH HIS WORD THAT HE HAS CHARGED HIS SERVANTS, ESPECIALLY THE SERVANT HAVING WRITTEN THIS LETTER, WITH THE POWER TO CARRY OUT HIS WORD. AS A SON SERVES UNTO HIS FATHER, LIKEWISE WAS TIMOTHY A SERVANT WHO THIS APOSTLE PAUL GAVE THESE TEACHINGS AND NOT ONLY UNTO HIM BUT UNTO US AS WELL.

OH, HOW PRECIOUS IS IT BELOVED TO FIND OURSELVES IN THIS FAITH, BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM. DO WE BELIEVE IN HIS APPEARING? DO WE BELIEVE IN HIS KINGDOM? IT WOULD BE IN VAIN TO SPEAK OF THESE WORDS IF WE HAD NOT FAITH IN THEM, BUT WITHOUT DOUBT THERE IS TRUTH IN THESE WORDS. THESE WORDS ARE TRUE WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY THIS APOSTLE AND HE HAD DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN HIS MIND ALREADY THAT HIS DAYS WERE NUMBERED AND HIS DAYS WERE FEW BUT HE SPOKE HERE AND SAID, "PREACH THE WORD" - THE VERY SAME WORD THAT WE HAVE HERE TO PREACH. THE APOSTLE PAUL SPOKE UNTO TIMOTHY TO ALSO PREACH AND, :BE INSTANT IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH ALL LONG-SUFFERING AND DOCTRINE."

WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR DEAR BELOVED BROTHER WHO LIES COLD IN DEATH HERE HAS HAD THIS SAME CONCERN, THIS SAME DOCTRINE, THIS WISH IN HEART THAT HE TOO AT HIS CALLING MAY HAVE SERVED GOD AND CAN NOW REST ASSURED THAT HE HAS FINISHED HIS DAYS’ WORK, BELIEVING HE HAS BEEN A GOOD EXAMPLE TO YOU DEAR ONES, A PRECIOUS EXAMPLE! EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT MET HIM AS OFTEN AS YE HERE IN HIS PRESENT HOME AND ASSEMBLY WHERE HE LABORED AND TOILED, WE HAVE FOUND HIM SO WHEN HE WOULD VISIT US AND WHEN WE WOULD POSSIBLY CALL A MEETING. THIS DEAR BROTHER HAS PROVED A DEEP CONCERN - HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING ALL THINGS TO PASS AS WAS HIS WISH AND BELIEF, YET HE TRIED HIS UTMOST AND HE CONTINUED IN HIS EFFORTS. WHAT A PRECIOUS EXAMPLE! CAN WE EVER FORGET THE IMPORTANT WORDS WHICH HE HAS SPOKEN, AND THE DEEP CONCERN HE HAD FOR ALL. WE BELIEVE THE LORD HAS PREPARED HIM TO TAKE HIM AT A MOMENT AND AN HOUR WHEN SCARCELY ONE AMONG US WAS THINKING OF SUCH TO COME TO PASS. SO ARE OUR GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S WORK IS GOOD! HE HAS INSPIRED THIS APOSTLE PAUL TO WRITE THESE LETTERS AND SAID "FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS." WE MUST SAY THAT OUR DEAR BROTHER’S TRYING DAYS ARE OVER. SO DEAR ONES, HOW BLESSED IS IT THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE WRITING OF PAUL WHO WROTE AS A SERVANT OF GOD, BEING AS APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE FAITH OF GOD’S ELECT AND THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE WHICH IS AFTER GODLINESS.

WHAT A PRECIOUS PROMISE WAS GIVEN TO THIS WORLD - TO ALL THAT WILL COME TO THE LORD AND GIVE THEIR HEART AND MIND! HOW BLESSED DO WE FEEL, DEAR ONES, TO HAVE THIS HAPPINESS AND PEACE RESTING WITHIN OUR HEART, KNOWING THAT THESE WORDS ARE TRUE WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY THIS APOSTLE IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

THESE WORDS ARE TOUCHING WHICH THE APOSTLE SAID, "FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED, AND THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND." IT SEEMS THAT PAUL KNEW THAT HIS DEPARTURE WAS ALMOST AT HAND, BUT DEAR ONES, WE SEE HERE IN THIS PRESENT OCCASION IT WAS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. OH, DEAR ONES, WHO AMONG US KNEW THAT HIS LIFE WOULD BE TAKEN AT THAT INSTANT? BUT NOW WHAT A COMFORT IT IS TO BELIEVE THAT THIS DEPARTED BROTHER HAS FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AND HE HAS FINISHED HIS COURSE IN FAITH! THE APOSTLE SAID, "I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT FAITH: HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, SHALL GIVE ME AT THAT DAY: AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT UNTO ALL THEM THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING." WE BELIEVE THAT LIKEWISE THIS BELOVED BROTHER FINISHED HIS COURSE IN FAITH - KEPT FAITH UNTO THE END AND HAS NOW LAID UP FOR HIM A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THINK OF THE DAY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD WHEN WE MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE RIGHTEOUS AND JUST GOD AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT AS TO HOW WE HAVE LIVED - BE IT GOOD OR BE IT EVIL. IT IS WORTHWHILE FOR US DEAR ONES, TO LIVE A LIFE PLEASING UNTO OUR LORD.

WE OFTENTIMES MUST THINK AND SAY THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO GATHER AROUND THE DEAD THAN AROUND THE LIVING, BUT AGAIN, DEAR ONES, WE HAVE THIS BLESSED OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO BE REMINDED OF OUR HIGH CALLING FROM GOD - NOT TO FORGET, NEITHER TO NEGLECT TO CARRY OUT OUR DUTY WHILE HERE ON EARTH. HOW SAD WOULD IT BE TO MEET THE LORD AT HIS REAPPEARING AND FOUND NOT TO BE WORTHY TO ENTER INTO HIS GLORY. IS IT NOT A PLEASURE TO LIFT OUR EYES TO GOD ON HIGH WHEN WE MEET WITH TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS AND SORROWS WHICH ARISE? WE FIND THIS ESPECIALLY TRUE AS WE GROW OLDER - WHEN OUR THOUGHTS TURN MORE AWAY FROM THIS WORLD AND ARE LIFTED UP TO GOD ON HIGH. WE WISH TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO BE FOUND WORTHY AT THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD.

DEAR ONES, THIS DEAR BROTHER HAS LABORED HERE AMONG YOU AND NOW GOD HAD TAKEN HIM OUT OF YOUR AND OUR MIDST. WE BELIEVE THE LORD WILL AGAIN RESTORE A SERVANT TO SERVE IN HIS VINEYARD, AND LABOR FOR HIM, BUT LET US NOT THINK THAT THE LORD WILL GIVE WITHOUT PRAYER. LET US SAY UNTO THIS ENTIRE FLOCK AND TO THE FLOCKS OF THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES WHICH HE SERVED, TO REMEMBER OUR DEAR BROTHER'S SERVICES AND THE GOOD WORDS WHICH HE HAS SPOKEN FROM SUCH A CONCERNED HEART. HE PREACHED INDEED, AND IS NOW LAYING COLD IN DEATH, BUT HE WILL PREACH ON. HE WILL PREACH ON, NOT IN LOUD WORDS WE KNOW, BUT OFTENTIMES WE WILL BE REMINDED OF WHAT HE SAID HERE AND OF WHAT HE DID THERE. DEAR ONES, LOOK INTO THE NEAR FUTURE - LOOK INTO THE ENTIRE FUTURE - THESE FEW VERSES THAT WE HAVE READ HERE ARE POINTING OUT GREAT DANGER TO ME AND TO YOU! WE MUST PUT FORTH ALL EFFORT TO REMAIN TRUE. WE HAVE VOWED UNTO GOD TO DO THIS BY GRACE AND BY HIS LOVING HAND, AND MAY WE APPRECIATE GOD’S LOVE EXTENDED THROUGH HIS BELOVED SON THROUGH WHOM HE HAS BROUGHT THIS MARVELOUS LIGHT THAT WE WHO WERE IN DARKNESS AND SIN MIGHT SEE AND FIND THE WAY TO HEAVEN’S DOOR.

SERMON CONTINUED BY NOAH SCHROCK, OAKVILLE IOWA: (THERE ARE OTHER BRETHREN HERE WHICH I BELIEVE ALSO HAVE A MESSAGE).

WE WERE REMINDED, DEAR HEARERS, OF GOD’S WONDERFUL WAYS AND THAT WHICH HE PERMITS TO COME TO PASS. OFTENTIMES WE CANNOT COMPREHEND IT, BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME WHILE THE BROTHER WAS SPEAKING, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE WHOLE WORK OF SALVATION AND THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD TOWARDS MEN IN JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD, AND IN GOD’S MANNER OF DEALING WITH THIS POOR HUMAN FAMILY, MANY THINGS OCCUR AND COME TO PASS WHICH CAUSES US TO MARVEL. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THAT HE HAS SO SEEN WELL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO ENTRUST THIS WEIGHTY WORK OF HIS GOSPEL AND HIS WORK OF SALVATION UNTO WEAK HUMAN BEINGS. WHEN THE SAVIOUR WAS HERE UPON EARTH, IT WAS NOT THE MIGHTY OR THE MEN OF RENOWN THAT HE CALLED INTO HIS SERVICE, BUT IT WAS THE LOWLY FISHERMEN OF THE SEA OF GALILEE AND THEN LATER ON WHEN THE APOSTLES LABORED AND WHEN THEY SOUGHT TO FURTHER THE WORK OF SALVATION AND EXPOUND THE DOCTRINE OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST, AGAIN IT WAS THE HUMBLE AND MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART WHOM THE LORD COULD USE TO CARRY ON THIS WORK. AS NEEDFUL AND AS USEFUL AS THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS, YET HE WAS HUMBLE ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT HE WAS ALSO MORTAL AND THAT THE TIME OF HIS CALLING OUT OF THIS WORLD AND HIS DEPARTURE AND HIS DECEASE WAS NEARING. HE HAS TO ENTRUST THIS WORK AGAIN TO HIS SUCCESSORS WHO CAME ON AFTER HIM, AND I BELIEVE ALSO, AS WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED, IT WAS CARRIED OUT BY WEAK SERVANTS. AND SO ON DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES THE LORD HAS CONTINUED TO USE WEAK MEN. WHY HE HAS NOT USED ANGELS, WHY HE HAS NOT CAUSED BEINGS TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO EXPOUND THIS PRECIOUS WORD AND CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE AND FLOCKS, REMAINS SORT OF A MYSTERY TO US, BUT NEVERTHELESS IT IS INCORPORATED IN GOD’S WAYS.

NOW THE TIME HAS COME WHEN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK OF THIS CHURCH AND THE NEARLY CHURCHES WHICH WERE ENTRUSTED TO OUR BELOVED BROTHER AND FATHER WHOM WE HAVE KNOWN AND WITH WHOM WE HAVE LABORED AND HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES CONCERNING THE WELFARE OF THE FLOCKS OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD, MUST BE LAID UPON ANOTHER SERVANT OF GOD. WE FEEL CONSTRAINED TO SAY THAT IT WAS HIS HEART’S CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL HIS PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT THE MATERIAL THINGS AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WERE NOT PRIMARY BUT SECONDARY TO HIM. IT WAS HIS WISH AND HIS PRAYER NIGHT AND DAY FOR THE FLOCKS THAT WERE ENTRUSTED TO HIM AND WE BELIEVE HE OFTEN LAID THIS CONCERN TO THE FATHERHEART OF GOD THAT THOSE WHEM THE SAVIOUR HAS PURCHASED WOULD NOT BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE STREAM OF UNBELIEF AND OF THE WORLD. HE WAS SINCERE IN THAT, AND I KNOW IT WAS DIFFICULT SOMETIMES FOR THE BROTHER TO ADJUST HIMSELF. I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO ADJUST OURSELVES TO THE THINGS THAT COME AND GO IN THIS LIFE. THERE IS ALWAYS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY CARRY DANGER TO OUR FLOCKS AND THIS BROTHER WOULD TAKE THE SAFE AND SANE SIDE. HE ALWAYS HAD THAT DEEP CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS FLOCKS.

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BECOME WEARY IF HE ALWAYS PREACHED THE SAME THING, AND I KNOW YOU WILL FEEL THE LOSS OF YOUR DEAR SHEPHERD’S INFLUENCE. THIS BROTHER HAS PROVED HIS UNSELFISHNESS AND HIS FAITHFUL DEVOTION FOR HIS LORD AND FOR HIS PEOPLE. THIS WILL BE MISSED - IT WILL BE A COMFORT TO EVERYONE AND REMAIN A MEMORIAL IN YOUR HEART, AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHERISH MANY PRECIOUS RECOLLECTIONS AND MEMORIES OF THE DEVOTION OF THIS BELOVED BROTHER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE VALUE OF IT AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING HIS DUTIES MORE BEARABLE AND PLEASANT. I HOPE THE LORD WILL COMFORT YOU WHO MAY HAVE NOT SO FULLY UNDERSTOOD HIS CONCERNS AND DESIRES, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE OTHERWISE, AS IN THE APOSTLES’ DAYS AS WELL AS IN THIS DAY AND TIME, FOR THERE WERE AND ARE ALWAYS SUCH PEOPLE AND SUCH LAMBS IN THE FLOCK OF CHRIST WHO ARE NOT SO WILLING TO SEE THE VALUE OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE SHEPHERD, BUT SOMETIMES INSIST UPON SEEING ONLY THEIR OWN VIEWPOINT AND TAKE AN ARBITRARY POSITION. I SPEAK IN BEHALF OF ALL THE ELDERS WHEN I SAY THAT THIS SOMETIMES CAUSES US A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS OFTENTIMES WHY SHEPHERDS DIE YOUNG - WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS YET A SPAN OF LIFE WHICH COULD BE LIVED TO THE WELFARE OF ALL, BUT THE CONCERNS AND MANY PROBLEMS WITH WHICH THEY ARE OVERWHELMED SHORTEN THEIR LIFE. HOWEVER, THE TRUE SERVANTS ARE WILLING TO SPEND THEIR TIME IF ONLY THEIR OBJECTIVES CAN BE ATTAINED. I DO HOPE THAT THE WISHES OF THIS, OUR DEAR DEPARTED BROTHER, AS A RESULT OF HIS LIFE, WILL BEAR ITS FRUIT.

NOW THEN, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL GRIEF-STRICKEN TO HAVE LOST A LOVING AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, A SHEPHERD, A BROTHER, A FATHER AND A HUSBAND. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT PERHAPS HE WAS NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE, BUT IT MUST BE COMMONLY ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE THAT HE WAS SINCERE AND HE MEANT EVERYTHING FOR THE BEST OF ALL CONCERNED.

LET US FACE THE FUTURE IN FAITH AND IN CONFIDENCE THAT GOD HAS FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLE PAUL AND ALWAYS DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES PROVIDED A SHEPHERD FOR THE FLOCKS OF JESUS CHRIST, AND I FULLY ENDORSE THE STATEMENT WHICH OUR BROTHER MADE, THAT ON OUR PART IT REQUIRES A PRAYER AND A PETITION. IT SHOULD BE THE PERSONAL CONCERN OF EVERY BROTHER AND SISTER THAT WAS UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THIS BROTHER THAT THE LORD MAY AGAIN PROVIDE A FAITHFUL AND A TRUE SHEPHERD WHO CAN DRAW FROM THE SAME RESOURCES AND BE GUIDED BY THE SAME SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS AS WAS OUR DEAR DEPARTED BROTHER. THAT IS MY WISH AND PRAYER FOR ALL.

SONG HYMN NO. 168 "TARRY NOT!" (LAST TWO VERSES).

PRAYER BY BRO. SCHUBERT: (I WOULD ASK THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN US IN PRAYER TO RISE).

OH GOD, THOU THE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ONE WHO ART DWELLING IN THE HEAVENS, FROM THE INNERMOST OF OUR HEARTS WE HEREWITH DO BESEECH THEE IN LOVE AND MERCY TO LOOK DOWN UPON US ASSEMBLED HERE IN THIS HOUSE OF WORSHIP. WE ARE ATTEMPTING ONCE MORE IN PRAYER TO APPROACH THY HOLY THRONE OF GRACE FOR WE HAVE NOT LITTLE REASONS FOR DOING SO, HAVING BEEN COMMITTED AND PRIVILEGED AT THIS SAD OCCASION TO LISTEN TO THY WORD OF ETERNAL TRUTH.

YEA, WE HUMBLY DO BESEECH THEE, HEAVENLY FATHER, TO GRANT UNTO US ALL THE NEEDED GRACE TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE AND TO BE WILLING NOT ONLY TO BEAR THE TRUTH, BUT ALSO IN OUR DAILY GOING OUT AND IN TO FOLLOW THEE AND THE WAYS OF THY SPIRIT EXERCISING TRUE CHRISTIANITY TO THY NAME’S HONOR AND GLORY AND TO OUR OWN ETERNAL WELFARE.

WE FEEL INDUCED, HEAVENLY FATHER, WHILE APPROACHING THY THRONE OF GRACE TO COMMEND UNTO THEE, THE TRUE AND ETERNAL GOD, THE FAMILY OF OUR DEPARTED BELOVED BROTHER AND FATHER AND FELLOW-PILGRIMS IN LIFE.

WE PRAY THEE, OH GOD, DO THOU REMEMBER OUR BELOVED SISTER AS THE WIDOW OF OUR DEPARTED BROTHER. DO THOU IN THY LOVE AND MERCY REMEMBER HER CHILDREN AND MAY IT BE THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME A COMFORT ONE TO ANOTHER IN THEIR FUTURE DAYS. SHOULD IT BE HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT LONELINESS WILL ENTER THEIR HEARTS, GRANT THEM A COMFORT IN REMEMBERING THEIR BELOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER AS A TRUE SERVANT TO GOD AS WELL AS TO MEN, AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE CONGREGATIONS WHOM HE SERVED. MAY IT BE, OH GOD, THAT POSSIBLY MANY A HEART, ON ACCOUNT OF THE DEPARTURE OF THIS SINCERE SOUL, MIGHT BECOME CONVINCED OF THE NEED FOR SEARCHING AND SEEKING FOR THEE, THE ETERNAL GOD. MAY THY KINGDOM AND ITS RIGHTEOUSNESS BECOME THE AIM FOR MANY A HEART YET: GRANT UNTO US, THY CHILDREN, GRACE FROM ABOVE - THAT A TRUE FAITH WITH A LIVING HOPE AND AN ACTIVE LOVE TOWARD OUR FELLOWMEN MIGHT BE PRESERVED WITHIN OUR HEARTS. KINDLY ACCEPT THE THANK OFFERINGS OF OUR HEARTS AND THE PRAISES OF OUR LIPS.

WE HUMBLY BRING UNTO THEE THANKS AS WE ARE NEARING AND APPROACHING THE END OF OUR SERVICES FOR THIS OCCASION. MAY THY SPIRIT OF POWER, THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND COMFORT FURTHER ON BE WITH US AND ENABLE US TO FULFILL OUR HUMAN DUTY TOWARD OUR DEPARTED BROTHER IN FAITH IN LAYING HIS MORTAL REMAINS INTO THE GRAVE, HIS LAST AND FINAL RESTING PLACE, THEREBY ENTERTAINING THE FIRM HOPE AND BELIEF THAT HIS SPIRITUAL MAN FOREVER WILL BE UNITED WITH THEE, THE LIVING AND ETERNAL GOD.

THESE FAVORS WE ARE ASKING THEE, FATHER, IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN.

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