|
[The
following transcription from the 15 Apr 1835 Christian Guardian
newspaper, sourced at the United
Church of Canada/Vittoria University Archives in Toronto, Ontario, was contributed
to this web site 29 Aug 2006 by Rev. Daniel Freeman's great-great-great-
granddaughter Rebecca
Akins of Tempe, Arizona]
Death of an Aged Methodist Minister-- We have the melancholy duty to announce the death of an old personal friend, and an aged and highly esteemed minister of the Methodist Church—the Rev. Daniel Freeman, who departed this life at his residence in Windham, London District, on the morning of the 10th ult. In a letter from his second son, Mr. Wesley Freeman, dated Windham, April 11th, 1835, this event is thus communicated:
“The painful duty is imposed upon me to communicate to you the mournful tidings that my dear father is no more. Yesterday morning we had hardly finished our family devotions when we saw that a change was taking place. I removed him from his chair to his bed, and in less than five minutes his spirit took its flight. I held him in my arms until the weary wheels of life stood still, and without a struggle or a groan, he closed his eyes forever on earthly things. We are left to mourn, but, blessed be God, not without hope. We have lost a father, but heaven has gained a saint. Out tears flow in quick succession, but angels shout that another weary pilgrim has found his way thither. You will be furnished with a more detailed account of my dear father’s death as well as life.”
We believe that Mr. Freeman was the first Methodist travelling preacher that ever visited the Niagara and London Districts and that he may be regarded as the Apostle of Methodism in these parts of the Province. He was a man of sound understanding during the days of his itineracy, he was a commanding, powerful, and successful, and popular preacher. And even “in age and feebleness extreme,” he was always heard with attention and profit. Perhaps no man in Canada has gratuitously labored to so great an extent in preaching funeral sermons during the last fifteen or twenty years. Until since he has become unable to take any part in the ministrations of the sanctuary. Mr. F. is extensively known among the preachers and elder members of the concession. A biographical sketch of his life will be looked for with anxiety. We hope the material of it will be found sufficiently ample to furnish notices of early Methodism and of the travels and labors of itinerant preachers in those parts of the Province in which he formerly traveled.
|
