Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth EditionHolland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
History
Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth Edition
Holland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
Badger, Joseph, 1792-1852
"March the 18th. He sent for me at daybreak. I found he had
a restless night, and was in great distress. I made him
several visits; his family came to take their leave of him
forever. At 3 o'clock P. M., the Rev. Mr. Roach, a
Methodist minister, preached a short discourse in the
dungeon from John 3:16. Five clergymen were present, and
the scene was solemn. Mr. How took the lead in singing two
hymns, and carried his part through in a graceful manner.
In singing the first, he stood up and leaned partly on the
stove; held his little girl by one hand, who sat in the lap
of her mother, and with the other he took the hand of his
affectionate brother, who stood by his side. At the close
of the meeting, his wife gave him her hand for the last
time. He embraced her with fondness, and when he pressed
his little girl to his bosom (about four years of age) he
wept aloud. He requested that several Christian friends
should spend the night with him in prayer; thus his last
night on earth was spent in imploring God for grace and
mercy.
"March the 19th. I entered the prison at break of day,
found him much resigned. He observed, as I entered, that
his last night on earth was gone, which he had spent in
prayer. At 7 o'clock I visited him again with a company of
ladies who had never seen him. Mrs. Richards, of Dansville,
took him by the hand, both fell upon their knees, and she
prayed for him in the most fervent manner. He then prayed
for himself, for his family, for the family of Mrs. Church,
who were afflicted by him, for his executioner, and all
the world. As we came out, a gentleman remarked that he had
never heard a man pray like him. At 9, I entered his
apartment for the last time, accompanied by his beloved
daughter and a young man who was soon to become her
husband. We entered with serious hearts; he received them
very pleasantly, and made remarks to me on the fine
weather, and the lady who had prayed with him. He asked of
me the privilege of walking into the yard with the young
man. They spent a short time together. He then asked me to
wait on Harriet to the door. He placed her by the side of
the young man, and delivered her to his charge, saying that
she had long been deprived of the counsels of a mother,[36]
and would be in a few moments separated from her father
forever. 'I now commit her to you as a friend, protector,
and lover.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account