San Francisco County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 12 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 31, 2005, 9:56 pm Book Title: History Of The First Pastorate Of The Howard Presbyterian Church XII. ALL through these years there were cases of sickness among the young business men, when the pastor's visits were sure to be welcomed. Some of them were fatal, and then, when the end was approaching, the most tender and assiduous attention was willingly rendered. I wish I had kept note of these cases. But how could I, with such demands on every moment of my time? I did make note of two or three, and they were specimens of many others. A young man who usually attended worship with us was found very sick at a hotel. While everything possible was done for his comfort, he was asked if he had made sure of the friendship of his Saviour by consecrating himself to him. After some days, and subsequent visits, he heartily accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, and then his heart was at rest. He knew that his time was very short, but his great regret was that he had neither time nor strength remaining to return any service in testimony of his gratitude for the unbounded mercy he was receiving. "How ungrateful, how ungrateful," he kept saying, — "how ungrateful to be receiving so much, and yet no strength to return anything! " He asked if he might receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and it was administered to him the next day, which was the Sabbath, and in a very few days he passed to the life where there is no sickness, and where there is ample opportunity to show gratitude for the "unspeakable gift." Another young man of fine mind and good character fell sick, and it became evident that he could not recover. He had been devoted to business, and put off the consideration of religion as a personal matter. He was somewhat prejudiced, moreover, because, of his two partners, — one of them a non-religious man, who was generous and true; and the other, a professor of religion, who was close, severe, and always reserved. To the latter, and to his religion, he had taken a dislike. And so he had lived a kind of half-skeptical life, and now, unexpectedly, was called to face the question of the life to come. His time was very short, and his last words were, "What a preparation! " Speaking of these young men reminds me of another who died some three years before, in the fall of 1851. It was George Endicott, of the mercantile firm of Endicott, Greene, and Oaks. He came from Massachusetts, and was a member of the historic family of his name. Though brought up in the Unitarian faith of that day, he was a member of our congregation, and helped build the church. He was a member of the city board of aldermen, and I think he was president of it. It was largely owing to him that the first law establishing the city public schools passed the board. That fall there were a good many cases of cholera in this city and in Sacramento. Mr. Endicott was one of its victims. In its earlier stages his sufferings were such that no conversation could be had with him. When the paroxysms were over and the end was very near, I fortunately called to inquire how he was. Being informed that I was there, he asked to see me. As I entered, he asked me to offer prayer, which I did, and he himself immediately followed in words distinctly uttered, and so impressive that when I left I went immediately to my study and wrote them down as nearly as I could recall them. He began with the Lord's Prayer, and then proceeded: "Almighty and most merciful God! thou who hast been my guide from my youth, and hast directed my way, into thy hands I commit my spirit. Suddenly and unexpectedly I am called to leave the world, and meet thee. Prepare me, 0 my God, to meet thee in peace. I have been wayward. I have done many things I ought not to have done. I have sinned against thee. I have been wild and thoughtless. I confess my folly. "But I trust in thee, O Father, for forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, thy Son. I hope I am truly penitent. I trust my soul to thee. "I commend to thee my widowed mother. Be thou merciful to her, 0 God. Be her support and her consolation in her affliction. "Bless my only sister, and reward her for all her love to me. "Be merciful to my only remaining brother; sustain him in his loneliness and sorrow. Bless those who have been associated with me in business, and reward them for all their faithfulness to me. "I thank thee, 0 most gracious God, for the many friends thou hast given me in this world; that the world has used me, while I have been in it, so well. I thank thee that for twenty-six years thou hast been with me and blessed me, and hast been so kind to me. And now I am about to go out of this world; 0 Lord, receive me to thyself. Thou hast called me suddenly from life, 0 Lord; pardon nay sins and receive me to thyself, through Jesus Christ, thy Son. "I thank thee for the possession of my reason and mental powers in this trying moment. "I thank thee that I have no fear of death, and for the blessed hope of acceptance with thee, through Jesus Christ. "And now I am weak and weary; 0 Lord, I commend my soul to thee. I can say no more. " 'Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.' "Amen." He soon became unconscious and passed away. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST PASTORATE OF THE HOWARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 1850-1862 BY REV. SAMUEL H. WILLEY THE FIRST PASTOR SAN FRANCISCO: THE WHITAKER AND RAY COMPANY (INCORPORATED) 1900 COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY SAMUEL H. WILLEY File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanfrancisco/history/1900/historyo/chapter173nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb