grave import

Obituary

The house of worship of the First Baptist Church in Burlington, Iowa, on Saturday, the 12th was filled with an afflicted and mourning congregation, assembled to attend upon the funeral services of one who had been highly esteemed and beloved while living. On the table in front of the pulpit, and in sight of the weeping assembly, lay cold in death a body that had in life and health often rejoiced with its presence the worshippers of that sanctuary. How changed the scene! How sad the hour! Prayer is offered by one who, though unexpectedly present, yet is, with many others, a sincere mourner on the occasion. Then the Pastor, Rev. P.P. Bishop, reads select and appropriate portions of Scripture, and closes with these words of Paul, 2 Cor. 5:8, "We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." These last words read suggest the remarks of the occasion, which are exceedingly timely and happy. Before the speaker, and nearest the coffin, sit a bereaved husband and a motherless son and four daughters. The children are all yet in tender years, the oldest being not yet 16, and at the desolated home is left behind a sixth child, which is yet an unconscious infant of only few weeks age. The bereaved are addressed with appropriate words of comfort, and all present are exhorted to be admonished by the scene now before them and in time to prepare to meet their God. The benediction is pronounced, the solemn procession formed, and sad hearts move in silence to the grave, where precious dust is deposited to await in hope the first resurrection.
Such were the funeral services of Mrs. Nancy Prince Allen, wife of Rev. Prof. Lorenzo B. Allen, of Burlington University, Iowa. The deceased was born in Thomaston, Maine, May 25th, 1820, and was youngest daughter of the late Hon. Hezekiah Prince, of that place. She was from early childhood particularly sensible of the claims of religion, and at the early age of 18 professed faith in her Savior and united with the Baptist Church of her native town.
At 22 years of age she was married to her now bereaved husband and to whom she proved ever a most devoted wife and companion. She was naturally of a very cheerful and hopeful disposition, and possessed of a genial and amiable temper that attracted to herself all true hearts. What the Pastor said at her funeral of "her sunny nature, her intuitive knowledge of the heart, and her quick and ready sympathies," all who knew here were prepared to attest as true.
But it was in her religious character more particularly that here excellence shone brightest. Fully alive to the claims of the Gospel, and prompted by a heart always overflowing with love to the Savior, few were so devoted through all life to the service of the Divine Lord. She loved the Church, prayed for the Pastor, sympathized with all the members, and faithfully attended always, when her feeble strength would allow, upon the appointments of the house of God. Especially did she love the covenant and prayer meetings and whoever else might be absent, seldom was her place vacant in the female prayer meeting of the Church. "Love" says an afflicted relative, "was the ruling passion of her nature, and the ruling principle of her religion. Never had children a more affectionate mother, nor husband a more affectionate wife." To this tribute we may add, seldom does a Church lose by death a more devoted member, or society and brighter ornament than was our sister Allen. The poor student struggling through trials to fit himself to preach the Gospel of Christ, and many weary ones in the various walks of life may long miss her words of comfort and good cheer and sigh in vain to find another friend on earth so kind-hearted and true as she.
she was fully prepared t die, and her end was peaceful and happy. She loved life for the sake of her family and the cause of her Savior, yet it required no effort on her part to bring her mind to contemplate death. It was a familiar subject and always associated with the glory to be revealed to the righteous. Her last illness, being occasioned by a kind of quick consumption continued for only a few weeks, during which she several times remarked that she was unconcerned as to bow it should terminate. Only a day or two before her death, though extremely weak, she broke out in singing "I soon shall mount the upper skies, All is well, all is well" and the same being part of an old, familiar and endeared hymn. Almost her last words on earth were "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly." Her prayer was heard. In a few moments more, her Savior appeared and took her to himself, to be forevermore happy and blest. She died March 10, 1859,being 38 years of age. "The memory of the just is blessed."