Baptist History and Heritage – Short Stories About Heroes of the Faith – Spencer Houghton Cone – “The sword of the Spirit must be drawn out King James’ scabbard” – PART ELEVEN of ELEVEN – Burial Service

Thomas E Kresal December 4, 2019

On Friday morning, the family, and a few friends from the city, accompanied the remains to Schooley’s Mountain, New Jersey. The company consisted of his two sons, brethren Wyckoff, Buckbee, Hillman, Smith, David, Berger, Durbran, Murphy, Young, and three sisters in Christ, before whom he who now slept in death had gone in and out, dispensing unto them the bread of Life. They proceeded by railroad to Hackettsville. From thence slowly the procession ascended the mountain to the peaceful burying ground where rested the ashes of her whom in life he had loved, and in death met to pass the life unending. With bowed hearts the little group gathered round the final resting place of him, who, to them, had been a guide and director, and in a solemn manner brother Wyckoff delivered a few remarks. Brother C. A. Buckbee, led in prayer, and dismissed the mourning assembly with the benediction, and the great man was left in the quiet home of the dead.

He is gone, and who can speak his praise. He needs no marble tablet nor graven brass to perpetuate his memory. He shall live in the hearts of men when they, crumbled and fallen to decay, mingle with the dust. We attempt no eulogy. Let his own deeds praise him.

He was repeatedly chosen president of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and of the American Bible Union, which last post he filled with distinguished ability at the time of his decease.

The Broome Street church, which he found weak and languishing, he has raised to the highest place of respect and influence among Baptists throughout the land. For several years he was Moderator of the Hudson River Association, and in the New York State Convention. He was for nine years President of the Baptist Triennial Convention, and for some time filled the double office of Corresponding and Recording Secretary of the New York Baptist Domestic Mission Society.

Through his exertions the American and Foreign Bible Society was formed, and he was ever its strong pillar, advocating its claims and supporting its measures through all opposition and difficulty. His efforts in the cause of Revision are known through America, Europe and Asia, and will prove a lasting monument of that Christian Independence and godly zeal which prompted him to step forward in support of the cause at a time when fear and doubt, as a thick curtain, shut off the light of truth from the minds of many of the brethren.

“The sword of the Spirit must be drawn out King James’ scabbard,” so said this mighty man, so he believed, and he would have given testimony of his faith even unto death.

Surely a mighty man in Israel has fallen! Who shall take up the mantle of this Elijah and part the waters of error and unbelief that flood the land. Let us pray that though the leader has fallen the work may go on.

Thomas E. Kresal from – S. H. Ford, editor, Repository and Review, 1855, pp. 546-558.