An obituary type article from the Methodist Church for "Converse L. McCurdy"
I found an excellent, Obituary type article, about Converse L. McCurdy on Google this week. The idea came to me to Google his wife's name, Eveline Bradford, and up came this article written by Methodist New England Conference. Converse's name came up as Converse L. M'Curdy. A slightly different spelling.
Converse L. M'Curdy was born in Hallowell, Me, May 17 1809. His opportunities for education were limited to the public schools of his native town, and to a private school he attended for a short time. He was converted, when about twenty-one years old, at Great Falls N.H. He at once felt called to preach, and began to make such preparation as he was able, and to exercise his gifts by holding meetings in the vicinity. In 1834 he joined the New Hampshire Conference, and was stationed in the following places: Newington, Kingston, Manchestar, Winchester, Chesterfield, Rindge, Richmond, Concord, Lebenon, East Havehill, Bristol- Fifteen years in all. In 1849 he was transferred to the New England Conference, and stationed successively at Three Rivers, Oxford, Natick and Needham, East Cambridge, Charlestown(High st.), Boston(Church street), Gloucestor(Elm st.), Lynn(Boston St.), Marblehead, Barre, Leominister, Athol Depot, Wakefield and South Lawrence.
On the 15 of August 1829, Brother M'Curdy was married, at Great Falls, to Eliza Reynolds, who died October 12, 1848. Three of six children by this marriage still live, the others having died in infancy. His second wife Eveline Bradford, to whom he was married April 10, 1849, at Boston. Of three children by this marriage only one survives.
During thirty-five years of his ministry he enjoyed almost uninterrupted health; but at South Lawrence, May, 1875, his health so failed that at the next Conference, being turned superannuated, he removed to Wakefield, where he died of consumption November 22, 1876, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and after forty-two years in Conference relation. His last very excellent wife died, after an illness of many years, during the session of the last Conference, a bereavement which doubtless hastened his own decline and death, although at this time , as he often declared, he had most marvelous experience of peace and joy-revelations of divine love far exceeding his power of description.
Brother M'Curdys piety was deep, steadfast, and joyful. He was almost uniformly a cheerful and happy man. As a minister he was intelligent, wise, and earnest. His convictions of duty were clear, frankly stated, and persistently held. He watched over the flock with the tender shepherd's care, having lively sympathy with the sick, sorrowful, and unfortunate. His moral character was stainless, his domestic life pure, affectionate, and happy. Having a voice of remarkable compass and power, he delighted to use it in singing and prayer, in both of which he was specially gifted, and in the loud and joyful proclamation of the glad tidings of the Kingdom. His preaching was plain, practical, and evangelical. He aimed specially at the heart of the hearer, and rarely preached without deep emotion. His ministry was every-where blessed with the happiest results to the Churches. Extensive revivals attended his labors, often bringing persons of great influence in a community to the fellowship and support of the Church. He was deeply interested in the cause of temperance and other reforms, and never was he more indignant in feeling or speech than when contemplating the utter baseness of rumsellers and oppressors. He ardently loved the Church, and the members of the Conference were especially dear to his heart. It can be truly said that a useful and beloved brother has fallen from the ranks; that another, who lived and died well, rests from his labors. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
Converse L. M'Curdy was born in Hallowell, Me, May 17 1809. His opportunities for education were limited to the public schools of his native town, and to a private school he attended for a short time. He was converted, when about twenty-one years old, at Great Falls N.H. He at once felt called to preach, and began to make such preparation as he was able, and to exercise his gifts by holding meetings in the vicinity. In 1834 he joined the New Hampshire Conference, and was stationed in the following places: Newington, Kingston, Manchestar, Winchester, Chesterfield, Rindge, Richmond, Concord, Lebenon, East Havehill, Bristol- Fifteen years in all. In 1849 he was transferred to the New England Conference, and stationed successively at Three Rivers, Oxford, Natick and Needham, East Cambridge, Charlestown(High st.), Boston(Church street), Gloucestor(Elm st.), Lynn(Boston St.), Marblehead, Barre, Leominister, Athol Depot, Wakefield and South Lawrence.
On the 15 of August 1829, Brother M'Curdy was married, at Great Falls, to Eliza Reynolds, who died October 12, 1848. Three of six children by this marriage still live, the others having died in infancy. His second wife Eveline Bradford, to whom he was married April 10, 1849, at Boston. Of three children by this marriage only one survives.
During thirty-five years of his ministry he enjoyed almost uninterrupted health; but at South Lawrence, May, 1875, his health so failed that at the next Conference, being turned superannuated, he removed to Wakefield, where he died of consumption November 22, 1876, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and after forty-two years in Conference relation. His last very excellent wife died, after an illness of many years, during the session of the last Conference, a bereavement which doubtless hastened his own decline and death, although at this time , as he often declared, he had most marvelous experience of peace and joy-revelations of divine love far exceeding his power of description.
Brother M'Curdys piety was deep, steadfast, and joyful. He was almost uniformly a cheerful and happy man. As a minister he was intelligent, wise, and earnest. His convictions of duty were clear, frankly stated, and persistently held. He watched over the flock with the tender shepherd's care, having lively sympathy with the sick, sorrowful, and unfortunate. His moral character was stainless, his domestic life pure, affectionate, and happy. Having a voice of remarkable compass and power, he delighted to use it in singing and prayer, in both of which he was specially gifted, and in the loud and joyful proclamation of the glad tidings of the Kingdom. His preaching was plain, practical, and evangelical. He aimed specially at the heart of the hearer, and rarely preached without deep emotion. His ministry was every-where blessed with the happiest results to the Churches. Extensive revivals attended his labors, often bringing persons of great influence in a community to the fellowship and support of the Church. He was deeply interested in the cause of temperance and other reforms, and never was he more indignant in feeling or speech than when contemplating the utter baseness of rumsellers and oppressors. He ardently loved the Church, and the members of the Conference were especially dear to his heart. It can be truly said that a useful and beloved brother has fallen from the ranks; that another, who lived and died well, rests from his labors. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
posted by Michael McCurdy at
8:16 AM
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