SUDDEN DEATH OF A MINISTER IN HIS PULPIT.

Southland Times, Issue 1183, 17 December 1869, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH OF A MINISTER IN HIS PULPIT.

The church-goers of Airdrie were lately stunned with the intelligence that the Rev. Wm. Jackaon, the revered and popular pastor of the Free West Church, Airdrie, had suddenly dropped down dead in his pulpit, and in the midst of his sermon. It was a singular coincidence that, having chosen for his text Colossiaos ii. 1, 2, and was likening the scene which St. Paul took of the Laodicean Church to that of a general who encouraged his army' both by word and example, while leading them on to victory, to a mother in her working and striving to attain the welfare of her children, to the anxiety of an encaged bird which, seeing her young out of her reach, and in danger from the eagle who was hovering aloft preparatory to seizing on its prey, dashes her body again and again against the cage, even till she fell lifeless at the bottom. He had just gained this point at about half- past 12 o'clock, when the congregatian observed him bow down his head as if to wipe his face with his handkerchief. His head gradually descended till it touched the book-board, Wht?H the rev. gentleman fell over to one> side. A servant of deceased, who was ia church at the time, was the first to notice that something was wrong with her master, and she sprang up the pulpit stairs to his assistance, closely followed by his son and two members of session. Mr Jackson, however, never spoke, and just as they lifted him up he breathed his last. One of the members announced to the congregation that their beloved minister was dead, and was greeted with cries of " no," "it cannot be." The scene in the church was at this moment most painful. All the worshippers present were moved to tears, and loud sobs from men and women resounded from all parts of the building as the body was gentry carried to the vestry. Medical assistance was sent for, and Dr Cullen and other gentlemen were speedily on the spot, but death had been before them. It was stated that death bad been caused by a shock of paralysis. Mr Towers- Clark placed his carriage at the disposal of the session, and the remains were conveyed to the manse, which he had but a few hours before left in all the vigour of health. Mr Jackson was one of the oldest ministers in the parish, and had been, since the death of the Rev. Mr Buchan, of Hamilton, the senior member of Hamilton Free Presbytery. He was sixty years of age, and had been thirty-five years a minister of the gospel in Airdrie. The West Established Church was built for him, and he preached there till the Disruption, when he cast in his lot with the Free Church, and the present Free West Church was erected by his congregation. Mr Jackson was a vigorous, healthy man, and had only a day or two before been out visiting various members of his congregation. He was in the habit of exerting himself very much in the pulpit, and when taken into the vestry his hands, neckcloth, and underclothing were wet with perspiration. — Glasgow Paper.

A servant girl in the town of A , whose beauty formed matter of general admiration and discussion, in passing a group of officers in the street, heard one of them exclaim to one of his fellows,---"By heaven, she's painted!" Turning round, she very quietly replied, " Yes, sir ; and by heaven only." The officer acknowledged the force of the rebuke, and apologised. Velocipedes Classified. — A girl, keeper of a toll-gate, was asked by a swell velocipedist, who thought to " chaff" her, how much he had to pay. "That, sir," replied she, " depends upon whether you ride through the gate, or whether you get off your dandy horse and drag it through ; because, in that case, every two* wheeled vehicle drawn by a how© or aw pays threepence." The Farmer reports another application of steam to agricultural operations. A steam-ploughing engine has been used on Messrs Howard's farm at Bedford for drawing waggon-trains of sheaves. Thus the corn is not only cut but carted by steam, and the consequent gain to the farmer is very considerable. Heia not only enabled to make the most of fine weather, and avoid the chances of the clouds, but he can also dispense with a number of his horses. What this saving amounts to will be appreciated when the outlay on the stable is reckoned up, from £20 to £25 per horse annually for keep alone, besides the value of the animals. One of the most sensational exhibitions yet introduced to the Melbourne public is a Fire King, who is on his way to the Colony, and who is to appear at the Polytechnic Institute. It is stated that the man walks with his naked feet upon red hot bars of iron, drinks oil at boiling point, and with his teeth bites pieces of iron at white heat.