Gospel preacher. Christopher H. Gist, Evangelist, one of the Charter Children. It is with feelings of no ordinary character, that we take up our pen to record the death of our much beloved brother C. H. Gist, one of the publishing committee of the Bible Advocate, and extensively known as an efficient proclaimer of the "Gospel of Christ" and an able writer for our periodical. He departed this life on the 19th of March, at the residence of his father, in Henderson County, Tenn and now "sleeps in Christ." Having been intimately acquainted with brother Gist for several years, and much with him, in paying this last tribute of respect to him, it becomes us to speak of his character, in which were many traits worthy of imitation. Not many men can leave behind them more agreeable recollections, and fewer of an unpleasant character. It has been observed, "The good that men do dies with them, and is Interred--The evil lives remembered." But, not so with our beloved and lamented brother. It is the reverse with him; and if any evil is interred with him it is more than we know. We attempt not to write an eulogy on him, but to pay that tribute due to his character. Bro. Gist was born in 1813--immersed in 1832--and commenced preaching in 1838. Though of a slender constitution and weakly habit, he manifested great zeal in the cause of the Redeemer. He was a sound, logical reasoner, contended "for the faith once delievered to the saints" with mildness and firmness; and although greatly afflicted with a pulmonary affection, he spent the last three or four years of his life (whenever able) proclaiming the Gospel of the Son of God. He was a dutiful son, an affectionate brother, smooth and affable in his manners to all, not exhibiting that excitability too common to many, but always calm and collected, manifesting a deep interest in the welfare of his fellow creatures. Although measurable confined to his room the last five months of his life, he bore his afflictions with unusual fortitude. Never would he murmur or complain, but with that calmness & resignation which characterises the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, bore all patiently. (He said) "I would rather live five years, and be of service to my fellow creatures than to live fifteen and be of none; and if I cannot recover my health so as to be useful, I prefer to die. I have the brightest prospects before me." The night before we left him, being but two before his death, after having engaged in prayer and singing several songs (in some of which he united with us) he requested us before we quit, to sing his song on page 189 of our Hymn Book. "In all my Lord's appointed ways, My journey I'll pursue," & c. When we left him he appeared considerably improved and we entertained hopes of his being able once more to be up; but the second mail brought the intelligence of his death. His brother, in a letter to us, says; ‘He was as well as usual, eat supper as heartily as common, and walked into the other house. I then stepped out to the lot (leaving him alone) had scarcely reached it, when he stepped to the door, and called me. I returned immediately, and found him vomiting blood. He looked up at me, and said--"Hardin, I am dead," and died instantly! But "blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth,--yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors--and their works do follow them." The death of bro. Gist has created a vacuum in the congregations in this country, not easily filled, and an irreparable one in the family from which he was taken. He has left an aged father and several brothers and sisters, to lament their loss. He was instrumental in calling many "from darkness to light" and long will he be remembered by those who were accustomed to listen to his voice as it poured forth the glorious truths of the Gospel!--Often with the telescope of memory will we look back through the vista of time to his brief existence among us, until we shall all sink into the tomb with him! On returning from the interment of bro. Gist, the family had their distresses redoubled, by receiving the intelligence of the death of an elder brother, J. P. Gist of Missouri, whose afflictions for years had been great, but in the month of January he was released from all his sufferings by that busy messenger, who will, ere long, give each of us a call! O may we all be prepared for his reception. Bro. J. P. Gist had been for years a worthy and faithful disciple. He has left a disconsolate widow and children to mourn their loss. May father Gist and his bereaved family be comforted in their afflictions by the promise of the Lord, and in view of that great day, when all the saints shall be resurrected unto eternal life, look forward in happy anticipation of again uniting with those kindred spirits who are gone before, and in the language of the poet, cry out-- "O blessed day, O glorious hope! My soul rejoiced at the thought, When in that holy, happy land, We'll take no more the parting hand." S. B. Aden. Published in 1844 in The Bible Advocate. --- usgwarchives.net.