From Michael Diehl鈥檚 account
Pt. 4 of 5: December 29
About ten o鈥檆lock he desired his children to be brought into his presence. When they appeared at his bed-side, he affectionately addressed them, gave them his parting kiss, and said that his wishes were now realized. He soon afterward fell into a stupor from which he awakened no more on earth. In this state he continued until he expired鈥攁 quarter past one o鈥檆lock, on the morning of the 29th of December, 1848. Thus passed away this humble, faithful servant of Jesus. He closed his eyes on earth, to open them on the more beautiful, glorious, and ever-enduring scenes of heaven.
He died in the thirty-seventh year of his life, and in the midst of his usefulness. His disease was the typhoid fever; consequently his mind was much affected by his bodily sufferings, and therefore he said but little about his hopes beyond the tomb. The evidence which he furnished gave full assurance, however, of his meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light; and beside, to those who knew him, no other evidence was necessary than that which he had already furnished in his daily life.
The announcement of his death spread a general gloom over the community, and rolled a dark wave of sorrow through the entire length and breadth of our beloved Zion. With the dawn of the ensuing morning the tolling of the city bells spread the mournful intelligence on every breeze.
The heart of his bosom companion sunk within her under a sense of irreparable loss; the members of the institution were overwhelmed by the heavy stroke of affliction which had fallen upon them; his own congregation wept bitter tears of bereavement; Christians of every denomination mourned; and the countenance of every individual showed that a great calamity had befallen the community.
At a meeting of the students, held the day on which he died, the following preamble and resolutions, prepared by a committee previously appointed, were unanimously adopted.鈥�
Whereas, A mysterious Providence has removed from us our faithful pastor and worthy instructor, Ezra Keller, D.D., president of this institution, whose worth, while living, we could not estimate,
Resolved, That we make no attempt to express in words our sorrow for his death, or to speak the loss we sustain by his removal.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the surviving family in this affliction.
Resolved, That as an expression of our grief, we wear a badge of mourning for sixty days.
Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be published in the Lutheran Observer, and the papers of Springfield, and that a copy be placed among the archives of the institution.
- J. Imhoff
- J. F. Reinmund
- Daniel Summers
- Jacob Steck
- Morris Officer
About The Project
With 果冻传媒 now celebrating its 175th year, and the University unable to hold regular in-person classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor of History Thomas T. Taylor has started circulating several pieces on 果冻传媒's history. Some originated in earlier series, either This Month in 果冻传媒 History or Happy Birthday 果冻传媒. Others have their origin in the 果冻传媒 History Project or in some other, miscellaneous project. Sincerest thanks to Professor Taylor for connecting alumni, faculty, staff, and students through a historic lens.