DEATH IN THE PULPIT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1092, 26 May 1882, Page 2

DEATH IN THE PULPIT.

The Rev. L Hamilton, pastor of the first Unitarian Church of Oakland, California, on the corner of Thirtneeth and Jefferson-streets, dropped dead in his pulpit while holding morning service on Sunday, April 6th. At the moment of his sadden demise he was in the midst of his sermon. He was seen to raise his hands to his forehead as if to clear his eyesight, when, without the least tremor or paroxysm sank quietly on his knees, and then fell prostrateon the floor of the pulpit Instantly his amazed congregation crowded around his form, but he had passed away. A physician present pronounced the attack either that of paralysis of the brain or apoplexy. The shocking news spread with great rapidity, and in half an hour it was announced from every pulpit throughout Oakland. The deceased minister was a native of NewYork, aged about & 3 years. He wafc educated at Hamilton College* NewYork, trained for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church, and was settled" at San Jose, from which place he moved to Oakland. Some fifteen yean ago he was tried before the Presbytery for heresy, the result of which waa his severance from that denomination, he having modified the Independent Church, in the pulpit of which he preached up to the time of his death. He was a man of unusual ability ; a student of the weightiest themes ; hismind had a moral and intellectual affinity for truth, and in it was fearless conclusion. He was a man of singular elevation of mind and purity of charater % and all who knew him confessed his fine abilities and his great personal worth. He will be lamented by a wide circle of friends." Dr Hamilton had always expressed a hope that it might please God to call him in the midst of his work, and added — " I know of no place in which I would rather die than in my pulpit, preaching the word of the God whom I serve.