Hawes, Samuel
7/2/1860
1819-1860 |
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Samuel Hawes was a native of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. He was born in 1819, and born again in 1840. Shortly after his adoption into the family of God, he heard the voice of the spirit inly speak, calling and moving him to the work and office of a minister in the Church of God. He was not disobedient unto the heavenly call, but said in spirit: “Lo! Glad I come.” The Church recognized the call of God, and duly authorized him to exercise his gifts and graces as a minister in the Church of his choice. For something more than a year he labored in the local relation, but he yearned and panted for a wider field and a more thorough consecration to the work of God. In the year 1842 he was admitted on trial in the Mississippi Conference, and was successively appointed to the Amite, Neshoba, Pearl River, and West Baton Rouge Circuits. Upon the division of the Mississippi Conference, he became a member of the Louisiana Conference and was appointed to Donaldsonville Station and Preston Mission in 1853; in 1854 to the New Iberia Circuit; in 1855 to Thibodaux and Napoleonville; in 1856 to Thibodaux Station; in 1857 to Grosse Tete; in 1858 to Plaquemine; in 1859 to Bonita; and in 1860 to Bartholomew Circuit, where, on the 2nd of July, 1860, after an illness of twenty-two days of typhoid fever, he ceased at once to work and live. Brother Hawes was a courteous Christian gentleman, pure peaceable , gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits; as a minister he was faithful and devoted. His good report is in the churches, and his memory, like sweet odor, shall leave a long perfume. We learn that, from the day of his attack, he was impressed that his sickness was unto death, and said: “The time is come,” but murmured not, but said, “God’s will be done.” The fondest and most endearing ties bound him to earth, but he walked by faith and without fear, trusting all in God. When pious friends, near the closing hour, sang his favorite strains of praise, “Sweet Rivers of Redeeming Love,” though weak and short of breath, he joined the glad acclaim. And when one said to him, “Whither goest thou?” with the strong confidence and shining hope of the Gospel, he replied, “To a better world.” Yes, brethren, he is with the sainted dead, realizing the functions of immortal life. May death find us or the “bannered field” and though we fall writing vici, “I have conquered” on our shields. His youthful companion, and two orphan children, thus early bereaved of their best friend, are commended to our sympathy and love. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1860 | |
