| Samuel Kretsinger - son of George Kretzinger | ||||
| 1878 | ||||
|
1878 – United Brethren newspaper, Religious Telescope, March 27, 1878
REV. SAMUEL KRETSINGER
Rev. Samuel Kretsinger was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia early in the year 1813. He died at his home near Black Jack, Douglas County, Kansas, March 1, 1878. Between these dates existed a life in a very high sense remarkable and effective. Converted to God under the ministerial labors of Glossbrenner, Newcomer and their coadjutors he naturally united himself to the United Brethren in Christ, then just beginning to enlarge the work commenced by Otterbein, and to extend its societies beyond the somewhat restricted bounds of its birthplace. Active and devoted in the duties of minor positions in the church he couldn't consent to adopt the work of the ministry until his removal to Ogle County, Illinois in the year 1849. Painfully aware of deficiencies in technical education, Brother Kretsinger entered upon the great work of his life with fear and trembling.
Perhaps no man entertained a higher respect and admiration for real ministerial talent. I am confident no one could more thoroughly despise and caustically condemn empiricism in the profession. He often sincerely regretted his want of early advantages, but under the direction of the Spirit made extraordinary proficiency in analyzing human motives and exposing artfully concealed errors in the beliefs and practices of his hearers. His sarcasm, always pointed, sometimes powerful, was so tempered by Christian love and a warm desire for the salvation of men that many who came to his appointments to be amused by his eccentric utterances were pricked to the heart and cried out, “What must I do to be saved?”
I regret that the meager data before me are almost silent upon the record of the work of Brother Kretsinger in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin --but that his work there was well done multitudes of memorials testify.
Our brother heard a new and piercing cry for help. It came from the prairies of Kansas and pleaded for aid to meet the ruffian hordes of slavery who were sworn to possess the fair land, and another note which anti-slavery man as he was, reached his heart even more quickly. He came to aid in making Kansas free indeed and to proclaim the freedom of the Son of God.
His career from 1857, the date of his arrival in Kansas is but the history of the United Brethren Church in the state. Stationed the first year at Lawrence, he extended his labors far into the adjacent country. The next year he became one of the Presiding Elders which office he filled for 12 years. The districts he supervised were very extensive, the country at that time was thinly settled, there were few or no railroads and the streams were often without bridges or ferries; yet this true hero endured hardness like a good soldier of Jesus Christ and bravely breasted the storm, and uncomplainingly and even cheerfully met the peculiar hardships of his lot. Happily his labors bore great results. Hundreds were converted to God, and united with the church. Everywhere life and energy were apparent. At length distressing indisposition of his beloved partner caused him great anxiety. Most men would have accepted this trial as an indication that active labor in the outer field was ended, but Brother Kretsinger was still for years after at the disposal of God and his brethren. Unable to attend the last session of his conference, he lamented the action of the stationing committee in withholding from him a field and yet he continued to preach as he was able. At length his discharge came. He preached on Saturday night at the quarterly meeting held on his home circuit and on Sabbath at an adjoining appointment. Returning home on Monday he complained of chilliness all through his body. Pneumonia soon developed and in spite of all efforts to stay its deadly advance he breathed his last on Friday morning. From his return on Monday he abandoned the long fight he had made against disease and death, yet as he surrendered to the last foe he struck the exalted note of the conqueror. The attendants were constantly impressed with the pertinency and power of his appeals to a fancied congregation and which were attended with all power, notwithstanding all the efforts of physicians and nurses to quiet and heal his distressed lungs.
At his own request he was buried on his own place, under the shade of the oaks he preserved so carefully, and by the side of a beloved child whose spirit has been in bliss for many years.
His beloved companion, whom cruel disease has robbed of most of the joys of life, will soon follow. May every son and daughter, as they successively pass ever hail them on the highlands of heaven. LeCompton, Kansas, By Rev H. M. Greene
|
|
|||