Excerpt from History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods: Also a History of Missions, Publication and Education Death knocks with certain footsteps alike at the palace of the rich and the hut of the poor; at the counting-room of the merchant and the study of the man of God. His knock is imperative; and the rich and the poor, the merchant and the man of God, must as certainly answer. On the 14th of September, 1878, the Editor of this History threw down the gauntlet and gave up life's struggle. The course for him then ended; the race for him was run. Sad as every visitation of the dark messenger is, it is infinitely more so when a useful man is stricken down in his usefulness. On account of the unexpected death of the Editor, the foregoing volume is imperfect in some respects. Just what his intention was in reference to this work is not fully known; but it has been carried out so far as ascertained. He evidently intended to prepare a full statistical table for the entire State, showing the numerical and financial strength of the denomination. Other matters of great interest he may have also intended to include in the volume. But he has gone, and there is no means of discovering the intended scope of the work. What is published is just as he left it, with no material alterations. The work is sent out with the hope that it may strengthen the bonds of the Church of God, re-animate and stimulate it, and glorify Him whose humble messenger the Editor was. May the blessings of Heaven go with it! About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.