~ OBITUARY ~
Died, at Torre, Torquay, Sept. 12th , 1863,

ALFRED FLEMING MEAGER,
on his twenty-fourth birthday, and in the fourth Itinerancy.
Br. Meager was born at Methrose, in the parish of Luxulyan, in the county of Cornwall. His parents attended the Established Church, and felt it their duty to take their children with them. Being in easy circumstances, Mr. And Mrs. Meager were able to give their children a liberal education.
When about sixteen years of age, Br. Meager went with Mr. Snell, of St. Blazey, to learn the drapery business, and was much valued by his master, with whom he remained above three years.
His conversion was remarkable. He attended some revival services held in Bridges chapel, in the Bodmin Circuit, and witnessed the conversion
of many, and became seriously wrought upon. One evening, on his return from school, he said to his mother, ``I shall not go to these meetings
again.´´ She urged him to continue to go. He replied, ``I cannot go again, they make me so wretched.´´ The same evening he went out into the filed to see the sheep, and was suddenly arrested by the power of God. He thought he saw hell open before him; and was led at once to cry to God for mercy. When he came in he could not sit upright. His mother thought he was ill. He spoke of the distress he felt, and she was pleased to find him under deep conviction, and with resolution to give himself to God.
The same evening he went to an adjoining farm, to see a young man who gave him some religious instruction, and he returned much cheered.
The next morning he went to the class meeting, and from that day he held on his way, giving daily evidence of genuine piety and devotedness to God.
After being a Local Preacher for some time, soon afer the Christmas of 1859, he went to the Helstone Circuit to supply until the following Conference, when he received on trail for the ministry, and was re-appointed to the Helstone Circuit, where he laboured with great acceptance among the friends, and in harmony with his pastor, Br. W.S. Pascoe, to whom he became, and continued, warmly attached. The Conference of 1861 appointed him to the Chagford Circuit, where
he has laboured most earnestly and indefatigably for the last two years; and it pleased the Lord to crown his labours with considerable success. Throughout the Station he was much beloved, and has left behind a great number of faithful and attached friends. One of those friends says, in a note since his death, ``The report of dear A.F. Meager´s death has caused solemn thought and much
weeping at Chagford and Providence, and I am sure it will, when known, throughout the Circuit; he being generally beloved by all people.´´
The last Conference stationed him on the Torquay Mission. He was much pleased with the appointment, but not more so than were all his friends on the Station; their expectations were high. He visited the Conference, enjoyed a few of the services & c., and then hastened to Luxulyan to spend a short time with his parents and friends. During his stay he preached at several places, but felt anxious to get to his new Station, that he might be fully engaged in the work to which he was so earnestly devoted. In a note I received from him while in Cornwall, he says, ``I hope to enter upon the duties of the
coming year with renewed vigour, May the Master of all help us.´´ In another, ``My visit is quite long enough, I am looking forward to a very happy year. May God favour us with much prosperity.´´ In this spirit he came to the Circuit on Friday, Aug. 21st. The following
Sunday he preached three sermons at St. Mary Church, on behalf of a new harmonium.
The people were much pleased with him, and the services of that day will be long remembered.
Although he was very unwell he preached with great power, especially in the evening, which
proved to be his last sermon. His texts were Luke XV. 32; Josh. XXIV. 15: and Isa. IV. 4.
His affliction appeared to have been coming on for some time. His mother informed me that
he was very poorly the whole of the time he was at home. He was very unwell when he came to
Torquay. He said, ``My bones seem burning, my head is very bad, I shall surely have brain fever.´´ He kept up until Monday Aug. 24th, when he took to his bed. Wednesday the Doctor was called in. Two Physicians also saw him during his illness, but the disease defied medical skill. His disease was first Typhoid, second exhaustion. When the Fever was checked Subsultus set in. He became very tremulous, and continued to shake more and more until the ``vital spark´´ took its flight, leaving knows the terrible conflict I have had since I have been in bed; it is as though Satan had been in bed; it is as though Satan had been let loose upon me; but I know in whom I have believed.´´ At another
time he said, ``My heaven is sure.´´ To another friend, ``I shall soon wear the white robe.´´ During the last week, although his mind wandered considerably, at time he sang sweetly, and prayed earnestly. All who saw him felt sure that he was prepared for heaven. He died on the day he attained 24 years of age.
Our much lamented Brother was a young man of great promise. His death is a serious loss to the church. It is to us inexplicable why such a young man should be suddenly cut down in the morning of life, while so many are spared, who according to human view, could be so much bettered parted with.
How true are the lines:

``God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.´´

His death is a very great trail to the writer, and to all the friends on this Mission. But our loss is his gain. Before Jehovah we bow submissively, and say, ``It is the Lord: let him
do what seemeth him good.´´ Our prayer is that this mysterious providence may be sanctified to our good.
Tuesday Sep. 15th, his friends took his body to Methrose, and the following day he was interred at Luxulyan.
May his aged and sorrowing Parents, and numerous friends, be divinely supported. And may we all meet our dear departed Brother in Heaven.

``But, thou, farewell,
And live--his mortal veil removed--in bliss;
Live with the saints in light, whom Christ had
But pardon us, left in this vale of tears, loved.
For one last tear upon thy cold remains.´´
S. Jory

The Editorial Remarks was the section which followed the Obituary section of the Bible Mission Paper.
Alfred Fleming Meager's brother, Richard and his wife Jane Abbott Meager were living in Cherokee County, Georgia, at the time of his death. I found the Editorial Remarks section very interesting. This is what was published that day in the Editorial Remarks:

Current Events:

The war in America still continues; creating a bloody chapter in the history of the great Commonwealth. No decisive results seem to follow the last bloody engagement at Gettysburg; but the Northern armies are slowly gaining the upper hand conquering Confederate territory. Some indications appear of a desire on the part of the State of North Carolina to return to the Union, but there are difficulties in the way of its reception as a Slave State. The Federal artillery is battering down the fortifications of Charleston, and the capture of that important Southern city is probably a not far distant event. Meanwhile, to fill the ranks of the armies both North and South conscription is resorted to, and men are forced into the bloody fray. Such a measure could not fail to meet with opposition from a free people, and President Lincoln has found it difficult to be carried out in certain places. This is indeed one of the most fearful horrors of war. We think some consolation may be drawn from the events now transpiring, that slavery is certainly doomed, and hastens to its fall. It is said that the South intends to bring 400,000 or 500,00 armed slaves into the field, and at the close of the war to reward them with freedom and a gift of land. This is a most serious proposition, for a large free coloured population in the south, trained to the use of arms, may seriously embarrass the handful of white men who now hold the coloured population in subjection. An able writer in the weekly press discerns indications of a disposition for peace, on either side. That such a disposition, if it exist, may deepen and fructify is worthy of the earnest prayers of Christian people.

It was not until after the Civil War in America ended that Richard C. Maeger in Georgia heard of his younger brother's death in England. All of the mail to England had been disrupted because of the war.