Individual Details

Death

Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
January 2, 1919
p 1 col 1
Primghar Methodist Minister A Suicide - Rev. Douma TakesPoison Then Hangs Himself - Brooding Over Love Affair Thought tobe the Cause
Special Correspondent- Primghar was much stirred last Fridaymorning when the report went out that Rev. Douma, the Methodistminister at that place had ended his own life. Unfortunately, thereport proved to be true. It is thought that the deceasedcommitted the fatal deed sometime about six o'clock the previousevening. He failed to appear at the prayer meeting that night,but the people where there, believing that he had been calledaway unexpectedly on a sick call, held the meeting and went home.Friday, the minister failed to appear at breakfast and thejanitor phoned to the parsonage, but receiving no answer, went tothe house and knocked for admittance, but again getting noresponse he entered the house and made the gruesome discovery.Rev. Douma was lying dead at the foot of the bed, having, it isassumed, first drank of wood alcohol and then hung himself with asmall rope.
The janitor gave the alarm at once and the coroner came on thescene. Rev. J. J. Bushnell was called from Sheldon and Dr.McBurney, district superintendent, was also communicated with.Letters of the deceased were examined, so as to find the addressof any near relatives, but the only one that could be found wasthat of a brother in Michigan. A letter addressed to that brotherwas found on the dead man's desk and one to Dr. McBurney wasfound on the bed near the body and it was though that was thelast letter he wrote as it was in a nervous handwriting. Thisletter spoke of a last desperate effort to "get on his feetagain, but failing to do so, I cannot stand it any longer"and then asked forgiveness and for the Lord to have mercy on hissoul.
A short inquest was held by the coroner on Saturday, after thearrival of Dr. McBurney, but it was clearly a case of suicide andno one was involved. The sheriff telegraphed to the brother inMichigan, but up to Sunday evening, no answer had been receivedthough it is believed the man has been located. Dr. McBurney helda memorial service Saturday afternoon in the M. E. Church atPrimghar, but the body was held for a few days, pendinginstructions from the brother of the deceased.
Rev. Douma has been on the Primghar charge but three months,having been appointed there by conference which was held atEstherville, Ia., Sept. 25th. It is thought that brooding overseveral affairs, among which is some love affair so far asindications show, unbalanced the man's mind and caused him totake his own life. He was a bachelor and lived alone at theparsonage. Dr. McBurney in his funeral discourse spoke from thetext "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with themthat weep." He showed how that the unfortunate man hadfinally been conquered by the enemy he had fought all his lifeand which it has been his business to preach against. But thereis a difference between Rev. Douma and some who might be inclinedto criticize, and that was that many go down without even afight, while he died fighting. He then showed how that we mustever be on the watch, for Satan goes around seeking to devoureven God's own elect, and that no man is safe unless he is onguard.