WORTHY OF IMITATION by George A. Irwin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1900

WORTHY OF IMITATION.

By George A. Irwin

In the REVIEW of July 17 there appeared a brief notice of the death of Sister Mary Ellen Underwood, wife of Elder R. A. Underwood. To my mind, such characters deserve more than a passing notice; for they are rare in these days of self-seeking and personal ambition.

Thirty-six years ago, while still bearing her maiden name,—Ellen Reynolds,—she accepted the truths of the Third Angel’s Message, under the preaching of Elder J. H. Waggoner. Shortly after the organization of the Ohio Tract and Missionary Society, she was elected secretary and treasurer, a position she filled with acceptance for five successive years, refusing to take any pay for her services; although during that time she had to pay for hired help to attend to the necessary domestic duties. She resigned the position only that she might attend Battle Creek College with her husband, to become better fitted for work in the Master’s cause.

But what gave promise of a life of usefulness in a public capacity, was changed by an overruling Providence into a domestic life, where the real beauty of her character unfolded and bore fruit in comparative obscurity, on the quiet homestead of her childhood. About this time her oldest sister became a chronic invalid. The circumstances of the case and her malady were of such a nature that she must be taken care of at a public institution, or else Sister Underwood must devote her life to that work. Her affectionate and self-sacrificing nature at once chose the latter, and she accepted the obligation with that Christian cheerfulness for which she was particularly noted.

The care of a child that was born to her later on, and the principal oversight of a large farm, would have been thought by most women sufficient excuse to call her husband from work in the field to share these burdens. But not so with her; amid all her cares, the Master’s cause was not forgotten. She was willing to put up with inconvenience and endure hardship, even to the suffering of bodily pain, that her husband might remain in the field. Those who labored in the Cleveland Mission in times past can bear testimony to her thoughtfulness and liberality, shown in the barrels of dried and canned fruit, grains, and other products of the farm supplied them each year. In addition to all this, there was room in her heart and home for the orphan and the friendless, many of whom, because of her care and motherly advice, will, along with her family, “arise up, and call her blessed.”

Her life was a practical demonstration of a true home missionary. Although deprived of the privilege of attending camp-meetings and other general meetings, and at times of even the meetings of the home church, yet she kept abreast of the times, and was full of the spirit of the message. During the last days of her sickness, when she was suffering extreme pain from the cancer that was consuming her vitals, her daughter asked her if she had written her husband how fast she was failing. She answered, “No; husband has all the burdens now that he can carry; and if he knew how I am, it would add to his already heavy load of care; he will be home soon.”

Her last words were, “I see the glory.” Of such characters it can truly be said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” In these times of great moral darkness, the taking away of such lives can only be accounted for in the light of the mercy of our Heavenly Father as revealed in such statements as these: “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Of those who follow Christ in self-denial, it is said: “They will bear the fruit the Saviour bore; and even when their life shall close, the seed scattered by the trees of the Lord’s planting will be multiplied to the praise and glory of his name.” By faith her life was given a “living sacrifice;” but being dead, she yet speaketh.

It is the prayer of the writer that, by the reading of this brief sketch, others may be inspired to emulate her example, and thus her life be duplicated many times before the Life-giver comes to bring the final reward to all who have lived a life of unselfish devotion to his service. GEO. A. IRWIN.