Obituary | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1889

Obituary.

JONES.—William Jones, born in Wales, January 18, 1849, aged 40 years and 26 days, died, of consumption, at his home in San Francisco, Cal., February 13, 1889. He came to California six years ago, and resided in San Francisco until his death. Prior to coming to this State he spent some time in Battle Creek, Mich., working at the Sanitarium. He fully accepted of the religion of Jesus Christ, at a camp-meeting held at Monroe, Wis., in 1875, where he was baptized by Elder Isaac Sanborn, and united with the Seventh-day Adventist people, and ever maintained this connection with them. About one year ago he was obliged to give up daily labor on account of the encroachments of disease. A few months before his death he sought the Lord anew, came near to his brethren and the Lord, by humble confession and repentance, and was enabled to frequently rejoice in a consciousness of fullness of pardon and acceptance with God. At the close of a precious season of prayer, he fell asleep peacefully and sweetly, praising the Lord with his expiring breath. He leaves a wife and three small children to mourn, but not without a bright hope of soon greeting their loved one again, when the Life-giver comes.

Funeral services at the church were well attended by many sympathizing brethren and sisters. We laid him away to rest only a little while, till the trump of God shall sound, and the voice of Jesus calls his own to immortal life. Sermon by the writer from 2 Sam. 14:14. H. A. St. JOHN.

PRIEST.—Mrs. Mary L. Priest, aged 65 years and 10 months, died in South Lancaster, Mass., January 11, 1889. She embraced the Advent doctrine in 1842. Soon after the disappointment of 1844, when the Sabbath question began to be agitated in New England, she and her husband embraced it, and ever continued consistent observers of it. She had been in feeble health for a number of years, and from time to time, in answer to prayer, had apparently received a new lease of life. She knew how to exercise faith for herself and others. A number of years ago her husband died. Consumption was gradually preying upon her, until death relieved her from her sufferings. She looked forward to death with the composure of one who had made friends with Him who has conquered death, and has in His possession the keys of death and the grave. The first Vigilant Missionary Society ever organized among us as a people was established in June, 1869. At that time she was made secretary of it, and continued in that office until her death. Her books show that she had written about 6,000 letters to persons to whom she had been sending periodicals. One of the rules of the society, when first organized, was that each correspondent should offer a special prayer to God for assistance in writing, and she always followed that practice. There are many individuals now observing the Sabbath, both in the United States and Canada, who received the light through her correspondence, and the periodicals which she sent them. Some of these have never been visited by any of like faith. In one instance twenty-seven embraced the Sabbath, and so far as we know, are still observing it. Missionary labors had become so interwoven in her nature that a few hours before she died, as her mind occasionally wandered, she seemed to be replying to letters she had received from persons who were interested in the truth. In her extreme feebleness she would fall asleep while writing, and then, upon waking, would continue her letter. Attendance at the prayer and missionary meeting was her great delight. When too feeble to walk, she was carried in her chair to the church, which was only a few rods distant. She was always ready to bear testimony, and wondered how there could be a dry missionary meeting. For many years she was a Sabbath-school teacher, and retained her class to the last. To her scholars, some of whom are scattered throughout this country, and in Norway, Switzerland, England, and South Africa, she left this message: "Tell my Sabbath-school scholars that many nights when I could not sleep for coughing, I thought of every name, and prayed for every one, and I wondered if I had done all that the Lord would have me to for them, and if I had helped them to fit up characters to stand the test of the Judgment. Tell them to make thorough work for eternity; for I want to meet them there." During her last sickness, she sent for several who had backslidden, and appealed to them to return. Her last words, when she could not lift her head or speak aloud, were, "The anchor holds." It was her special request that the one who should preach her funeral sermon, should exhort all to be faithful. She fell asleep as quietly as a babe in its mother's arms. She longed to live to see the outpouring of the Spirit of God that would indicate the loud cry of the Third Angel's Message. But she was ready to be called by the Master at any time when he should say that her work was done. Words by the writer, from Rev. 14:13. S. N. H.