OBITUARY | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 26, 1857

OBITUARY.

I WRITE to inform you of the death of my dear sister, Mrs. Mary Griffin, who fell asleep in Jesus Dec. 22d, 1856. Her health had been poor for some time, but the last two or three weeks she seemed to be so much better that we had hopes of her recovery. The last day of her life, she prepared for bed, about fifteen minutes to ten, and at ten o'clock she was sleeping the sleep of death. A blood-vessel broke and she only had time to call her children and say, I am going.

She had just received the Third Angel's Message, and had kept but two Sabbaths before her death. She told her family that those two weeks were the happiest days of her life. When I came to this place she said to me, I believe the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and I am determined to keep it while God spares my life. How little did I think that would be but two short weeks. She also spoke about the state of the dead. She had always believed they went to heaven at death; but she said it was very plain to her now that they would sleep in the grave till Jesus comes.

It was hard for me to part with her, and when I thought of her poor orphan children, who had neither father nor mother to take care of them, I felt to mourn and weep; but when I turned and looked upon her as she lay in the cold embrace of death, and saw the sweet smile upon her countenance, which seemed to say, All is well, I could not weep, but I felt to rejoice and praise the Lord for sparing her until she had received the truth.

I felt assured that her death was a happy one, and that she will have a part in the first resurrection. My earnest desire and prayer to God is, that I may meet her in his heavenly kingdom, where parting will be no more.

Sleep, sister dear, now sweetly sleep, From all thy toil and labor rest, Where mortal care, nor trouble's sigh, Shall e'er invade thy peaceful breast. Sleep, sister, thou unconscious art, While friends and children weep around; Thou waitest in thy grave to hear The trumpet's loud and joyous sound. Sleep, sister dear, in Jesus sleep, Till he for you from heaven calls, And though your grave be dark and deep, His voice will pierce its gloomy walls. His lovely voice will pierce the tomb, And bid the dead in Christ come forth; The living saints will then be changed, And all be taken home from earth. All those who God's commands obey, With them the faith of Jesus keep, Will be remembered in that day, Though with the silent-dead they sleep.

Eternal life to them he'll give, And they will never die again, But with their Lord for ever live, And sing hosannas to his name. MARGARET SHEPARD. Otsego, Alle. Co., Mich.

SISTER Catharine Stone of Hillsdale, fell asleep in Jesus, on the night of the 19th inst., aged 48 years.

Sr. S. was in very poor health at the time of the late conference at Hillsdale, but it improved so that she was able to attend the meetings up to the time of her decease. She appeared to have apprehensions of death's approach, as she said she was going to set her "house in order," and was active in the meetings, and her whole mind seemed to be on the present truth. In her family she stood alone in keeping the Sabbath. Her anxiety for the members of her own family was unusually great, and it is hoped that her warnings and entreaties may yet bear fruit, to their good and the glory of God. J. H. W.