Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-09-16
Obituarn.


Died, in Gerarlstown, Berkeley County yiegia.
ia, on the 18th ult. Mrs MARY STEWART. vile
| OF Mr. j. w Stewart. The death of this eslitiaolo
woman was one OF those mysterious dispsEsagions
of Proyidenee. which probably will not be clearly
understood until il is viewed in the light OF tho
upper world In the midst of her usefulness, az
was supposed. and at n time when the heart of an
afectonate husband was coniidiHg in her as help
laeetin training up the little ones committed 10
their care; when her elder children were begin
ming to look TO her as pattern ofgood works and
the members of the chnreh with which she was
connected to regard her as Of their brightest
ornaments, tpleased the Great Head ofthe Church
suddenly to terminate her labors upon earth. In
this sudden bereavement, however, God has nos
left us without some important and interesting
lessons Of instruction in the life of the deceased
NShe being dead yet speaks In the short life
of Mrs. Stewart there was presented clear de-
monstration ofthe great advantage and importance
OF early religious training. Born within the pale
Of the Presbyterian Church. she was educated not
for the world, ont for God The result was, that
in the days OF her youth she was brought to re-
member her Creator, and to devote her life to his
service With mind well stored with the know
ledge of the truth, and shielded by the protection
Of covenant God as she passed on through the
slippery paths Of youth the cross of Christ had for
her far mere attractions than all the yanites Of
this world. In the yigor Of youth her purest en-
joymen, was found either in spending her time ia
| a retired part of the country under the parental
roof, where she enjoyed many advantages Of grow
ing in grace and in knowledge or in visiting aciy-
Gle Of pious relatives Many Of her youthful days
were spent with nm aged grandmother, Of whose
pious counsels She 0ffen 9pokc with the wafncst
affection, Thus trained in the school OF Christ,
when she came TO sustain the relation Of mother
her constant effort waste endeayor to impress the
minds Of the children committed to her care from
time 10 time with sense Of their responsibility
to God and the value Of his word. The life of
this humble Christian was q clear Illustration =
what truly pions woman can do in advancing
the cause Of Christ, not only in her own household
but also in the community whore she resided
Naturally retiring 10 her disposition, and vita
heart snbdued by the graceof God, she did not 3D.
trude her religion upon others, She felt, haweyer,
that she had been bought with price, Gwen The
precious blood Of Christ and that she was there
fore bound TO devote al her energies TO tho ad.
cancement ofhs kingdom This she did NY ma
king it fixed principle never to be absent from
the services Of the sanctuary. unless proviRaaial-
ly prevented BY striving 70 interest the minds Of
children and youth IL Sabbaih-sehool and Bible-
class instruction. by circulating religious reading,
by endeayoring 10 bring under the sound Of gospel
the careless and doing what she could 10 send it to
the destitute and by Offering up earnest prayer
to God for bis blessing 10 attend her efforts The
las year in the life Of this devoted friend OF Christ
was a Cicslf NilNtitNtAtt01 OF EDe truth thlt dGd
often does employ Affective dispeusasions Of his
providence in preparing his people for heavenly
state A little more than year before her own
summons came, she was Called under the most try
ing circumstances TO follow 10 .he grave the earth
ly remains Of her FIRST born, lovely youth, four
teen years Of age. Learning on one day that her
beloved boy, who was at school distance from
home, was unwell, on tie next day his body was
brought lfcess corpse to her door. by this
stroke every cord Of tender mothers heart was
smitten. Atfirst itseeined that her delicate frame
would sink under The weight Of sorrow TINT pres
sed opon it. She remembered, however, the
source from which her help had been obtained in
pnst time Tc this untailing source oFcoasolAtion
she now looked with all her heart In q short
time she was enabled TO maintain d spirit of calm
resignation TO the win her Heavenly Father As
she began again 10 address herself to fhe duties Of
life il was soon manifest that her affections were
becoming morea and more loosened from the ,Aipgs
ofths world, and more supremely set upon things
above. At length The time other departure eamc,
and she was called with an illness Of two days to
take leave ofcarshly things With the same spirit
ofcheerful resignation which had marked her life,
she metthis CALL leaving behind her the distinct
Impression, that one who had manifested SO much
ofthe spirit Of Christ while On earth and had fol-
lowed him so closely, now rested from her labor,
with that great company which no man can mum
hcrl eho are round about the throne Of God
LEW