Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-01
From the Southern Christian Advocate.
MEMOIR OF MRS, REBECcA g. PENN.

a hrart-breEen husband now pays to her memo
,ry She departed this FIFE, at EdgefelG e. H.,
S. c., Or the Goth January, hr the 3Sth year Of
her age. In early life, during her fourteenth
year, she found peace with God through faith IN
Jesus and making n profession Of religion, she
Joined the Baptist communion under the minis
try of the Rev. ~ W. Hodges. She was twice
n,arrird Her first husband was Mr. Robert Cres-
wei, a lawyer fdis,inctinn, with whom shr went
to the State of Mississippi. Death soon blight
ed her early hopes and left her widow amongst
strangers in Il distant land; and she returned to
her native home I'm 1910 she was married
again. BY her first marriage she had one inter
esting daughter who entered into rest before
her She has left bchsd brnken-hcarted hus-
band, five interesting little children, one step
daughter, one sister and 4 numerous circle of
frields to mourn their loss. She WAS woman
of no ordinary character. Endowed with strong
powers Of mind. and possessed of remarkably
ready and rcenive memory, her nature was one
in which was united energy with genlleness.
She came up so fully 10 the standard OF her
duty, that those who knew her intimately re-
garded her with the highest admiration. Econ
Omiral in her habits. moderate in an her desires,
laborious md constant in all her dnfueste duties,
she added to naturally nnIiable disposition,
the hallowing Influences of genuine and deep
plety. Benrvolence was 4 prominent feature Of
her heart and on her tongue was ih law OF
kindness. The sick and destitute ever found
in her a warm and consistent friend. She was
naturally ofSa lively and sociable disposition {;
delighted in The society of her numerous friends;
and endravonred to make all around her happy.
She was faithful in the discharge of al her du-
ties in the various relations in which the provi-
dence Of God called her to act; and particularly
in her religious obligations. In humility and
merkness she pndeavonred to follow the Saviour
as her bright example His name, his word.
and his worship Were treasured up in her hearts
hottest affections, his people were her c"mpan-
ions. She loved the Church and the ordinances
of the ChTc',, and in her house the ministers Of
Christ were always welcome. In the year 1912
she obtained letter of dsmisSion fram the
Baptist Church of which she had long been y
faithful membrr and united herself with the NJ.
E. Church at Edgeticd e. II. She was induced
to take this step that she might be more nti-
mately associated and connected in her religious
enjnymcnts with her husband who was then a
class leader in the Methodist Church.
The noble traits of character which >he devel-
oprd during the years of aff1uenre and prosperi-
~ were in the providence of God refined and
purified BY affliclinn and suffering. Her hus-
band was once the nossrssor of an ample fortune,
a large portion of which he received BY marringc
from her. By numerous misfortune. and rrrer-
srs in trade he was reduced from state of at
fnence to poverty: and in 1913 all they possess
scd of this worlds goods was surrendered and
sold to pay bis debts And now her christian
graces and nnble qualities displayed Themselves
with the brightest lnstre. At one time amidst
the hcart-rendng SCENES through which she was
called to pass during the sale Of the property,
having surrendered every article that she pos
sessed on earth, hcr poor heart was orrr-whrln.
ed with grief for time, when she was informed
that his creditors were unwilling for her to keep
even bed and sundry other small artrles
Which the law usually allowed in such cases.
1t was indeed painful tn her to realize the awful
truth, that there was no sympathy for wife IN
circumstances so distressing. But not q word
of murmur or complaint ever escaped her lips.
And in all the rcverses of fortune through which,
she was called to pass. she ever trusted in the
goodness and mercy of God. She had an un-
shaken faith in his promises, and believed that
he would provide for NIL her wants. The cunso-
ling words Of the Psalmist were always sweet
and precious to her heart, and she always used
them: :. The Lord is my Shepherd, shall NIT
want"
The energies of her strong and active mind
and her noble qualities weren"w developed in
an extraordinary degree. She WAS thankful to
her heavenly father for the blessing OF health,
and her greatest desire to live. was that she
might be useful to her husband in the midst of
his adversely in helping him TO provide for the
wants of a growing family. And in the midst
of her duyand constant labour, she was patient,
resigned, always happy, and chcrriully fulfilling
every duty.
Bit in the order of inscrutablc providence
she was called to pass through Srrnes of suffer.
ing and affliclion more intense han any she hid
ever endured. For nearly two years she was
afflicted with painful, lingering. and malignan!
disease that batflrd the skill of the most cmi''-
ent phySrians Her anxious husband and AT
tenIive physicians did all they could kind friends
daily minislrrrd 10 her comfort and wants The
pure air and waters of our mountain regions
were rcsorlcd to- but a!l to mo- purpose. The
disease gradually wasted away her once vfror-
ou, constitution. The suffering shc wns called
to endure cannot be described. Bit she never
mnrmnred nor complained at the ways of pr"v.
deuce. Her faith WAS strong, and she believed
it was all for the best. Having committed her
sclf into the hands of a mercirul God, she pa
tienlly endured all that lie permitted TO come
upon her, believing that it would work out for
t her far more exceeding and eternal weight OF
glory. She never seemed to be gloomy or de.
i-cled, but wns always calm and cheerful and
had a smile for every one who might visit her
sick chamber, aud so she continued to the last.
She was frequently visited by mini,tering
brethren who prayed with her and spoke to her
the words of consolation. They always found her
tr,rquil and peaceful and resigned 10 the will
of God. Several months before her death The
holy communion was administered 10 her in her
room by her bedside by Bro. Purkei, in conPa.
nv with number of her brethren and sisters.
Ii was precious season. Her own soul was
greatly: blessed and Strengthened and the whole
company were completely overwhelmed with
the presence and power OF God.
As she approached her end she expressed
some npprrhrnsions about the pains and agonies
of de.Ii:wlrich she apprrhrnded might be great,
and prayed that grace might be given her in the
last conflict. Her prayer was graciously ans.
wcred. a moro calm and peaceful death was
never witnessed. Several weeks before her
death she became sensible that her dissolution
was near at hand, that her sutfrrings would soon
be ended. She desired TO take leave of her
loved ones whilst she hid strength of body and
mind to give them her dying counsel. She still
felt those strong ties of affection that bound her
to the earth. II was hard for fond wife to
part with her devoted husband. 1t was hard
for mother to give up the children she so ar
IDENTIFY loved and leave them mntherlcss. But
through mighty and earnest prayer to her hear
emily father thi. grace was impaired 10 her after
fond nature had struggled hard and long: She
called her Merninr husband and dear little chil: