Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-01-28
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF MRS
RM RAY


Mas. RACHEL N. Rar, the wife of the Re
J. D. Ray, died at Pilgrims Cottage, Nom
Ebenezer, Gallia county, O.. on Wednesda
evening, ct IS minutes past IL o'clock. 81
was removed from time to eternity in Il
sixty fifth year of her age; and "being just
fed by faith" she had "peace with Go
through our Lord Jesus Christ."-Rom- .;
3 IL NAV be interesting to her numeror
I friends to have brief notice of the life an
: character of this most excellent woman. Sh
was born in Chester county Pennsylvania,
the 22d Of march, 1893. During her child
hood, her father and family moved to Canon;
/. burgh, Washington county, Pennsyivanlt
where he resided until the time Of his death
which occurred on the first of June, 1925
The name of John McFarlane will long b
remembered and revered by the members Q
] the Reformed Presbyterian church in tina
region, for his usefulness, fidelity, punctual
ity, and eodly sincerity. His house wa
ever the welcome and hospitable home OF tn
? ministry and friends of Christ. His widow
who was truly & mother in Israel, and re
markable for ber kind, pacific, and gentle dis
position, and for her unobtrusive pietry, sur
vived her husband for nearly eleven year
She died at the residence Of the Rev: j.
Ray, at Mount Carmel, in the faith and hop'
Vi the OOopclg VI bLiC 4%eu VI -AoASA' ~OO~-
4 By such derout and steadfast christian
parents was our deceased friend and beloved
!, companion, from her youth up, trainS; by
precept and example, in the doctrines and
duties of our holy religion In the 18th yeal
of her age, she united with the Reformed
Presbyterian church, and from that day to the
/ hour of her death, she adorned the doctrines Of
God our Saviour BY consistent and habitual
conformity to his revealed will. She was,
indeed, sensible of those frailties and imper-
} fections, as well as sinful inclinations, that
cleave to the best of persons in this life; but
She daily, looked to Jesus for grace and
strength to subdue the power Of indwelllng
sin, and TO enable her to live aud die for his
glory. Her only surviving sister, and in
deed, the only surviving memberof her fathers
house, remarked in letter to the writer, re-
ceived during the late illness of the deceased,
that ''she was praying christians from her
youth up, and remarkable for her integrity
and purity of life'' The same testimony
might be given by hundreds, who knew her
well in the relations of daughter, girl, and
wife, and above all, as a meek and humble dis
eiple in the school of Christ, in which she
exeelled many IN christian knowledge and
experience, whose advantages in some res
poets, were far superior to hers.
On the 24th of October, 1896, the Rev. J.
D. Ray and this lovely, devout, and interest
ing girl were united in the sacred bonds of
matrimony, at her mothers house, in CanOns-
burgh, Pennsylvania, amidst those scenes of
festivity and rejoicing, and of thoughtful and
serious reflection, which usually accompany
such occasions. In a short time after this,
they removed TO Mount Carmel, and during
the passionate of her husband over the churches
of Mount Carmel, the North Branch, and
Mount Tabor, Virginia, embracing period
of about % years, no woman could have more
faithfully and conscientiously performed the
arduous, and often perplexing duties of a
pastors wife. Amidst all these labors, she
won the esteem and affection of those con-
gregations in degree to which few ministers
wives attain in the present day. Honored
and beloved by the better classes of society,
whether rich or poor, she patiently endured
the tolls, and duly appreciated the enjoyfnents
incident to her social position; and, 'as she
had opportunity, she sought to do good to all,
especially to them who are of the household
of faith. Gal 6: ID.
Mrs. Ray died in the full assurance of hope.
But it is the living testimony more than the
dying, that is to be regarded as the true
criterion of christian character. Viewed in
this light, she was truly ga living epistle,
written not with pen and ink, but by the
"spirit of the living God, known and read of
all men," During her late illness, she was
remarkably free from pain and suffering
And though occasionally troubled with
doubts and fears, these were all graciously
removed, and with calmness and composure
she viewed her approaching end. Resting
alone for salvation on the righteousness Of
Christ, without a struggle or a groan, and in
perfect peace, she "passed through the valley
and shadow of death" to the light and glory
of heaven. She leaves bereaved and dis
eonsolate husband, with numerous relatives
and friends, TO deplore her removal from this
life, though well assured she is now numbered
with 'the spirits of the Just made perfect in
the Paradise of God. He feels a sense of
loneliness he never felt before. Deprived Of
his bosom friend, one who was ever to him q
faithful and an affectionately devoted wife,
the companion of his youth and of his riper
years, of his sorrows and his joys, he now
stands as if he were solitary and alone,
amidst the chilling blasts and bowling tenn
pests Of a friendless and ensnaring world
And yet he is not alone, for "God is his refuge
and strength, e very present help in trouble"
Ps. as: l.
| On the 18th instant, our beloved friend and
b1other, the Rev. John Rowe, of Gallipolis,
preached at the residence of the husband of
our deceased friend, an excellent and very ap-
propriate discourse from . Cor. 5: /. "For
we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have building
| of God. house not made with hands, eternal
| in the heavens" After pointing out the
frailty of the human tabernacle, he illustrated
| the durability of ''the house not made with
I hands, and stated the qualifications neces:
/ sary to be possessed by us, to be occupants of
"the house eternal in the heavens" He then
I closed with brief delineation of the character
of the deceased; and a solemn, affeetiOnate;
and eonsolatory address to the bereaved hus-
band. The funeral services being closed. her
mortal remains were conveyed to the Smeltzer
Graveyard, followed by many neighbors and
! friends, and there inferred in the cold and
silent grave. Fully assured "the hour is COM
ing in which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice, and shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection Of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation John 5: %, %
Is is a solemn thing TO deposit the bodies
of our deceased friends in "the house appointed
for all liTing::''a and to return with grief and
sorrow to our once happy homes, made sad
and desolate by the departdre of urloved ones
; forever OH Il were not for ''the hope o.
eternal life," the hope Of meeting them agair
in another and a better world, this weight o
sorrow, this burden of grief; would crush "
to the earth. Death may subdue Us for tim,
and aanarafe us from ssthe fondness of ,