The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-02-03
Mrs. Ann Z. T. Magill.

formerly Professor of Medicine in the University
Of Virginia, and the eldest daughter of the late
Judge Henry St. George Tucker
Few women were more widely known and more
loved than this lady; and her charac
ter was so marked for devoted piety and emf
nent spirituality that it should be told to the
to come, how modest and gentle wo-
man was endued by the Spirit of God with Won
derful capacity for the largest usefulness, abun-
dainty exercised to the promotion of her Master s
kingdom among men. Hers was the beauty OF
holiness" She, if ever any attained to holy life,
did so, and adorned the doctrine Of God her Sa-
viour in all things 1t is not meant that she was
siness but she was one thoroughly consecrated to
God, and had an eye single to His glory.
Her marvellous religious development was due
to native gifts, under peculiar discipline OF Pro-
violence, and a culture almost exclusively religious,
through the word CT God. By nature she was
bright and intelligent, with an active and earnest
mind, simple in taste and artless, or she was one
10 whom there was absolutely no guile j vivaclous
and gay, but gentle and unassuming; loving to be
loved and loving; with temper sweet and rarely
rufled, and disposition generous, unselGsh and
charitable. God gave her fertile soul into which
to cast the precious seed of His truth.
She married at Is, and shortly after united with
the Kent Street Presbyterian church in Wipches-
ter. then under the ministry of DIR. David ID. hid
die, who under the order. of Providence, survived
to minister at her grave. From that period the
- barf inf
ton of As years. From the moment OF selt-conse-
Grafton she was woman of prayer, not Journalist;
but one who before the domestic duties OF morn
ing began, as after they were over, In fact when
ever they intermitted their call upon her, had
secret places where on her knees, with her Bible
before her, she communed with the Father, and
cast all her cares on Him. In truth so prayerful
was her spirit that it seemed not homogeneous for
her. in the midst of innocent festivities. to breathe
into the ear of the gayest an earnest invocation
for the divine blessing. Living consciously in con
tiuued dependence on the divine aid, communica-
ton was never broken between her and her Com
forter and she might thus truly be said to have
prayed without ceasing.
Before she was ten years wife. she was widow
with four little girls. Though independent in Cir
cumstances, she made her home In her father S
house. But she realized the promise of Jehovah,
"Thy Maker is thy Husband" She believed this
She experienced the beatitude, Blessed are they
that mourn, for they shall be comforted;" or
rather, as the original suggests, they shall have
the Paraclete, the advocate and friend at their
side. She felt He was ever by her, holding her
hand, guiding her, and guarding her and her faith.
eress children. She wore the weeds of widow.
hood until death, with a sacred but simple sorrow.
Into its holy retreat her heavenly Father never
admitted the curious even to enquire; for on her
noble face were the sure signs that her soul was
the shrine of her buried love- This faithful widow
after thirty eight years has met again her pious
husband, where indeed there is neither marrying
nor giving in marriage, but where together they
adore their loved Redeemer.
She trained her children for God. She had nc
other object for them; and God rewarded her by
bringing them all early into his Church. Self
secluded by her sorrow from the worlds vanities,
and its daily cares excluded from her by her pater.
nal home, she gave herself to religious culture anG
religious duties During her widowhood her read
ing was almost wholly religious, chiefly her Bible
With its historic Details its doctrines, its promises
aud its prophetic and living portraiture Of the
Goldman, she was wonderfully familiar.
But hers was not the life of recluse. Under
proper escort she went into the haupts of city and
town; into novels, garrets and cellars, where gen.
tie feet we're seldom heard ministering to Temporal
and spiritual need; feeding the hungry, cloth
ing the naked comforting the distressed, towering
over the bed of the dying saint or sinner, like al
angel of mercy The memory of her football
as she fitted from place to place, and the blessing
it ever brought, dwels with the living, and is mo-
forgotten by saints now at rest.
When her father and mother were taken, Goo
devolved on her new duties in the control of hel
own house. Under His presiding care, it was &
home of purity, piety, and peace. Hospitality
lavish and LIBERAL opened her doors to the FRIEND
and the stranger aud the Gospel difused its pre-
cious influence through the entire household.
The war came with its bitter trials. Her home
was invaded by insulting foes her daughter taker
as prisoner by armed men and she driven fol
safety elsewhere. During that period she was a
the bedside of soldiers OF both armies cheering the
sick and wounded, and pointing them to the cross
as the only salvation for all Witnesses to her love
and charity to friend and foe are numberless fol-
she felt all alike were victims of common ruin,
and the heirs of a common hope. The war ended
in her impoverishment She must work for hel
living She opened Seminary for girls. After
vesrs of success, she was obliged to abandonit Hel
abors avaied in good for others, but entailed mis-
fortune on herself. She bowed in submission to
her Fathers will. Her piety, tested by bereave.
ment when in afluence, was now further tried by
the cares of poverty. Her faith, thus tried, was
firm. Though He Stay me, yet will trust in
Him." She never doubted Him who gave Him.
self for her and she leaned with mistaken con-
6dence on Him. He found for her home in the
Seminary Of Miss Baldwin. As the guardian of
young girls, who tenderly called her . Grand Ma,
she was loved for her goodness, and the good she
did by precept, presence and example. Her light
was not, could not be, hid. It's rays we're those
of the Sun of Righteousness reflected from the
refined silver of her purified soul, shedding health
full influences upon many hearts.
A brief but fatal attack of pneumonia closed her
life, She sank to rest without murmur or pang,
in the bosom of Him she had faithfully followed
for nearly half century. Does any one ask for
her dying testimony She gave none, but that
peace which passeth all understanding, Her life
had testified to Gods power to angelize humanity.
She had no taste for display, or to enact scene,
and it vas more like herself to fall asleep as a
weary child in the arms Of her Redeemer Con.
scious of her danger, and DESTROYS to depart, she
began with Simeon once and again to say,
" Lord now, but ceased, because Of the mourn.
ing around her. Some one asked her some time
s;n:sa If she would ike TO live her life over. Her