The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-04-26
BY REV. A. CoPLIN.

Mary A. Sheriff, daughter of j. and
p. Munsell, was born in Troga, Penn,
August Is, 1910. She Inherited a
rare combination Of mental and NOR
al power, which formed the basis of
ripe intellectual and moral attain
ments, and a strong, symmetrical
character. At the early age of seven
she lost her mother. Fortunately she
was cared for by an aunt and uncle
who in no ordinary degree took the
place of fparents, giving her thorough
practical training and providing ex-
cellent scholastic advantages. Though
carefully instructed from childhood !,
religiously, she did not until twenty
years of age feel the necessity ofa new
birth--a radical change of heart
wrought by the Holy Ghost. Under
deep sense Of utter sinfulness and
ruin, she then publicly presented her
self as a seeker of salvation at Meth
odist alter, and there after a renunoi-
alton of her own will and pride of
heart, she took Christ as her Prophet,
Priest and King, and received clear
evidence of her adoption into the fam
lly of God. Her moral convictions,
as well as her remarkable decision
and iirmness of character were such
that she never in subsequent life wa
vered in her allegiance to God and
duty. While visiting her sister a
short time ago, she said: "Since first
l gave myself to Christ l have not
failed to bring myself as an Offering
to him every day of my life"
While her natural feelings and So
cial relations all inclined her toward
the communion of another church, yet
the yearnings of her renewed heart, no
less than the decision of judgment and
the dictates of duty, led her to choose
the Methodist Episcopal Church as
her spiritual home. While her broad
religious views and generous Christian
sympathies caused her to recognize all
Christians of whatever name as mem
bers of a common household she ever
cherished a peculiar love for the
church of her choice and was always
ready to defend its doctrines and
usages. As a Christian worker she
had but few equals. Wherever she
lived her pastor felt the influence of
her brave sympathetic heart and
strong arm. In personal effort for
souls, in the Sunday. school, the prayer
and class meeting, she was specially
active. Most of her maiden life was
devoted to the profession Of teaching
in which she was remarkably sue
cessful, both in training the minds Of
her pupils aud stimulating them to
high and holy purposes. Through the
influence of her character and train
ing, many young gentlemen aud la
dies have entered upon Chrhtian
life and arc now filling places Of use
fulness and honor.
She came to this coast in company
with her only sister-Mrs. A. Coplin
in September 1856. May I'd. 1869,
she was united in marriage to Rev. A.
r. Sheriff, of the California Confer
ence. As a wife she was deeply effec-
tionate and tender, ever studying her
husbands interests and happiness !;
ever aiding him by judicious counsel
and loving sympathy. She was al
ways firm when he might falter, brave
when his courage might be weak,
ready to suffer il by so doing she
could shield the heart of him she
loved so we'll. AS a minister's wife
she had peculiar adaptations. From
the liino of her conversion She felt a