The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-04-14
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OBITUARY.
MRS. MARY r. HOFFMAN.

OBITUARY.
MRS. MARY R. HOFFMAN.
Mrs. Mary Rebecca Hoffman, wife of
fev. Levi d. Hoffman, fell asleep in Jesus,
at Parryville, Carbon county, Pa, on
Thursday, the 25th day of January, 1877.
She was the youngest daughter of DR..
Robert G. and Martha ]. Carter, and was
born in Cherry Hill, Cecil county, Md,
September 18th, 1S49. Reared under Chris
tan influence, she was from early childhood
religiously inclined. Her earliest religious
impressions date back to the early days of
childhood. At the age of eleven, under the
ministry of Rev. Geo. w. Lybrand, she was
converted to God. Naturally kind, gentle,
thoughtful, forgiving and loving, the out
ward change was not so marked as in
others. Her Christian childhood developed
into beautiful womanhood. "The meek
and quiet spirit" Her delight was to
know wisdom and instruction. To her
the fear of the Lord was the beginning
of knowledge" bleeding the instruc-
tions of her father, and forsaking not the
law of her mother" she found the lorna
ment of grace unto her head, and the
chains about her neck" loved especially
by those whom she loved and valued.
! March 4th, 1869, she became the devoted
wife of a Methodist preacher, sharing the
| and IF how bnc ;,,t ~
great work of the Master. Few were bet
ter suited to the work. AS wife, eds
Greet, chaste, keeper at home.' "The
heart of her husband did safely trust in
her,
One of her strong points, adding to her
popularity and usefulness, was the great
ease with which she won her way to the
hearts of strangers. 1t only required few
weeks, in new charge, to surround her
with warm and useful friends. And then
she managed to make those friends inter-
ested in the ministry of her husband. She
had been trained in the Sabbath school,
| and became an efficient worker in that
department for children, excelling especially
in the instruction of the smaller children
Her influence over the young lady men,
bers of the church and congregation was
marked. She was successful in counseling
penitents, and more than one has she led
up to the cross and rejoiced with them in
their joyous experience. The aged men,
bers of the charge loved her dearly, and
Sba Saapp.I TO har ~,
Always ready to visit the sick, the poor
and the bereaved How many hailed her
visits, as an angel of mercy. Great will
be her reward, in the "day of the Lord"
Then it will be said, "Inasmuch as We have
done it unto one of the least of these, my
brethren, ye have done it unto me-
She loved to entertain the ministers of
the Lord Jesus. If thereby she entertained
not angels unawares, she did those upon
whom angels wait, and the Lord of angels
and saints has said: He that receiveth
you receiveth me.'
She was the companion of her husband
in the following charges: Fulton and
White Rock, Oxford, Tannersville, Doyles-
town, and Parryville and Slatington.
In the midst of her useful life she was
called to her home in the Skies Her clos
ing moments were calm and peaceful. Her
husband writes: ''Forty-eight hours before
her death she seemed to gain complete VIC
tory over everything, including her strong
desire to live for my sake, and the babe.
We had singing, in her room, and prayer
by Rev. L. B. Brown, which seemed, so far
as we knew, to be appropriate to her feel
ings of triumph. The selections we're: Il
left it all with Jesus (she sang a part of
it with US; We are going home to NOR
row. What a friend we have in Jesus
Jesus lover of my SOUL in which she |
Joined also. A lady present in the room
at the time, said to me, 1t did not seem
like a death bed The next evening l |
reused her, to give her a drink, and found |
she was entirely rational, and said to her:
wife, | desire to ask you some questions,
and as you are weak, answer with motion |
of your head | asked, Is Jesus precious
with you now?' She nodded her head very |
positively. l then asked, Are you afraid |
to die?' When she was well, she had ex-
pressed her fears of death. Instead of an
swering by motion of the head, as | ex-
pected, she said in strong, clear voice, |
evidently intending to make it emphatic,
No; am not afraid to die. then asked,
DO you give us all up?' She answered,
with canal plaa Of T
given up everything After that she lin.
gered, sleeping most of the time for twenty
four hours, and then faded away into the
light of heaven. She left darling babe,
Meta May" Appropriate religious services
were held at the house, on Saturday morn
ing, the eth, conducted by Rev. B. T.
Vincent of Mauch Chunk, Pa, and Rev.
l.. B. Brown, of Lehighton, Pa. Her re-
mains were then removed to the home of |
her childhood. On Tuesday, the 30th, in
the Cherry Hill NJ. E. Church, religious
services were held. Addresses by Revs.
JAS Cunningham, w. NJ. Gilbert, and Geo.
W. Lybrand. Amidst sorrow, intermingled
with joy, her precious dust was deposited
in the burial ground near by.
"Grave, the guardian of our dust;
Grave, the treasury of the skies;
Every atom of thy trust,
Rests in hope again to rse.'
" Rest here, blest saint. till from his throne
The morning break and pierce the shade.
Break from his throne, illustrious morn;
Attend, . earth. his ov'reign word
Restore thy trust-a glorious form
Call'd to ascend and meet the Lord
Not lost. no. not lost, nor dead,
lmmortals can not die;
They only quit their crumbling cage,
For mansions in the sky;
Beyond the reach of tears and pain,
Where death hath lost its sting;
Within the realms of endless day,
They fold their weary wing.
We shall meet those mot lost, but gone
BEFORE
6 In that land of beauty, in that home of
joy,
BY the gates they'll meet us, meath that
golden sky;