New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-04
ApACGHTER OF CONSOLATION.
Serriee IN memory Of Ma E'eabe PrenS at ns Church Of
he CorendnL

the C0rsndnt
The Rev. Dr. Marvin X. Vincent delivered
a memorial address 20 a large congregation ct the
Church OF Covenant yesterday AFTERNOON In honor OF
Mrs Elizabeth Prsntiss welnown writer, wife OF the
first pastor the church. daughter OF celebrated
Dr. Edward Payson. Mrs Pr,niiss died last summer
at her country home In Vermont The Rev DR. vi liam
Adams and the Rev Dr. stearns Of Newark assisted In
the service. Or stearns in the opening prayer dwelt
upon the consistent religious life aud tho acve heneyo-
ence OF Mrs Prentss. Dr.. Vincent selected Tor las tex,
portions Of Jorn xvii. and Revolutions xii; And
now I come unto thee" sanciify them 10 THy
truth" aud " lie showed me pure Iiyeg of water
Men and women who know how % comfort SORROW and
turn II 90 the best uses said Dr Vincent are among
Gods best gifts The comforter Is the name by which
the Spirit Of God Is known To De true comforter ref
quires than natural tenderness Of heart or the
mere experience Of suffering one know c lesson
Of sorrow as well "a III source Hence God MAKE m.
coIniOrteTs Ivy processes OF hi- own, and by hard
teachers sometimes. This Thought ui The Chriian CON-
forteT best concentrates tbc spun OF M nc
IL largely Sa pci 10y sorT'iv', bt II y aitf n me
In Tue daughter OF Edward Pay-on mght justly
say with her father that abe had reasuh To taus Cod
Tor The instruction faithful mud piOus per,ns. Her
father life greatly influenced her own. He was com
panon 40 well Instructor TO nis ehildrt' ana hl
life WAS "A running commentary ~ hr ttncEiuE4 Ills
strict cOuscienuOusn was reproduced IN inc Daughter
DIR. Payson died when she va. eight years Oh, h,d
knowing ncr highly Atrung aud sensitive nntuir, lie
espcc ally commended her To her mother To TIE latter
she was chiefly indebted Tor the influence that shaped
Mrs. Preniiss was unusually attractive IN person
continued the preacher. quick m perception oi aIovc
in bestOviug Her religious lc boss0nied early ALd
showed rare maturity characterized ny itH strength
and intellect. In the Spring oil ls4j she married the
Rev George l.. Prentss. They settled ~ New-Bedi0fd
aud her memory il st CHERISHED in the little city the
sea aud the surrounding country When the church VI
tho Covenant founded, the darkest ana most dan
serous days Of the war; by Dr Prents she her hns
banda helper comforter aud counsellor. win strong
cOnkcieuttOsness which WOuld not allow hcr 10 warp
the truth, oven for loves sake with delicate. highly
strung organization, she had In her the elements oi
fearful capacity for suffering she prepared by
peCuar and losses 10 act he part VI CLrsuhh
comforter which idea in life 81 sixty years, was tie
OF suffering TO perfect herself the work She re
atkably free the selfcsteem that thinks Itself
capable OF greatness but she huDgered aud tbirsed for
the emnence OF righteousness Much OF her suffering
las the result OF III Leath Overaxed and sleep
lcssness the result Of her literary labor In religious
ideas sue combined the spirit Of the two wesleJs with
works or Mrs. Preutss's many published books, con-
cluded Dr. Vincent, "bIeppiDg Heavonward best rep
rehents her life After going through largo edi-
ton IN this country this book wah u iaea INTO freneh
sled comfort to OF homes The children OF her
books not religious puppets, bot really nes
and blood: her adult characters were not autonatns
but 5rOnAD drawn, and often aniuslngi} natural
Hers n cOnsecTateh literary talent Her head WAS
turned for With her meant doing
good. Though sensitive to criticism especially that
pque She thoroughly mastered her subject before VEN
turing 10 develop IT, Che never caught the spirit Of sen
Mira Prenss hal naturally keen Of humor, and
nothing Ia her religious faitn 10 forbid Its
Her style u easy and cOiOquial and occasion
quired, energetic and DctslYe. Many Of her
transcripts facts In experience Her life az
her country home was cHrac erlz by hospitality and
charity. To ber was truly applicable the name Of "a
daughter OF consolation"
At tie conclusion OF the address hymn OF Mr.. Prem
tisss own coinpOsitlon was sung