The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-29
Memorial Service.


following sketch of her life was read by
Mrs. M. A. Munroe:
SKETCH OF Mrs. ROCKWELL.
A seat in this vestry is vacant today,
but this is a very inadequate expression
for the present occasion. Much more
than seat is vacant. There is void
difficult to measure as ii will be diff
cult to fill. The death of any member
of this society is sure to be felt, but
when one of the respected and most ex-
fits members is taken away,
TO return no moro forever, each one OF
us counts the society's loss our own
personal bereavement. After nearly |
Twelve years of friendly relations, my |
heart would reproach me if l failed to |
ayow that have lost trusted friend,
or RETAINED from attempting brief trl-
butte to her memory.
Mrs. Rockwell was born in Shore
ham in 1918. Her parents were earnest
christian people, impressing her early
with the idea of christian firmness,
which trait was always prominent
one i'm her character. Her childhood
days were very happy one, and as the
years went by she loved to recall them,
and the friends of those early years
were always her firm companions in
life and went even to the brink of the
river with her. AT the age of twenty
two she became wife, and by the fruits
of her life we know her early married
wears must have been spent in devotion
to her home and children. Three
daughters unite with us to-day in call
ing her blessed. Since her life in Mid
dlebnry she has been Unidentified with
all the movements for the advancement
and salvation of mankind. In social
life her ease of manner and her warm
welcome made her home delightful
resort, and her presence sought by
others. Her desire for reading COM
bined with retentive memory made
her intellectually strong, as the men,
bers of her large Sunday school class
attest to her wonderful knowledge of
the Bible and her power of imparting
it, thus adding another name to the list
of those who have searched the gospel
of Jesus and have found it the word
and the will of God, given to direct us
awhile here, and to sustain us in that
hour of trial when the things of this
world are passing away and the dark
valley of the shadow of death is OPEN
ing before us. Her christian life broad
ened and deepened as the years went
by, and her faith not only buoyed her
but also those who came in contact
with her, thus teaching us all lesson
that a quiet life hidden with Christ in
God is the greatest power for good.
She has impressed us who knew her of
late years as one who would unilinch-
ingly do the duty of the hour as present
ed to her, trusting results to God. At
the organization of the temperance So
ciety in Middlebury she enrolled her
self as one of its working members, and
was always found in her place when
health permitted, and by her wise CONN.,
sells and superior judgement added
largely to the power and influence of
the society, and endeared herself to all
who labored with her.
Her last days were days of christian
triumph, and the great desire of recov-
cry being that she might be of greater
use in the Mastea's service. On some
ones commencing her for her faithful
ness, she replied: 81 look back upon
my poor ways and think how much
more might have DONE" If she could
reproach herself, what shall we say
of ourselves? Will it not admonish us
10 be moro diligent, working more
earnestly while the day lasteth? Her
sickness lasted several months, during
which time the hopes and fears of her
friendslalternated,u until Sunday, the 10th
day of July, 1881, she heard the Master
say--"I have need of the come up high
IN " NJ tho,.t- Odd ha ,.,,,,
tally of worth and rejoice in the exam
pie she has set us, and follow in its light
so that when God shall send his angel
to us bearing the scroll of death may
we be able to bow our heads to his
mission with as much of gentlencss and
resignation as marked the last days and
hours of our beloved friend, Elizabeth
belong Rockwell.
The following resolutions were pre-
sented by Mrs. Rockwell's Sunday
school class:
Resolved That while we as class deeply
mourn the loss of our beloved teacher whom our
Lord has seen lit 10 remove by death, in the midst
OF her usefulness, we would express our affection
ate regard for her rs one who has been ever faith
iul in her work, and has.aways given us words OF
love and hope, and whose bright example of faith
and trust We may always be able 10 cherish in
our memory for our good, and that itmay aid us
10 more faithful work for our Master, especially
Resolved. That we tender our sympathy
with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
In their loss OF so valuable member and also the
family In their great bereavement, end trust that
we may all together feel that Heaven is nearer 10
us for one so dearly loved having just passed |
through the pearly gates and also feel that they
call.
Mrs. Golf read the first six verses of
the last chapter of Revelations and
then spoke as follows:
l would be glad to express n few
thoughts in connection with this Dor
ton of scripture In Sunday school les
son sometime since, and which is recall
ed more WILDLY than any other lesson
In connection with the teaching of our
departed sister. had Just lost friend
who was very dear TO me, and while
we had every hope of her recovery She
suddenly passed away and VIC could
only go with her to tie river of death
while she passed over and left MS To-
mourn her loss.
1t was then my privilege to sit with
BUR dear teacher and talked of orr
Heavenly home.
They shall enter in through the gates
INTO the city. They shall sec his face.
There shall be no night there, and they
need no candles, neither light of the
un for the Lord God giveth them light.
they shall walk the streets of the New
Jerusalem and be forever at rest. And
q she spoke of that heavenly country,
seemed nearer than ever before.
AN remember the expression of her
as she talked TO us, and / |
an to-day and ever feel thankful that 1 | !.
vas permitted to receive her instruc-
ion, which with other lessons are ever
resh in memory. can SEQ her sitting
nth her class, calm, patient and help
az, and as we contemplate her christian I
may we not believe that she o