The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-13

Died, March Both, in this city, Mrs. MATILDA
COLE WILSON, in the SD year of her age.
On the borders of Charlotte and Prince Ed
ward counties, nearly century ago, there was
community In which the virtues of industry.
frugallty, hospitality and sterling honesty found
their most healthful development-virtues which
had their inspiration and support in the fear of
Iod and IN such regard for man as the gospel
enJolns. The people composing it lived without
ostentaton; they cared little for show and fash
ION; but their intercourse with each other was
characterized by genuine friendliness, and their
interests conferred mainly around the two points
OF Church and Home. They constituted a good
stock, and furnished an illustration of what sin
e-hearted and sincere pety will do in making
community orderly; prosperous, and happy.
The neucleus around which the intelligence
ana plety OF that community gathered was the
old Brlery church. and that a population of
more than ordinary cultivation and moral worth
should be found there is Just in accordance with
what might have been anticipated when we re-
member who the men were who trained the
mind and heart of that people-Lacy. Alexan-
der, Lyle, Douglass, Plumer, and Brown
Under such influences Mrs. Wilson was reared.
She was born February 22d, 1900, at "Oak
Level, the residence of her father, Thomas
Cole Spencer of Charlotte, Captain of Cavalry
company In the war of 1872, of high standing
as cltlzen' and for many years ruling elder
| n
Der 10Th, 1922, to Major James H. Wilson. of
FRINGE Edward who removed to Richmond in
1903, and resided here until the time of his
death in 1869.
All her life long the subject of religious i'm
Presslons, at an early age Mrs. Wilson made
profession of her faith. She was greatly at
tached to the doctrines and order of the Cburab
of her worthy ancestors-the Church in whose
bosom she had been brought up in which the
good seed of the word had been sown in her
heart In childhood, and where in riper wears she
had been trained to faithfulness. industry and
submission in trial
III her plety was noiseless and unobtrusive il
was none the less consistent and sincere Mild
and gentle In her manners, kind and svmpatbis-
ing In disposition, her life was devoted to her
family and to her God. She was very constant
| In her attachments and mistaken in her regard
for her friends. AS the years wore on. she man
ltested an Increasing devotion to the word the
ministers, the ordinances and the house of the
LORD During the months that preceded her
Ieath, even after her confinement to her bed,
she was wonderfully exempt from pain. Her
case was remarkable one in this repect. She
constantly affirmed that she suffered nothing
That nothing troubled her except weakness. and
thus from day to day she lay passive and un-
complaining, thankfully approaching the MANY
blessings by which she was urrounded-amonp
winch she especially recognized the loving and
tender care of her children and the comforting
visits OF her Christian friends-untI the time
came when she so gently passed into the saints
everlasting rest, that those who stood at her bed
SIDE could scarcely sell when she ceased to
| Thus were they spared the distress of witness
ing the pains, the groans, the dying strife"
which SO often fills the hearts of relatives with
anguish in looking upon suferinps which tbey
cannot relieve, and those who saw her peacef1l
departure have now no memories of her which
are not mingled with the Consultations of the pos
| pei of Christ M n II