Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24
THE LATE Mrs. MATILDA LLOYD
In N emOriauns


was the declaration Of David concerning the
righteous. Its truth and perfect fulfllment W as
admirably illustrated in the life and death OF
Mrs. Matilda Lloyd. one of the oldest residents
Of South Washington, who passed into i'm
mortality at the ripe age oof eiahty-one years.
At an early age she had made choice Of the
straight and narrow road, and, without devia-
ton, pursued it unto the end. She was ALWAYS
Methodist having connected herself with the
old Foundry church in girlhosd; at the period
when the sainted Father Ryand was the be-
loved pastor. who remarked to her AS she pre-
sented herself before the altar for admission to
church membership: ''Well. honey. have you de-
cided to come out On the side ofthe1ord? when
branch church was formed, and named after
that much revered man, in that part Of the city
then called the Island, she formed one of the
new society, and continued member I'D to the
time of her death. Merhodism. In her early
Identification with it, was in its freshness and
purity, its beauty and odorousuess. It's in
fuence was then felt, land acknowledged and adj
rnired. Her hand having once clutched the
real ORE her lips having once drank the pure
waters, her spirit having once been anOinted
with the essential oil, ever more she went on
her grandly beautiful way with firm, stately,
mistaken tread. Though troubled much at
times, at the decline and deafness of
her church, yet she never wavered in
fealty to its doctrines and tenets. Often she
would deplore the narrOwness bigotry, pride
and eXclusiveness which had dwarfed and stul-
titled 80 mighty a power. but continually hoped
to see reformatory tide set in to clear away
the base and inert and useless. Usage had es-
tablished habits too powerful to be overthrown
at her age, yet often her sympathies and yearn-
ings would stray out to broader fields of un-
trammeed thought, to higher mountain recesses
where trickled clearer and more unsullied
waters. For her Christianity was remarkably
Tree from cant. sham or prejudice; showing no
perverse or unreasonable attachment to one sect
or creed to the condemnation and damnation of
all others. "Christianity is love-" she would
say, and "there is good to be found in all
churches" The wheel of her life, up to the last,
revOlved with ceaseess activity. For nearly
forty years she managed with wisdom, discre-
ton and rectitude the estate left by her hus-
band, the we'll known and highly esteemed
William Lloyd. Hence her mental faculties
through continued exercise, maintained their
vlgor unimpaired unto the end. Ever thinking,
planning, adjusting, holding together and
strengthening, she watched her trust and kept
its bulwarks firm. Though life came to her, as
1t does to us all, with it's ruts and pitfalls. its
It was always good-supremely good-a gift Of
God. Unwearyingly, uncomplainlngly, she bore
Its burdens; patiently, meekly, received
Its chastisements; quietly elasped its
gems Of joy, or serenely bore its riffs Of
sunshine equally ready to loosen and let
fall the prize of happiness, or to step out again
into the gloom and shadows. No pessimist or
misanthrope could excite fellow feeling In the
heart whose fond and amiable belief was that
everything in the universe was ordered to pro-
duce the highest good. shrinking, timid,
unassertive nature hid her value as the husk
the grain. or the shell the pearl. Her daily life
quiet and unObtrusive WAS made up Of little
duties, little ministrations. They passed almost
unnOticed when perfOrmed: but now that the
high grass and weeds Of inattention and heed
"a hn0 ont
vlolets and pansies and fOrget-me- nots which
all the long years had been blooming unseen
and unappreciated. Her influence was not,
could not be. limited to the family circle; but,
wherever contact was made, 1t offered its re-
freshment and help, and drew up and held aloft
like the magnet the steel. In her tongue was
the law of kindness, and in her heart the chord
OF sympathy was always awakened at the touch
OF distress. at a more vigorous period of her
life she was found at the sick bed or dying pill
low. actively engaged In allaying. soothing. sup
porting. Her ear was ever open to the cry Of
the needy, and numerous pensioners upon her
bounty were maintained year after year. When
the negro slaves of the country were emanci-
pated. tWerty years ago, compensation was
given to the owners in the District Several of
these poor beings had come to her through in
heritance. They We're in reality, free. as she ex-
ercised only an advisory supervision and control
over them But the fund. received by her from
the government, was conscientiously devoted to
slowed upon them her bounty and care in after
years. Time touched her so gently, SO tenderly,
that she did not seem to feel the pressure of
years. Age had not defaced with decrepitude
and helplessness. Her strong, straight body:
firm elastic tread; clear, steady voice; keen,
bright eye; bespoke vigorous old age. She
seemed to be gliding down pleasant stream.
Her energies and industries undaunted. undIs-
mayed, pursued their daily course uninterrupt-
eddy to the end. The secret OF her bright cheer
1ul. happy life was, that she continually and
habitually lost sight of SELF and thought only of
ministering unto others; and. in that very self
abnegation was she blessed for only the helpful
life Is the holy, benignant life. Up to the fnal
hour this beautiful spirit was exhibited; and
words of inquiry would be made, and concern
who had 80 long been the recipients Of her
motherly care and devotion. During life she
never talked fiippantly of death; but ALWAYS
spoke OF 1t in thoughtful, solemn words. And
very tImidy, very tremblingly. very shudderingly,
sne drew nigh TO Its waters. just as the Saviour
did, when he begged the cup might pass from
him. She was never rash or impetuous in ex-
pressing her religious experiences and convic-
lions: but. on the contrary, was exceedingly re-
served and cautious, giving words and voice to
deeds alone. But, when the final hour came,
her testimony was sure. exact, and convincing
that every word OF God was pure" and that
HE was shield unto them who put their trust
In Him" She did not faint In the day of adver-
sity. The name Of the Lord was strong tower
unto her. In the secret of His tabernacle was
she hid. Light came to her in the darkness
Her God sustained her in her final hour!
Her final hour brought glory to her God!"
Several days before her decease she remarked.
81 am passing away, but all is right" AS the
end drew near, when body and spirit were
about to separate, her physical sufferngs be-
came very intense and aggravated. SO much 80
that her children, who We're gathered about her
bed could scarcely endure the deeply affective
ordeal OF being witnesses Of her agony without
power to alleviate. Only the sufferer MAIN
tanned her mental tranquility and trust in care
1ul equlpolse. A consciousness of her surround
lngs. and recognition of her state was full and
complete Every capacity to feel or perceive
was nigh strung; every intellectual conception
marVellously acute and exalted; susceptibility
OF Impression to the sOemnity OF the hour was
fully alive. She was not affrighted or over
come In the swellings Ut Jordan. The victim
OF fiendsh death was aware she was in his
clutches, and that the relentless curse of sin
was being visited upon her head. Yet, holy
calm possessed her soul. When deaths
pangs seemed fercest and cruelest, with in
trepld voice she cried, "sing unto the Lord,
ana give thanks at the remembrance of His
holiness" And again, fmperturbaby rejoicing in
future triumph she exclaimed, IL shall see the
king In his beauty" Then, as basis and justi-e
to this assuredsigh she said: The spirit
tseI Dareth witness with our spfrit"-the re-
malnder OF the sentence losing itself in spasm
of pain. While her poor BODY was torn and
distracted by suffering she wrestied earnestly