The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-31
a Noble Life.

Sarah ]. Smith, of worldwide fame and
renown, The great philanthropist, is no
more. She quietly folded her arms and
fell asleep in Christ at the residence of her
daughter, Mrs. VIM. J. Hiatt, at Dublin,
Wayne county, Ind, On the morning of
the 18th of Dec, after grand and noble
life of more than three-score years and ten,
full of faith in her Redeemer, to enjoy the
completion Of her faith and the fruition of
her hopes. She was the woman of the age,
one of those special characters brought
forth for the advancement of the Nation
from one epoch to another. AS Vice
President Hendricks said, in speaking of
her remarkable powers God Almighty
never made another Mrs. Smith. And
Governor Conrad Baker, now of sainted
memory "a man Of rare virtue, and, like
Mr.. Hendricks "a noble example of domes-
tic purity and marital fidelity, and a great
admirer Of woman's ability and her adj
vaneersa 81. said ssShe is the most wonder
full woman of the age, prepared by God
especially to lift up the fallen and lead
women on to higher purposes aud broader
fields. =
She was surpassed by none in the
breadth Of her philanthropy active
beneyolence-the scope of her charity-the
strength Of her integrity-the breadth and
length and depth and height of her love to
God; and as result a life of self-sacri6ce
in her labors for the alienation of the sor-
rows of her race. Born and reared on
English soil, although in comparatively
humble life, she received the benefits Of
the education and family training which
is the beauty of English homes, viz: The
cultivation of the love and study of nature
in the animal, vegetable, mineral, and
floral kingdom, a training which so beauti-
fies the English home life. The result in
her case was love for art, literature and
poetry, and strong compassion for the
sufferings of the millions of the lowest
scale of humanity in that beautiful island
Down she diyed into the lowest depths
and brought up to the clearer light many
of the most sparkling jewels. And when
Elizabeth Fry, that noble philanthropist,
commenced her efforts for prisoners, which
was the basis of the grand reform in
prisons, Sarah j. Smiths susceptible
mind received the impression which has
brought forth such wonderful fruits in her
own life.
When she arrived at the age of maturity
she married James Smith, of Sheffield, and
thither removed, and for years was devot-
edly engaged, in the identifying of her
home, to the happiness and interests of her
husband, and the training of her children.
Hers was a beautiful home life, presided
over by cultivated, Christian woman.
Through declining health and unable to
endure the climate they were forced to
leave their native home and seek home
OH western. soil they settled near Milton,
Wayne county, Ind, on farm. This was
a new experience, but she was quite equal
to the emergency. She brought with her
into her new sphere not only that lovely
example of Christian, cultivated home,
but untiring energy and zeal for the COM
fort and advancement Of others. She gave
strong impulse to the advanced educa-
ton of children, and Illustrated the posi-
bility of farmers wife devoting some
portion each day to the cultivation of
her own intellectual powers, thereby being
fitted for the cultivation and training of
her children.
She was warmly interested in the pro-
gress of education, in the Improvement of
schools, i'll the establishment of Earlham
College at Richmond, Ind, under the care
of Friends, and in the development of the
present school system of Indiana.
She was a member of the Society Of
Friends, Friend by conviction, converted
to God through Jesus Christ in childhood.
She was early called to the ministry of the
gospel That call was recognized by the
church and for more than fifty years she
has faithfully preached the word and with
great success throughout the United
States and in England, giving the. powers
of herlife to the church. She visited hos
pitfalls, the prisons of this land as well as
her native home, erring women's homes,
duQ clt htutlp VI lilOI4tQUAOlO oO1AO0
was found. She once visited all the public
institutions of benevolence in this city,
also the County Jail, Bridewell, etc. While
visiting the County Jail she attempted to
hold services with the women. Prayer
had been offered by another lady. When
Mrs. Smith was to speak they thought to
stop her by their noise and confusion. She
stopped and kneeled to pray. She was
most powerful always in prayer. She
seemed to grapple the throne of
grace and to bring the hope of
mercy. They were subdued and for
hours she labored with great success.
AS she went about bearing aloft the torch
Of Gods love and the hope of salvation
she sought to enlighten the homes by
making them the most attractive by books,
music, etc.
Her attention was especially directed to
young men, encouraging them, warning
them, praying for them, and when they
have fallen by the way and got into the
hands of the law herself going on their
bonds, paying their fines, and thus showing
practically her interest, and hundreds now
as 'brands from the burning. filing hon
orable, useful lives, rise up over the land
and call her blessed.
When the civil war broke out, and the
cries of the wounded went up as great
wall over our land, her warm and sympa-
thizing heart responded to the call of dis
| i l11s ~
and feeble in constitution, full of faith in
her Lord, whom she believed had called
her, she went forth accompanied by 9TH
ers whom she had interested in the work.
1 And from fort to fort. and from camp to